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diff --git a/36650-h/36650-h.htm b/36650-h/36650-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..080c36c --- /dev/null +++ b/36650-h/36650-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8098 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mystery of Francis Bacon, by William T. Smedley. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + line-height: 2em; + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + .sblockquot{font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1.25em;} + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} + .notebox {border: solid 2px; padding: 1em; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; background: #CCCCB2;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; margin-top: 2em;} + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 82%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of Francis Bacon, by William T. Smedley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mystery of Francis Bacon + +Author: William T. Smedley + +Release Date: July 7, 2011 [EBook #36650] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF FRANCIS BACON *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="411" height="640" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 440px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="440" height="640" alt="Francis Bacon at 9 Years of Age." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Francis Bacon at 9 Years of Age.</span><br /> +<i>From the bust at Gorhambury.</i></span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> + +<h1>THE MYSTERY</h1> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h1>FRANCIS BACON</h1> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>WILLIAM T. SMEDLEY.</h3> +<p> </p> + +<h4>Ad D.B.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>"Si bene qui latuit, bene vixit, tu bene vivis: <br /> +Ingeniumque tuum grande latendo patet."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>—<i>John Owen's Epigrammatum</i>, 1612.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>LONDON:<br /> +ROBERT BANKS & SON,<br /> +<small>RACQUET COURT, FLEET STREET E.C.</small><br /> +<br /> +1912.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> + +<p class="blockquot">"<i>But such is the infelicity and unhappy disposition +of the human mind in the course of invention that it +first distrusts and then despises itself: first will not +believe that any such thing can be found out; and +when it is found out, cannot understand how the world +should have missed it so long.</i>"</p> + +<p style='text-align:right'> +—"<span class="smcap">Novum Organum</span>," Chap. CX.<br /> +</p> + + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>iii</span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right'> </td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='left'>Preface</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><small>CHAPTER</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I. —</td><td align='left'>Sources of Information</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II. —</td><td align='left'>The Stock from which Bacon Came</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III. —</td><td align='left'>Francis Bacon, 1560 to 1572</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV. —</td><td align='left'>At Cambridge</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V. —</td><td align='left'>Early Compositions</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon's "Temporis Partus Maximus"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon's First Allegorical Romance</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon in France, 1576-1579</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon's Suit on His Return to England, 1580</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X. —</td><td align='left'>The "Rare and Unaccustomed Suit"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon's Second Visit to the Continent and After</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII. —</td><td align='left'>Is it Probable that Bacon left Manuscripts Hidden Away?</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII. —</td><td align='left'>How the Elizabethan Literature was Produced</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV. —</td><td align='left'>The Clue to the Mystery of Bacon's Life</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV. —</td><td align='left'>Burghley and Bacon</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI. —</td><td align='left'>The 1623 Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Plays</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII. —</td><td align='left'>The Authorised Version of the Bible, 1611</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII. —</td><td align='left'>How Bacon Marked Books with the Publication of Which He Was Connected</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon and Emblemata<span class='pagenum'>iv</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX. —</td><td align='left'>Shakespeare's Sonnets</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI. —</td><td align='left'>Bacon's Library</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII. —</td><td align='left'>Two German Opinions on Shakespeare and Bacon</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII. —</td><td align='left'>The Testimony of Bacon's Contemporaries</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV. —</td><td align='left'>The Missing Fourth Part of "The Great Instauration"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV. —</td><td align='left'>The Philosophy of Bacon</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> </td><td align='left'>Appendix</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>Is there a mystery connected with the life of Francis +Bacon? The average student of history or literature +will unhesitatingly reply in the negative, perhaps qualifying +his answer by adding:—Unless it be a mystery that +a man with such magnificent intellectual attainments +could have fallen so low as to prove a faithless friend +to a generous benefactor in the hour of his trial, and, +upon being raised to one of the highest positions of +honour and influence in the State, to become a corrupt +public servant and a receiver of bribes to pervert justice.—It +is one of the most remarkable circumstances to be +found in the history of any country that a man admittedly +pre-eminent in his intellectual powers, spoken of +by his contemporaries in the highest terms for his +virtues and his goodness, should, in subsequent ages, be +held up to obloquy and scorn and seldom be referred to +except as an example of a corrupt judge, a standing warning +to those who must take heed how they stand lest +they fall. Truly the treatment which Francis Bacon +has received confirms the truth of the aphorism, "The +evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred +with their bones."</p> + +<p>It is not the intention in the following brief survey of +Bacon's life to enter upon any attempt to vindicate his +character. Since his works and life have come prominently +before the reading public, he has never been +without a defender. Montagu, Hepworth Dixon, and +Spedding have, one after the other, raised their voices +against the injustice which has been done to the memory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +of this great Englishman; and although Macaulay, in +his misleading and inaccurate essay,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +abounding in paradoxes and inconsistencies, produced the most powerful, +though prejudiced, attack which has been made on +Bacon's fame, he may almost be forgiven, because it provided +the occasion for James Spedding in "Evenings +with a Reviewer," to respond with a thorough and +complete vindication of the man to whose memory he +devoted his life. There rests on every member of the +Anglo-Saxon race an obligation—imposed upon him by +the benefits which he enjoys as the result of Francis +Bacon's life-work—to read this vindication of his character. +Nor should mention be omitted of the essay by +Mr. J. M. Robertson on "Francis Bacon" in his excellent +work "Pioneer Humanists." All these defenders of +Bacon treat their subject from what may be termed the +orthodox point of view. They follow in the beaten +track. They do not look for Bacon outside his acknowledged +works and letters. Since 1857, however, there +has been steadily growing a belief that Bacon was +associated with the literature of the Elizabethan and +early Jacobean periods, and that he deliberately concealed +his connection with it. That this view is scouted +by what are termed the men of letters is well-known. +They will have none of it. They refuse +its claim to a rational hearing. But, in spite of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +this, as years go on, the number of adherents to +the new theory steadily increases. The scornful +epithets that are hurled at them only appear to whet +their appetite, and increase their determination. Men +and women devote their lives with enthusiasm to the +quest for further knowledge. They dig and delve in the +records of the period, and in the byeways of literature. +Theories which appear extravagant and untenable are +propounded. Whether any of these theories will come +to be accepted and established beyond cavil, time alone +can prove. But, at any rate, it is certain that in this +quest many forgotten facts are brought to light, and the +general stock of information as to the literature of the +period is augmented.</p> + +<p>In the following pages it is sought to establish what +may be termed one of these extravagant theories. How +far this attempt is successful, it is for the reader to +judge. Notwithstanding all that may be said to the +contrary, by far the greater part of Francis Bacon's life +is unknown. An attempt will be made by the aid of +accredited documents and books to represent in a new +light his youth and early manhood. It is contended +that he deliberately sought to conceal his movements +and work, although, at the same time, he left the landmarks +by which a diligent student might follow them. +In his youth he conceived the idea that the man Francis +Bacon should be concealed, and be revealed only by his +works. The motto, "<i>Mente videbor</i>"—by the mind I +shall be seen—became the guiding principle of his life.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE MYSTERY</h1> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h1>FRANCIS BACON.</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span><br /> + +SOURCES OF INFORMATION.</h2> + + +<p>The standard work is "The Life and Letters of Francis +Bacon," by James Spedding, which was published from +1858-1869. It comprises seven volumes, with 3,033 +pages. The first twenty years of Bacon's life are +disposed of in 8 pages, and the next ten years in 95 +pages, of which 43 pages are taken up with three tracts +attributed to him. There is practically no information +given as to what should be the most important years of +his life. The two first volumes carry the narrative to +the end of Elizabeth's reign, when Bacon had passed +his fortieth year. There is in them a considerable contribution +to the history of the times, but a critical +perusal will establish the fact that they add very little +to our knowledge of the man, and they fail to give any +adequate idea of how he was occupied during those +years. In the seven volumes 513 letters of Bacon's are +printed, and of these no less than 238 are addressed to +James I. and the Duke of Buckingham, and were +written during the last years of his life. The biographies +by Montagu and Hepworth Dixon are less pretentious, +but contain little more information.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first published Life of Bacon appears to have been +unknown to all these writers. In 1631 was published in +Paris a translation of the "Sylva Sylvarum," as the +"Histoire Naturelle de Mre. Francois Bacon." Prefixed +to it is a chapter entitled "Discours sur la vie de +Mre. Francois Bacon, Chancelier D'Angleterre." Reference +will be made to this important discourse hereafter. +It is sufficient for the present to say that it definitely +states that during his youth Bacon travelled in Italy and +Spain, which fact is to-day unrecognised by those who +are accepted as authorities on his life. In 1647 there +was published at Leyden a Dutch translation of forty-six +of Bacon's Essays—the "Wisdom of the Ancients" +and the "Religious Meditations." The translation is +by Peter Boener, an apothecary of Nymegen, Holland, +who was in Bacon's service for some years as domestic +apothecary, and occasional amanuensis, and quitted his +employment in 1623. Boener added a Life of Bacon +which is a mere fragment, but contains testimony by a +personal attendant which is of value. In 1657 William +Rawley issued a volume of unpublished manuscripts +under the title of "Resuscitatio," and to these he added +a Life of the great Philosopher. Rawley is only once +mentioned by Bacon. His will contains the sentence: +"I give to my chaplain, Dr. Rawleigh, one hundred +pounds." Rawley was born in 1590. When he became +associated with his master is not known, but it could +only have been towards the close of his life. Bacon +appears to have reposed great confidence in him. In +1627,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> the year following Bacon's death, he published the +"Sylva Sylvarum." This must have been in the press +before Bacon's death. Rawley subsequently published +other works, and was associated with Isaac Gruter +during the seventeenth century in producing on the +continent various editions of Bacon's works.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rawley's account of Bacon's life is meagre, and, +having regard to the wealth of information which must +have been at his disposal, it is a very disappointing +production. Still, it contains information which is not +to be found elsewhere. How incomplete it is may be +gathered from the fact that there is no reference in it to +Bacon's fall.</p> + +<p>In 1665 was published a volume, "The Statesmen +and Favourites of England since the Reformation." It +was compiled by David Lloyd. The biographies of the +Elizabethan statesmen were written by someone who +was closely associated with them, and who appears to +have had exceptional opportunities of obtaining information +as to their opinions and characters.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> As to how +these lives came into Lloyd's possession nothing is +known. Prefixed to the biographies are two pages containing +"The Lord Bacon's judgment in a work of this +nature." The chapter on Bacon is a most important +contribution to the subject, but it also appears to have +escaped the notice of Spedding, Hepworth Dixon, and +Montagu. In 1658 Francis Osborn, in Letters to his +son, gives a graphic description of the Lord Chancellor. +Perhaps one can better picture Bacon as he was in the +strength of his manhood from Osborne's account of him +than from any other source. Thomas Bushell, another +of Bacon's household dependents, published in 1628 +"The First Part of Youth's Errors." In a letter therein +addressed to Mr. John Eliot, he has left contributions to +our stock of knowledge. There are also some miscellaneous +tracts written by him, and published about the +year 1660, which contain references to Bacon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fuller's Worthies (1660) gives a short account of his +life and character, eulogistic but sparse. In 1679 was +published "Baconiana," or Certain Genuine Remains +of Sir Francis Bacon, &c., by Bishop Tennison, but it +contains no better account of his life. Winstanley's +Worthies (1684) relies entirely on Rawley's Life, which is +reproduced in it. Aubrey's brief Lives were written about +1680. There are references to Bacon in Arthur +Wilson's "History of the Reign of James I."; in "The +Court of James I.," by Sir W. A.; in "Simeon D'Ewes' +Diary"; and, lastly, in his "Discoveries," Ben Jonson +contributes a high eulogy on Bacon's character and +attainments.</p> + +<p>In 1702 Robert Stephens, the Court historiographer, +published a volume of Bacon's letters, with an introduction +giving some account of his life; and there was a +second edition in 1736. In 1740 David Mallet published +an edition of Bacon's works, and wrote a Life to accompany +it. This was subsequently printed as a separate +volume. As a biography it is without interest, as it +contains no new facts as to his life.</p> + +<p>In 1754 memoirs of the reign of Queen Elizabeth +from the year 1581 to her death appeared, edited by +Dr. Thomas Birch. These memoirs are founded upon +the letters of the various members of the Bacon family. +In 1763 a volume of letters of Francis Bacon was issued +under the same editor.</p> + +<p>Such are the sources of information which have come +down to us in biographical notices.</p> + +<p>In the British Museum, the Record Office, and elsewhere +are the originals of the letters and the manuscripts +of some of the tracts which Spedding has printed.</p> + +<p>The British Museum also possesses two books of +Memoranda used by Bacon. The Transportat is +entirely, and the Promus is partly, in his handwriting. +Beyond his published works, that is all that so far has +been available.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Spedding remarks<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>: "What became of his books +which were left to Sir John Constable and must +have contained traces of his reading, we do not know, +but very few appear to have survived."</p> + +<p>Happily, Spedding was wrong. During the past ten +years nearly 2,000 books which have passed through +Bacon's hands have been gathered together. These are +copiously annotated by him, and from these annotations +the wide range and the methodical character of his +reading may be gathered. Manuscripts which were in +his library, and at least four common-place books in his +handwriting, have also been recovered. Particulars of +these have not yet been made public, but the advantage +of access to them has been available in the preparation +this volume.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span><br /> + +THE STOCK FROM WHICH BACON CAME.</h2> + + +<p>"A prodigy of parts he must be who was begot by +wise Sir Nicholas Bacon, born of the accomplished +Mrs. Ann Cooke," says an early biographer.</p> + +<p>Nicholas Bacon is said to have been born at Chislehurst, +in Kent, in 1509. He was the second son of +Robert Bacon, of Drinkstone, in Suffolk, Esquire and +Sheep-reeve to the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. It is +believed that he was educated at the abbey school. +He speaks of his intimacy with Edmund Rougham, a +monk of that house, who was noted for his wonderful +proficiency in memory. He was admitted to the +College of Corpus Christi, Cambridge, and took the +degree of B.A. in 1526-7. He went to Paris soon afterwards, +and on his return studied law at Gray's Inn, +being called to the Bar in 1533, and admitted ancient +in 1536. He was appointed, in 1537, Clerk to the Court +of Augmentations. In 1546 he was made Attorney of +the Court of Wards and Liveries, and continued as +such under Edward VI. Upon the accession of Mary +he conformed to the change of religion and retained +his office during her reign. Nicholas Bacon and +William Cecil, each being a widower, had married +sisters. When Elizabeth came to the throne Cecil +became her adviser. He was well acquainted with +Nicholas Bacon's sterling worth and great capacity for +business, and availed himself of his advice and assistance. +The Queen delivered to Bacon the great seal, +with the title of Lord Keeper, on the 22nd December, +1558, and he was sworn of the Privy Council and +knighted. By letters patent, dated 14th April, 1559,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +the full powers of a Chancellor were conferred upon +him. In 1563 he narrowly escaped the loss of his office +for alleged complicity in the issue of a pamphlet +espousing the cause of the House of Suffolk to the +succession. He was restored to favour, and continued +as Lord Keeper until his death in 1579. The Queen +visited him at Gorhambury on several occasions. Sir +Nicholas Bacon, in addition to performing the important +duties of his high office in the Court of +Chancery and in the Star Chamber, took an important +part in all public affairs, both domestic and foreign, +from the accession of Elizabeth until his death. He +first married Jane, daughter of William Fernley, of +West Creting, Suffolk, by whom he had three sons and +three daughters. For his second wife he married Anne, +daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, by whom he had two +sons, Anthony and Francis. It is of more importance +for the present purpose to know what type of man was +the father of Francis Bacon. The author of the "Arte +of English Poesie" (1589) relates that he came upon +Sir Nicholas sitting in his gallery with the works of +Quintillian before him, and adds: "In deede he was a +most eloquent man and of rare learning and wisdome +as ever I knew England to breed, and one that joyed +as much in learned men and good witts." This author, +speaking of Sir Nicholas and Burleigh, remarks, "From +whose lippes I have seen to proceede more grave and +naturall eloquence then from all the oratours of Oxford +and Cambridge."</p> + +<p>In his "Fragmenta Regalia" Sir Robert Naunton +describes him as "an archpeece of wit and wisdom," +stating that "he was abundantly facetious which took +much with the Queen when it was suited with the +season as he was well able to judge of his times." +Fuller describes him as "a man of rare wit and deep +experience," and, again, as "a good man, a grave +statesman, and a father to his country." Bishop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +Burnet speaks of him as "not only one of the most +learned and pious men, but one of the wisest ministers +this nation ever bred." The observations of the author +of "The Statesmen and Favourites of England in the +Reign of Queen Elizabeth" are very illuminating. +"Sir Nicholas Bacon," he says, "was a man full of +wit and wisdome, a gentleman and a man of Law with +great knowledge therein." He proceeds: "This gentleman +understood his Mistress well and the times better: +He could raise factions to serve the one and allay them +to suit the others. He had the deepest reach into affairs +of any man that was at the Council table: the knottiest +Head to pierce into difficulties: the most comprehensive +Judgement to surround the merit of a cause: the strongest +memory to recollect all circumstances of a Business +to one View: the greatest patience to debate and consider; +(for it was he that first said, let us stay a little +and we will have done the sooner:) and the clearest +reason to urge anything that came in his way in the +Court of Chancery.... Leicester seemed wiser than +he was, Bacon was wiser than he seemed to be; +Hunsden neither was nor seemed wise.... Great +was this Stateman's Wit, greater the Fame of it; +which as he would say, <i>being nothing, made all things</i>. +For Report, though but Fancy, begets Opinion; and +Opinion begets substance.... He neither affected +nor attained to greatness: <i>Mediocria firma</i>, was his +principle and his practice. When Queen Elizabeth +asked him, <i>Why his house was so little?</i> he answered, +<i>Madam, my house is not too little for me, but you have +made me too big for my House. Give me</i>, said he, <i>a good +Estate rather than a great one. He had a very Quaint +saying and he used it often to good purpose</i>, That he loved +the Jest well but not the loss of his Friend.... He +was in a word, a Father of his country and of <i>Sir +Francis Bacon</i>."</p> + +<p>Before speaking of Lady Ann Bacon, it is necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +to give some account of her father, Sir Anthony Cooke. +He was a great-grandson of Sir Thomas Cooke, Lord +Mayor of London, and was born at Giddy Hall, in Essex. +Again the most valuable observations on his character +are to be found in "The Lives of Statesmen and +Favourites" before referred to. The author states that +Sir Anthony "was one of the Governors to King +Edward the sixth when Prince, and is charactered by +Mr. Camden <i>Vir antiqua serenitate</i>. He observeth him +also to be happy in his Daughters, learned above their +Sex in Greek and Latine: namely, Mildred who married +William Cecil, Lord Treasurer of England; Anne who +married Nichlas Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England; +Katherine who married Henry Killigrew; Elizabeth +who married Thomas Hobby, and afterwards Lord +Russell, and Margaret who married Ralph Rowlet."</p> + +<p>"Gravity," says this author, "was the Ballast of Sir +Anthony's Soul and General Learning its leading.... +Yet he was somebody in every Art, and eminent in all, +the whole circle of Arts lodging in his Soul. His Latine, +fluent and proper; his Greek, critical and exact; his +Philology and Observations upon each of these languages, +deep, curious, various and pertinent: His Logic, +rational; his History and Experience, general; his +Rhetorick and Poetry, copious and genuine; his Mathematiques, +practicable and useful. Knowing that souls +were equal, and that Women are as capable of Learning +as Men, he instilled that to his Daughters at night, +which he had taught the Prince in the day, being +resolved to have Sons by education, for fear he should +have none by birth; and lest he wanted an Heir of his +body, he made five of his minde, for whom he had at +once a <i>Gavel-kind</i> of affection and of Estate."</p> + +<p>"Three things there are before whom (was Sir +Anthony's saying) I cannot do amis: 1, My Prince; 2, +my conscience; 3, my children. Seneca told his sister, +That though he could not leave her a good portion, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +would leave her a good pattern. Sir Anthony would +write to his Daughter <i>Mildred, My example is your inheritance +and my life is your portion</i>....</p> + +<p>"He said first, and his Grandchilde my Lord Bacon +after him, That the Joys of Parents are Secrets, and so are +their Griefs and Fears.... Very providently did +he secure his eternity, by leaving the image of his +nature in his children and of his mind in his Pupil.... +The books he advised were not <i>many</i> but <i>choice</i>: +the business he pressed was not reading, but digesting.... +Sir John Checke talked merrily, Dr. Coxe +solidly and Sir Anthony Cooke weighingly: A faculty +that was derived with his blood to his Grandchilde +Bacon."</p> + +<p>Such then was the father of Lady Anne Bacon. She +and her sisters were famous as a family of accomplished +classical scholars. She had a thorough knowledge of +Greek and Latin. An Apologie ... in defence of the +Churche of England by Dr. Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, +was translated by her from the Latin and published +in 1564. Sir Anthony had been exiled during +Mary's reign, for his adherence to the Protestant +faith. His daughter, Anne, inherited, not only his +classical accomplishments, but his strong Puritan faith +and his hatred of Popery. Francis Bacon describes +her as "A Saint of God." There is a portrait of her +painted by Nathaniel Bacon, her stepson, in which she +appears standing in her pantry habited as a cook. In +feature Francis appears to have resembled his mother. +He "had the same pouting lip, the same round head, +the same straight nose and Hebe chin."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span><br /> + +FRANCIS BACON, 1560 <small>TO</small> 1572.</h2> + + +<p>In the registry of St. Martin's will be found this entry: +Mr. Franciscus Bacon 1560 Jan 25 (<i>filius D'm Nicho +Bacon Magni Angliæ sigilli custodis</i>)." Rawley in his +"Life of the Honourable Author" says: "Francis Bacon, +the glory of his age and nation, was born in York House +or York Place, in the Strand, on the two and twentieth +day of January in the year of our Lord 1560." He +relates that "His first and childish years were not +without some mark of eminency; at which time he was +endued with that pregnancy and towardness of wit, as +they were pressages of that deep and universal apprehension +which was manifest in him afterward." "The +Queen then delighted much to confer with him, and to +prove him with questions unto whom he delivered himself +with that gravity and maturity above his years that +Her Majesty would often term him '<i>Her young Lord +Keeper</i>.' Being asked by the Queen how old he was +he answered with much discretion, being then but a +boy<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> that he was two years younger than Her Majesty's +happy reign, with which answer the queen was much +taken." In the "Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites +of Queen Elizabeth" there is reference to the early development +of his mental and intellectual faculties. The +author writes:—"He had a large mind from his Father +and great abilities from his Mother; His parts improved +more than his years, his great fixed and methodical +memory, his solide judgement, his quick fancy, his ready +expression, gave assurance of that profound and univer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>sal +comprehension of things which then rendered him +the observation of great and wise men; and afterwards +the wonder of all." The historian continues:—"He +never saw anything that was not noble and becoming," +"at twelve his industry was above the capacity and his +minde beyond the reache of his contemporaries."</p> + +<p>This boy so marvellously endowed was brought up +in surroundings which were ideal for his development. +His father, a man of erudition, a wit and orator, +occupying one of the highest positions in the country, +his mother a lady of great classical accomplishments, +who had enjoyed the benefits of an education and +training by her father, that eminent scholar, Sir +Anthony Cooke, and, lastly, there was this man—his +grandfather—living within riding distance from his +home. It seems inevitable that the natural powers of +young Francis must have excited a keen interest in the +old tutor of Edward VI., who had devoted his evenings +to imparting to his daughters what he had taught the +Prince during the day, so that if he left behind him no +heirs of his body, he might leave heirs of his mind. +The boy Francis was, indeed, a worthy heir of his mind, +and it is impossible to believe otherwise than that Sir +Anthony Cooke would throw himself heart and soul +into the education of his grandchild, but no statement +or tradition has come down to this effect. It may be, +however, that a sentence which has already been quoted +from "The Lives of Statesmen and Favourites" is intended +to imply that Francis was the pupil of Sir +Anthony: "He said first and his Grandchilde my Lord +Bacon after him, That the Joys of Parents are +Secrets, and so their Griefs and Fears.... Very +providently did he secure his Eternity, by leaving the +image of his nature in his Children and of his mind in +his Pupil." The pupil referred to was not Edward VI., for +he died twenty-three years before Sir Anthony, and he +could not, therefore, have left the image of his mind in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +the young King. Following directly after the sentence +"He said first and his Grandchilde Lord Bacon after +him" it is possible that the reference may be to the boy +Francis. Certainly Sir Anthony "would secure his +eternity" if he left the image of his mind in his "Grandchilde." +In any case the prodigious natural powers +of the boy were placed in an environment well suited +for their full development.</p> + +<p>The historian says that "at twelve his industry was +above the capacity and his mind beyond the reache of +his Contemporaries." Who were the contemporaries +alluded to? Those of his own age, or those who were +living at the time? A boy of twelve, he excelled others +in his great industry and the wide range of his mind. +This industry appears to have accompanied him +through life, for Rawley states that "he would ever +interlace a moderate relaxation of his mind with his +studies, as walking or taking the air abroad in his coach +or some other befitting recreation; and yet he would +lose no time, inasmuch as upon the first and immediate +return he would fall to reading again, and so suffer no +movement of time to slip from him without some +present improvement." It is a remarkable fact on +which too much stress cannot be laid that in the two +Lives of Bacon, scanty as they are, by contemporary +writers, his exceptional industry is pointed out. There +are certainly no visible fruits of this industry.</p> + +<p>Although there is no definite information as to what +was the state of Francis Bacon's education at twelve, +there is testimony as to that of some of his contemporaries. +Three instances will suffice.</p> + +<p>Philip Melancthon (whose family name was Schwartzerd) +was born in 1497. His education was at an early +age directed by his maternal grandfather, John Reuter. +After a short stay at a public school at Bretten he was +removed to the academy at Pforzheim. Here, under +the tutorship of John Reuchlin, an elegant scholar and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +teacher of languages, he acquired the taste for Greek +literature in which he subsequently became so distinguished. +Here his genius for composition asserted +itself. Amongst other poetical essays in which he indulged +when eleven years of age, he wrote a humorous +piece in the form of a comedy, which he dedicated to +his kind friend and instructor, Reuchlin, in whose +presence it was performed by the schoolfellows of the +youthful author. After a residence of two years at +Pforzheim, Philip matriculated at the University of +Heidelberg on the 13th October, 1509, being eleven +years and nine months old. Young as he was, he +appears to have been employed to compose most of the +harangues that were delivered in the University, besides +writing some pieces for the professors themselves. +Here, at this early age, he composed his "Rudiments +of the Greek Language," which were afterwards published.</p> + +<p>Agrippa d'Aubigné was born in 1550 and died in 1630. +At six years of age he read Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. +When ten years he translated the Crito. Italian and +Spanish were at his command.</p> + +<p>Thomas Bodley was born in 1544 and died in 1612. +In the short autobiography which he left he makes the +following statement as to how far his education had +advanced when his father decided to fix his abode in +the city of Geneva in 1556:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"I was at that time of twelve yeares age but through my +fathers cost and care sufficiently instructed to become an +auditour of <i>Chevalerius</i> in Hebrew, of <i>Berealdus</i> in Greeke, of +<i>Calvin</i> and <i>Beza</i> in Divinity and of some other Professours in +that University, (which was newly there erected) besides my +domesticall teachers, in the house of Philibertus Saracenus, a +famous Physitian in that City with whom I was boarded; when +Robertus Constantinus that made the Greek Lexicon read Homer +with me."</p> + +<p>Bodley was undoubtedly proficient in French, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +Calvin and Beza lectured in French. The "Institution +of the Christian Religion," Calvin's greatest work, +although published in Latin in 1536, was translated by +him into French, and issued in 1540 or 1541. This +translation is one of the finest examples of French +prose. Bodley's English was probably very poor, and +for a very good reason—there was no English language +worthy of comparison with the languages of France, +Italy, or Spain. It had yet to be created.</p> + +<p>It is fair to assume that at twelve years of age +Francis Bacon was as proficient in languages as were +Philip Melancthon, Agrippa d'Aubigné, or Thomas +Bodley at that age. He, therefore, had at least a good +knowledge of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and such +English as there was.</p> + +<p>Another class of evidence is now available. It has +already been stated that a large number of Bacon's books +have been recovered, copiously annotated by him. Some +of these books bear the date when the annotations were +made. For the most part the marginal notes appear to +be aids to memory, but in many cases they are critical +observations of the text. These are, however, dealt +with in a subsequent chapter.</p> + +<p>Gilbert Wats, in dedicating to Charles I. his interpretation +of "The Advancement of Proficiency of Learning" +(1640), makes a statement which throws light +on the course of Bacon's studies, and this strongly +supports the present contention. He says:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"He (Bacon) after he had survaied all the Records of Antiquity, +after the volume of men, betook himselfe to the study of +the volume of the world; and having conquerd whatever books +possest, set upon the Kingdome of Nature and carried that +victory very farre."</p> + +<p>Speaking of him as a boy his biographer<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> describes his +memory as "fixed and methodical," and in another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +place he says "His judgment was solid yet his memory +was a wonder."</p> + +<p>The extent of his reading at this time had been very +wide. He had already taken all knowledge to be his +province, and was with that industry which was beyond +the capacity of his contemporaries rapidly laying the +foundations which subsequently justified this claim.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span><br /> + +AT CAMBRIDGE.</h2> + + +<p>Francis Bacon went to reside at Trinity College, +Cambridge, in April, 1573, being 12 years and 3 months +of age. While the plague raged he was absent from the +end of August, 1574, until the beginning of March +following. He finally left the University at Christmas, +1575, about one month before his fifteenth birthday.</p> + +<p>Rawley says he was there educated and bred under +the tuition of Dr. John Whitgift,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> then master of the +College, afterwards the renowned Archbishop of Canterbury, +a prelate of the first magnitude for sanctity, learning, +patience, and humility; under whom he was observed +to have been more than an ordinary proficient in +the several arts and sciences.</p> + +<p>Amboise, in the "Discours sur la vie de M. Bacon," prefixed +to the "Histoire Naturelle," Paris, 1631, says: "Le +jugement et la mémoire ne furent jamais en aucun home +au degrè qu'ils estoient en celuy-cy; de sorte qu'en bien +peu de temps il se rendit fort habile en toutes les +sciences qui s'apprennent au Collège. Et quoi que +deslors il fust jugé capable des charges les plas importantes, +nean-moins pour ne tomber dedans la mesme +faute que sont d'ordinaire les jeunes gens de son estoffe, +qui par une ambition trop précipitée portent souvent au +maniement des grandes affaires un esprit encore tout +rempli des crudités de l'escole, Monsieur Bacon se +voulut acquérir cette science, qui rendit autres-fois +Ulysse si recommandable et luy fit mériter le nom de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +sage, par la connoissance des mœurs de tant de nations +diverses." That is all that can be said about his career +at Cambridge except that Rawley adds:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whilst he was commorant in the University, about +sixteen years of age (as his lordship hath been pleased +to impart unto myself), he first fell into the dislike of +the philosophy of Aristotle; not for the worthlessness of +the author, to whom he would ever ascribe all high +attributes, but for the unfruitfulness of the way; being +a philosophy (as his lordship used to say) only strong +for disputations and contentions, but barren of the production +of works for the benefit of the life of man; in +which mind he continued to his dying day."</p></div> + +<p>As Bacon left Cambridge at Christmas, 1575, before +he was 15 years of age, Rawley's recollection must have +been at fault when he mentions the age of 16 as that +when Bacon formed this opinion.</p> + +<p>There is another account of this incident in which it +is stated that Francis Bacon left Cambridge without +taking a degree as a protest against the manner in +which philosophy was taught there. In the preface to +the "Great Instauration" Bacon repeats his protest: +"And for its value and utility, it must be plainly avowed +that that wisdom which we have derived principally +from the Greeks is but like the boyhood of knowledge +and has the characteristic property of boys: it can talk +but it cannot generate: for it is fruitful of controversies +but barren of works."</p> + +<p>This is merely a re-statement of the position he took +up when at Cambridge. So this boy set up his opinion +against that of the recognised professors of philosophy +of his day, against the whole authority of the staff of +the University, on a fundamental point on the most +important question which could be raised as to the +pursuit of knowledge. It is not too much to say that +he had at this time covered the whole field of knowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +in a manner more thorough than it had ever been +covered before, and with his mind, which was beyond +the reach of his contemporaries, he began to lay down +those laws which revolutionised all thought and have +become the accepted method by which the pursuit of +knowledge is followed.</p> + +<p>It is necessary again to seek for parallels to justify the +position which will be claimed for Francis Bacon at +this period.</p> + +<p>Philip Melancthon affords one and James Crichton +another. At Heidelberg Melancthon remained three +years. He left when he was 15, the principal cause of +his leaving being disappointment at being refused a +higher degree in the University solely, it is alleged, on +account of his youth. In September, 1512, he was +entered at the University of Tubingen, where, in the +following year, before he was 17 years of age, he was +created Doctor in Philosophy or Master of Arts. He +then commenced a course of public lectures, embracing +an extraordinary variety of subjects, including the +learned languages, rhetoric, logic, ethics, mathematics, +and theology. Here in 1516 he put forth his revision +of the text of Terence. Besides he entered into an +undertaking with Thomas Anshelmus to revise all the +books printed by him. He bestowed great labour on a +large work in folio by Nauclerus, which he appears to +have almost entirely re-written.</p> + +<p>So much romance has been thrown around James +Crichton that it is difficult to obtain the real facts of his +life. Sir Thomas Urquhart, in "Discovery of a Most +Exquisite Jewel," published in 1652, gives a biography +which is, without doubt, mainly apocryphal. Certain +facts, however, are well established. He was born in +the same year as was Bacon (1560). At 10 years of age +he entered St. Andrew's University, and in 1575 (the +year Bacon left Cambridge) took his degree, coming +out third in the first class. In 1576 he went to France,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +as did Bacon—to Paris. In the College of Navarre he +issued a universal challenge. This he subsequently +repeated at Venice with equal success; that is, to all +men, upon all things, in any of twelve languages named. +The challenge is broad and formal. He pledged himself +to review the schoolmen, allowed his opponents +the privilege of selecting their topics—mathematics, no +less than scholastic lore—either from branches publicly +or privately taught, and promised to return answers in +logical figure or in numbers estimated according to +their occult power, or in any of a hundred sorts of verse. +He is said to have justified before many competent +witnesses his magnificent pretensions.</p> + +<p>What Philip Melancthon was at fifteen, what James +Crichton was at sixteen, Francis Bacon may have been. +All the testimony which his contemporaries afford, +especially having regard to his after life, justify the +assertion that in knowledge and acquirements he was at +least their equal.</p> + +<p>About eighteen months later his portrait was painted +by Hilliard, the Court miniature painter, who inscribed +around it, as James Spedding says, the significant +words—the natural ejaculation, we may presume, of the +artist's own emotion—"<i>Si tabula daretur digna animum +mallem.</i>" If one could only find materials worthy to +paint his mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span><br /> + +EARLY COMPOSITIONS.</h2> + + +<p>It is at this stage that the mystery of Francis Bacon +begins to develop. Every channel through which information +might be expected appears to be blocked. +Besides a few pamphlets, in the production of which +little time would be occupied, there came nothing +from his pen until 1597 when, at the age of 37, the first +edition of the essays was published—only ten short +essays containing less than 6,000 words. In 1605, when +45, he addressed to James I. the "Two Books on the +Advancement of Learning," containing less than 60,000 +words. It would require no effort on Bacon's part to +write either of these volumes. He could turn out the +"Two Books of the Advancement of Learning" with the +same facility that a leader writer of the <i>Times</i> would +write his daily articles. He was to all intents and purposes +unoccupied. Until 1594 he had not held a brief, +and he never had any practice at the Bar worth considering. +He was a member of Parliament, but the +House seldom sat, and never for long periods. Bacon's +life is absolutely unaccounted for. It is now proposed, +by the aid of the literature of the period from 1576 to +1620, and with the help of information derived from +his own handwriting, to trace, step by step, the results +of his industry, and to supply the reason for the concealment +which he pursued.</p> + +<p>There is an entry in the Book of Orders of Gray's Inn +under date 21st November, 1577, that Anthony and +Francis Bacon (who had been admitted members 27th +June, 1576, "<i>de societate magistrorum</i>") be admitted to +the Grand Company, <i>i.e.</i>, to the Degree of Ancients,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +a privilege to which they were entitled as sons +of a judge. From a letter subsequently written +by Burghley, it is known that one Barker was appointed +as their tutor of Law. Apparently it was intended +that they should settle down to a course of legal +training, but this plan was abandoned, at any rate, as +far as Francis was concerned. Sir Amias Paulet, who +was Chancellor of the Garter, a Privy Counsellor, and +held in high esteem by the Queen,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> was about to proceed +to Paris to take the place of Dr. Dale as Ambassador +at the Court of France. There is a letter written +from Calais, dated 25th September, 1576, from Sir +Amias to Lord Burghley, in which this paragraph +appears: "My ordinary train is no greater than of +necessity, being augmented by some young gentlemen, +whereof one is Sir Nicholas Throgmorton's son, who was +recommended to me by her Majesty, and, therefore, I +could not refuse him. The others are so dear to me +and the most part of them of such towardness, as my +good hope of their doing well, and thereafter they will +be able to serve their Prince and country, persuades me +to make so much to excuse my folly as to entreat you to +use your favour in my allowance for my transportations, +my charges being increased by these extraordinary +occasions."</p> + +<p>Francis Bacon was one of this group of young gentlemen. +Rawley states that "after he had passed the circle +of the liberal arts, his father thought fit to frame and +mould him for the arts of state; and for that end sent +him over into France with Sir Amyas Paulet then +employed Ambassador lieger into France."</p> + +<p>There are grounds for believing that Bacon's literary +activity had commenced before he left England. There +is abundant evidence to prove that it was the custom at +this period for authors who desired to conceal their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +authorship to substitute for their own names, initials or +the names of others on the title-pages. Two instances +will suffice: "The Arte of English Poesie" was published +in 1589, but written several years previously. +The author says:—"I know very many notable Gentlemen +in the Court that have written commendably, and +suppressed it agayne, or els suffred it to be publisht +without their owne names to it as if it were a discredit +for a Gentleman to seeme learned, and to shew himself +amorous of any learned Art." There is a bare-faced +avowal of how names were placed on title-pages +in a letter which exists from Henry Cuffe to Mr. +Reynolds. Cuffe, an Oxford scholar of distinction, was +a close companion and confidant of Essex. After the +capture and sacking of Cadiz by Essex and Howard, the +former deemed it important that his version of the affair +should be the first to be published in England. Cuffe, +therefore, started off post haste with the manuscript, but +was taken ill on his arrival at Portsmouth, and could +not proceed. He despatched the manuscript by a +messenger with a letter to "Good Mr. Reynoldes," who +was a private Secretary of Essex. He was to cause a +transcript to be made and have it delivered to some +good printer, in good characters and with diligence to +publish it. Reynoldes was to confer with Mr. Greville +(Fulke Greville, afterwards Lord Brooke) "whether he +can be contented to suffer the two first letters of his +name to be used in the inscription." "If he be +unwilling," adds Cuffe, "you may put R.B. which +some no doubt will interprete to be Beale, but it skills +not." That this was a common practice is admitted +by those acquainted with Elizabethan literature. If +any of Bacon's writings were published prior to the trifle +which appeared in 1597 as Essaies, his name was suppressed, +and it would be probable some other name +would appear on the title-page. There is a translation +of a classical author, bearing date 1572, which is in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +the Baconian style, but which need not be claimed for +him without further investigation.</p> + +<p>The following suggestion is put forward with all +diffidence, but after long and careful investigation. +Francis Bacon was the author of two books which were +published, one before he left England, and the other +shortly after. The first is a philosophical discourse +entitled "The Anatomie of the Minde." Newlie made +and set forth by T.R. Imprinted at London by I.C. for +Andrew Maunsell, 1576, 12mo. The dedication is +addressed to Master Christopher Hatton, and the name +of Tho. Rogers is attached to it. There was a Thomas +Rogers who was Chaplain to Archbishop Bancroft, and +the book has been attributed to him, apparently only +because no other of the same name was known. +There was published in 1577 a translation by Rogers +of a Latin book "Of the Ende of the World, etc." and +there are other translations by him published between +then and 1628. There are several sermons, also, but +the style of these, the matter, and the manner of treatment +are quite distinct from those of the book under +consideration. There is nothing of his which would +support the assignment to him of "The Anatomie of +the Mind." It is foreign to his style.</p> + +<p>Having regard to the acknowledged custom of the +times of putting names other than the author's on title-pages, +there is no need for any apology for expressing +doubt as to whether the book has been correctly placed +to the credit of the Bishop Bancroft's chaplain. In the +address To the Reader the author says: "I dyd once for +my profite in the Universitie, draw into Latin tables, +which since for thy profite (Christian Reader) at the +request of a gentleman of good credite and worship, I +have Englished and published in these two books." +There is in existence a copy of the book with the +printer's and other errors corrected in Bacon's own +handwriting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bearing date 1577, imprinted at London for Henri +Cockyn, is an octavo book styled, <i>"Beautiful Blossoms" +gathered by John Byshop from the best trees of all kyndes, +Divine, Philosophicall, Astronomicall, Cosmographical, +Historical and Humane that are growing in Greece, +Latium, and Arabia, and some also in vulgar orchards +as wel fro these that in auncient time were grafted, as also +from them which with skilful head and hand beene of late +yeare's, yea, and in our dayes planted: to the unspeakable, +both pleasure and profite of all such as wil vouchsafe to use +them.</i> On the title-page are the words, "The First +Tome," but no further volume was published. As to +who or what John Byshop was there is no information +available. His name appears on no other book. The +preface is a gem of musical sounding words. It contains +the sentence, "let them pass it over and read the +rest which are all as plaine as Dunstable Way." +Bacon's home was within a few miles of Dunstable +Way, which was the local term for the main road.</p> + +<p>It is impracticable here to give at length the grounds +upon which it is believed that Francis Bacon was the +author of these two books. Each of them is an outpouring +of classical lore, and is evidently written by some +young man who had recently assimilated the writings +of nearly every classical author. In this respect both +correspond with the manner of "The French Academie," +to which the attention of the reader will shortly be +directed, whilst in "The Anatomie of the Minde" the +treatment of the subject is identical with that in the +latter. Failing actual proof, the circumstantial evidence +that the two books are from the same pen is almost as +strong as need be.</p> + +<p>Some time in October, 1576, Sir Amyas Paulet would +reach Paris, accompanied by Bacon. The only fragment +of information which is given by his biographers +of any occurrence during his stay there is obtained from +Rawley. He states that "Sir Amias Paulet after a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +while held him fit to be entrusted with some message, +or advertisement to the Queen, which having performed +with great approbation, he returned back into France +again with intention to continue for some years there." +In his absence in France, his father, the Lord Keeper, +died. This was in February, 1578-9. If he returned +shortly after news of his father's death reached him, +his stay on the Continent would cover about two and +a-half years. As to what he was doing nothing is +known, but Pierre Amboise states that "France, Italy, +and Spain as the most civilised nations of the whole +world were those whither his desire for Knowledge +carried him."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span><br /> + +BACON'S "TEMPORIS PARTUS MAXIMUS."</h2> + + +<p>Francis Bacon was at Blois with Sir Amias Paulet in +1577. In the same year was published the first edition +of the first part of "Académie Francoise par Pierre de +la Primaudaye Esceuyer, Seignor dudict lieu et de la +Barrée, Gentilhomme ordinaire de la chambre du Roy." +The dedication, dated February, 1577 (<i>i.e.</i>, 1578) is +addressed, "Au Tres-chrestien Roy de France et de +Polongne Henry III. de ce nom." The first English +translation, by T. B., was "published in 1586<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a>, imprinted +at London by Edmund Bollifant for G. Bishop +and Ralph Newbery." Other parts of "The Academy" +followed at intervals of years, but the first and only +complete edition in English bears date 1618, and was +printed for Thomas Adams. Over the dedication is +the well-known archer emblem. It is a thick folio +volume, with 1,038 pages double columns. It may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +termed the first Encyclopædia which appeared in any +language, and is, perhaps, one of the most remarkable +productions of the Elizabethan era. Little is known +of Pierre de la Primaudaye. The particulars for his +biography in the "Biographie Nationale" seem to +have been taken from references made to the author +in the "French Académie" itself. In the French +Edition, 1580, there is a portrait of a man, and under +it the words "Anag. de L'auth. Par la prierè Dieu +m'ayde." The following is an extract from the dedication:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"The dinner of that prince of famous memorie, was a second +table of Salomon, vnto which resorted from euerie nation such as +were best learned, that they might reape profit and instruction. +Yours, Sir, being compassed about with those, who in your +presence daily discourse of, and heare discoursed many graue +and goodly matters, seemeth to be a schoole erected to teach men +that are borne to vertue. And for myselfe, hauing so good hap +during the assemblie of your Estates at Blois, as to be made +partaker of the fruit gathered thereof, it came in my mind to +offer vnto your Maiestie a dish of diuers fruits, which I gathered +in a Platonicall garden or orchard, otherwise called an <span class="smcap">Academie</span>, +where I was not long since with certaine yoong Gentlemen of +Aniou my companions, discoursing togither of the institution in +good maners, and of the means how all estates and conditions +may liue well and happily. And although a thousand thoughts +came then into my mind to hinder my purpose, as the small +authoritie, which youth may or ought to haue in counsell amongst +ancient men: the greatnes of the matter subject, propounded to +be handled by yeeres of so small experience; the forgetfulness of +the best foundations of their discourses, which for want of a rich +and happie memorie might be in me: my iudgement not sound +ynough, and my profession vnfit to set them downe in good +order: briefly, the consideration of your naturall disposition and +rare vertue, and of the learning which you receiuve both by reading +good authors, and by your familiar communication with learned +and great personages that are neere about your Maiestie (whereby +I seemed to oppose the light of an obscure day, full of clouds +and darkness, to the bright beames of a very cleere shining +sonne, and to take in hand, as we say, to teach Minerua). I say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +all these reasons being but of too great weight to make me +change my opinion, yet calling to mind manie goodlie and graue +sentences taken out of sundry Greeke and Latine Philosophers, +as also the woorthie examples of the liues of ancient Sages and +famous men, wherewith these discourses were inriched, which +might in delighting your noble mind renew your memorie with +those notable sayings in the praise of vertue and dispraise of vice, +which you alwaies loued to heare: and considering also that the +bounty of Artaxerxes that great Monarke of the Persians was +reuiued in you, who receiued with a cheerfull countenance a +present of water of a poore laborer, when he had no need of it, +thinking to be as great an act of magnanimitie to take in good +part, and to receiue cheerfully small presents offered with a +hartie and good affection, as to giue great things liberally, I +ouercame whatsoeuer would haue staied me in mine enterprise."</p> + +<p>It appears, therefore, that the author by good hap was +a visitor at the Court of Henry III. when at Blois; +that he was there studying with certain young gentlemen +of Anjou, his companions; that he was a youth, and of +years of small experience; that his memory might not +be sufficiently rich and happy, his judgment not enough, +and his profession unfit in recording the discourses of +himself and his companions.</p> + +<p>"The Author to the Reader" is an essay on Philosophy, +every sentence in which seems to have the same +familiar sound as essays which subsequently appeared +under another name. The contents of the several +chapters are enumerated thus: "Of Man," "Of the +Body and Soule," etc.</p> + +<p>The first chapter contains a description of how the +"Academie" came about. An ancient wise gentleman +of great calling having spent the greater part of his +years in the service of two kings, and of his country, +France, for many and good causes had withdrawn himself +to his house. He thought that to content his mind, +which always delighted in honest and vertuous things, +he could not bring greater profit to the Monarchie of +France, than to lay open and preserve and keep youth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +from the corruption which resulted from the over great +license and excessive liberty granted to them in the +Universities. He took unto his house four young +gentlemen, with the consent of their parents who were +distinguished noblemen. After he had shown these +young men the first grounds of true wisdom, and of all +necessary things for their salvation, he brought into his +house a tutor of great learning and well reported of his +good life and conversation, to whom he committed their +instruction. After teaching them the Latin tongue and +some smattering of Greek he propounded for their chief +studies the moral philosophy of ancient sages and wise +men, together with the understanding and searching +out of histories which are the light of life. The four +fathers, desiring to see what progress their sons had +made, decided to visit them. And because they had +small skill in the Latin tongue, they determined to have +their children discourse in their own natural tongue of +all matters that might serve for the instruction and +reformation of every estate and calling, in such order +and method as they and their master might think best. +It was arranged that they should meet in a walking +place covered over with a goodly green arbour, and +daily, except Sundays, for three weeks, devote two hours +in the morning and two hours after dinner to these +discourses, the fathers being in attendance to listen to +their sons. So interesting did these discussions become +that the period was often extended to three or four +hours, and the young men were so intent upon preparation +for them that they would not only bestow the rest +of the days, but oftentimes the whole night, upon the +well studying of that which they proposed to handle. +The author goes on to say:—"During which time it +was my good hap to be one of the companie when they +began their discourses, at which I so greatly wondered +that I thought them worthy to be published abroad." +From this it would appear that the author was a visitor,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +privileged, with the four fathers and the master, to listen +to the discourses of these four young men. But, a little +further on the position is changed; one of the four +young men is, without any explanation, ignored, and +his father disappointed! For the author takes his place, +as will be seen from the following extract:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"And thus all fower of us followed the same order daily until +everie one in his course had intreated according to appointment, +both by the precepts of doctrine, as also by the examples of the +lives of ancient Sages and famous men, of all things necessary +for the institution of manners and happie life of all estates and +callings in this French Monarchie. But because I knowe not +whether, in naming my companions by their proper names, +supposing thereby to honour them as indeede they deserve it, I +should displease them (which thing I would not so much as +thinke) I have determined to do as they that play on a Theater, +who under borrowed maskes and disguised apparell, do represent +the true personages of those whom they have undertaken to +bring on the stage. I will therefore call them by names very +agreeable to their skill and nature: the first <span class="smcap">Aser</span> which signifieth +<i>Felicity</i>: the second <span class="smcap">Amana</span> which is as much to say +as <i>Truth</i>: the third <span class="smcap">Aram</span> which noteth to us <i>Highness</i>; and to +agree with them as well in name as in education and behaviour. +I will name myself <span class="smcap">Achitob</span><a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> which is all one with <i>Brother of +goodness</i>. Further more I will call and honour the proceeding +and finishing of our sundry treatises and discourses with this +goodlie and excellent title of Academie, which was the ancient +and renowned school amongst the Greek Philosophers, who were +the first that were esteemed, and that the place where Plato, +Xenophon, Poleman, Xenocrates, and many other excellent personages, +afterward called Academicks, did propound & discourse +of all things meet for the instruction and teaching of wisdome: +wherein we purposed to followe them to our power, as the +sequele of our discourses shall make good proofe."</p> + +<p>And then the discourses commence.</p> + +<p>"Love's Labour's Lost" was published in 1598, and +was the first quarto upon which the name of Shakespeare<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +was printed. The title-page states that it is "newly +corrected and augmented," from which it may be inferred +that there was a previous edition, but no copy of such is +known. The commentators are in practical agreement +that it was probably the first play written by the +dramatist.</p> + +<p>There are differences of opinion as to the probable date +when it was written. Richard Grant White believes this +to be not later than 1588, Knight gives 1589, but all this +is conjecture.</p> + +<p>The play opens with a speech by Ferdinand:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Let Fame that all hunt after in their lives,<br /> +Live registred upon our brazen Tombes,<br /> +And then grace us, in the disgrace of death:<br /> +When spight of cormorant devouring time,<br /> +Th' endevour of this present breath may buy:<br /> +That honour which shall bate his sythes keene edge,<br /> +And make us heyres of all eternitie.<br /> +Therefore brave Conquerours, for so you are,<br /> +That warre against your own affections,<br /> +And the huge Armie of the worlds desires.<br /> +Our late Edict shall strongly stand in force,<br /> +Navar shall be the wonder of the world.<br /> +Our Court shall be a little Achademe,<br /> +Still and contemplative in living Art.<br /> +You three, Berowne, Doumaine, and Longavill,<br /> +Have sworne for three yeeres terme, to live with me,<br /> +My fellow Schollers, and to keepe those statutes<br /> +That are recorded in this schedule heere.<br /> +Your oathes are past, and now subscribe your names;<br /> +That his owne hand may strike his honour downe,<br /> +That violates the smallest branch heerein:<br /> +If you are arm'd to doe, as sworne to do,<br /> +Subscribe to your deepe oathes, and keepe it to."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Four young men in the French "Academie" associated +together, as in "Love's Labour Lost," to war +against their own affections and the whole army of the +world's desires. Dumaine, in giving his acquiescence to +Ferdinand, ends:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"To love, to wealth, to pompe, I pine and die<br /> +With all these living in Philosophie."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Philosophie was the subject of study of the four young +men to the "Academie."</p> + +<p>Berowne was a visitor, for he says:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"I only swore to study with your grace<br /> +And stay heere in your Court for three yeeres' space."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Upon his demurring to subscribe to the oath as drawn, Ferdinand +retorts:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +Well, sit you out: go home, Berowne: adue."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>To which Berowne replies:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +No, my good lord; I have sworn to stay with you."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Achitob was a visitor at the Academie in France. +There are other points of resemblance, but sufficient has +been said to warrant consideration of the suggestion +that the French "Academie" contains the serious +studies of the four young men whose experiences form +the subject of the play.</p> + +<p>The parallels between passages in the Shakespeare +plays and the French "Academie" are numerous, but +they form no part of the present contention.</p> + +<p>One of these may, however, be mentioned. In the +third Tome the following passage occurs<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a>:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">Psal. xix.: "It is not without cause that the Prophet said (The +heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth sheweth the +workes of his handes) For thereby he evidently teacheth, as with +the finger even to our eies, the great and admirable providence +of God their Creator; even as if the heavens should speake to +anyone. In another place it is written (Eccles. xliii.): (This high +ornament, this cleere firmament, the beauty of the heaven so +glorious to behold, tis a thing full of Majesty)."</p> + +<p>On turning to the revised version of the Bible it will +be found that the first verse is thus translated: "The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +pride of the height, the cleare firmament the beauty of +heaven with his glorious shew." The rendering of the +text in "The French Academy" is strongly suggestive +of Hamlet's famous soliloquy. "This most excellent +canopy, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical +roof fritted with golden fire, why it appears to me +no other than a foul and pestilent congregation of +vapours." The author has forsaken the common-place +rendering of the Apocrypha, and has adopted the same +declamatory style which Shakespeare uses. It is strongly +reminiscent of Hamlet's famous speech, Act II., scene ii.</p> + +<p>Only one of the Shakespeare commentators makes +any reference to the work. The Rev. Joseph Hunter, +writing in 1844, points out that the dramatist in "As +You Like It," describing the seven ages of man, follows +the division made in the chapter on "The Ages of +Man" in the "Academie."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>The suggestion now made is that the French +"Academie" was written by Bacon, who is represented +in the dialogues as Achitob—the first part when +he was about 18 years of age, that he continued it +until, in 1618, the complete work was published. In the +dedication the author describes himself as a youth of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +immature experience, but the contents bear evidence of +a wide knowledge of classical authors and their works, +a close acquaintance with the ancient philosophies, +and a store of general information which it would be +impossible for any ordinary youth of such an age to +possess. But was not the boy who at 15 years of age +left Cambridge disagreeing with the teaching there of +Aristotle's philosophy, and whose mental qualities and +acquirements provoked as "the natural ejaculation of +the artist's emotion" the significant words, "<i>Si tabula +daretur digna animum mallem</i>," altogether abnormal?</p> + +<p>Was the "French Academie" Bacon's <i>temporis partus +maximus</i>? It is only in a letter written to Father +Fulgentio about 1625 that this work is heard of. Bacon +writes: "Equidem memini me, quadraginta abhinc +annis, juvenile opusculum circa has res confecisse, quod +magna prorsus fiducia et magnifico titulo 'Temporis +Partum Maximum' inscripsi."<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>Spedding says: "This was probably the work of +which Henry Cuffe (the great Oxford scholar who was +executed in 1601 as one of the chief accomplices in the +Earl of Essex's treason) was speaking when he said that +'a fool could not have written it and a wise man would +not.' Bacon's intimacy with Essex had begun about +thirty-five years before this letter was written."</p> + +<p>Forty years from 1625 would carry back to 1585, the +year preceding the date of publication of the first +edition in English. If Cuffe's remark was intended to +apply to the "French Academy," it is just such a +criticism as the book might be expected to provoke.</p> + +<p>The first edition of "The French Academie" in +English appeared in 1586, the second in 1589, the third +(two parts) in 1594, the fourth (three parts) in 1602, +the fifth in 1614 (all quartos), then, in 1618, the large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +folio edition containing the fourth part "never before +published in English." It appears to have been more +popular in England than it was in France. Brunet in +his 1838 edition mentions neither the book nor the +author, Primaudaye. The question as to whether there +was at this time a reading public in England sufficiently +wide to absorb an edition in numbers large enough to +make the publication of this and similar works possible +at a profit will be dealt with hereafter. In anticipation +it may be said that the balance of probabilities justifies +the conjecture that the issue of each of these editions +involved someone in loss, and the folio edition involved +considerable loss.</p> + +<p>A comparison between the French and English +publications points to both having been written by +an author who was a master of each language rather +than that the latter was a mere translation of the +former. The version is so natural in idiom and style +that it appears to be an original rather than a translation. +In 1586 how many men were there who could +write such English? The marginal notes are in the +exact style of Bacon. "A similitude"—"A notable +comparison"—occur frequently just as the writer finds +them again and again in Bacon's handwriting in +volumes which he possesses. The book abounds in +statements, phrases, and quotations which are to be +found in Bacon's letters and works.</p> + +<p>One significant fact must be mentioned. The first +letter of the text in the dedication in the first English +translation is the letter S. It is printed from a wood +block (Fig. I.). Thirty-nine years after (in 1625) when +the last edition of Bacon's Essays—and, with the exception +of the small pamphlet containing his versification +of certain Psalms, the last publication during his +life—was printed, that identical wood block (Fig. II.) +was again used to print the first letter in the dedication +of that book. Every defect and peculiarity in the one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +will be found in the other. A search through many +hundreds of books printed during these thirty-nine +years—1586 to 1625—has failed to find it used elsewhere, +except on one occasion, either then, before, or +since.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/fig_i.jpg" width="360" height="356" alt="Fig. I." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Fig. I.</i></span> +<p>The first letter in the text of the dedication of the 1st edition +of the English translation of the "French Academie," <b>1586</b>. +Printed at London by G. Bollifant. The block is also used in a +similar manner in the 2nd edition, <b>1589</b>. Londini Impensis, +John Bishop.</p> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;"> +<img src="images/fig_ii.jpg" width="380" height="352" alt="Fig. II." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Fig. II.</i></span> +<p>The first letter in the text of the dedication of the <b>1625</b> +edition of Bacon's Essays, printed in London, by John Haviland.</p> +</div> + +<p class="center"><i>Both letters were printed from the same block.</i></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Did Bacon mark his first work on philosophy and +his last book by printing the first letter in each from +the same block?<a name="FNanchor_15_14" id="FNanchor_15_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VII.</span><br /> + +BACON'S FIRST ALLEGORICAL ROMANCE.</h2> + + +<p>There is another work which it is impossible not to associate with this +period, and that is John Barclay's "Argenis." It is little better known +than is "The French Academy," and yet Cowper pronounced it the most +amusing romance ever written. Cardinal Richelieu is said to have been +extremely fond of reading it, and to have derived thence many of his +political maxims. It is an allegorical novel. It is proposed now only to +mention some evidence connected with the "Argenis" which supports the +contention that the 1625 English edition contains the original +composition, and that its author was young Francis Bacon.</p> + +<p>The first edition of the "Argenis" in Latin was published in 1621. The +authority to the publisher, Nicholas Buon, to print and sell the +"Argenis" is dated the 21st July, 1621, and was signed by Barclay at +Rome. The Royal authority is dated on the 31st August following.</p> + +<p>Barclay's death took place between these dates, on the 12th of August, +at Rome. It is reported that the cause of death was stone, but in an +appreciation of him, published by his friend, Ralph Thorie, his death is +attributed to poison.</p> + +<p>The work is an example of the highest type of +Latinity. So impressed was Cowper with its style that +he stated that it would not have dishonoured Tacitus +himself. A translation in Spanish was published in +1624, and in Italian in 1629. The Latin version was +frequently reprinted during the seventeenth and +eighteenth centuries—perhaps more frequently than +any other book.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a letter dated 11th May, 1622, Chamberlain, +writing to Carleton, says: "The King has ordered +Ben Jonson to translate the 'Argenis,' but he will not +be able to equal the original." On the 2nd October, +1623, Ben Jonson entered a translation in Stationers' +Hall, but it was never published. About that time +there was a fire in Jonson's house, in which it is said +some manuscripts were destroyed; but it is a pure +assumption that the "Argenis" was one of these.</p> + +<p>In 1629 an English translation appeared by Sir +Robert Le Grys, Knight, and the verses by Thomas +May, Esquire. The title-page bears the statement: +"The prose upon his Majesty's command." There is +a Clavis appended, also stated to be "published at his +Majesties command." It was printed by Felix Kyngston +for Richard Mughten and Henry Seile. In the +address to "The understanding Reader" Le Grys +says, "What then should I say? Except it were to +entreate thee, that where my English phrase doth not +please thee, thou wilt compare it with the originall +Latin and mend it. Which I doe not speak as thinking +it impossible, but as willing to have it done, for the +saving me a labour, who, if his Majesty had not so much +hastened the publishing it, would have reformed some +things in it, that did not give myselfe very full satisfaction."</p> + +<p>In 1622 King James ordered a translation of the +"Argenis." In 1629<a name="FNanchor_16_15" id="FNanchor_16_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> Charles I. was so impatient to +have a translation that he hastened the publication, thus +preventing the translator from revising his work. Three +years previously, however, in 1625—if the date may be +relied on—there was published as printed by G. P. +for Henry Seile a translation by Kingesmill Long. +James died on the 25th March, 1625. The "Argenis" +may not have been published in his lifetime; but if the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +date be correct, three or four years before Charles +hastened the publication of Le Grys's translation, this +far superior one with Kingesmill Long's name attached +to it could have been obtained from H. Seile. Surely +the publisher would have satisfied the King's impatience +by supplying him with a copy of the 1625 edition had it +been on sale. The publication of a translation of the +"Argenis" must have attracted attention. Is it possible +that it could have been in existence and not brought to +the notice of the King? There is something here that +requires explanation. The Epistle Dedicatorie of the +1625 edition is written in the familiar style of another +pen, although it bears the name of Kingesmill Long. +The title-page states that it is "faithfully translated +out of Latine into English," but it is not directly +in the Epistle Dedicatorie spoken of as a translation. +The following extract implies that the work had +been lying for years waiting publication:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"This rude piece, such as it is, hath long lyen by me, since it +was finished; I not thinking it worthy to see the light. I had +always a desire and hope to have it undertaken by a more able +workman, that our Nation might not be deprived of the use of so +excellent a Story: But finding none in so long time to have +done it; and knowing that it spake not <i>English</i>, though it +were a rich jewell to the learned Linguist, yet it was close lockt +from all those, to whom education had not given more languages, +than Nature Tongues: I have adventured to become the key to +this piece of hidden Treasure, and have suffered myselfe to be +overruled by some of my worthy friends, whose judgements I +have alwayes esteemed, sending it abroad (though coursely done) +for the delight and use of others."</p> + +<p>Not a word about the author! The translations, +said to be by Thomas May, of the Latin verses in the +1629 are identical with those in the 1625 edition, +although Kingesmill Long, on the title-page, appears +as the translator. Nothing can be learnt as to who or +what Long was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>Over lines "Authori," signed Ovv: Fell:<a name="FNanchor_17_16" id="FNanchor_17_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> in the +1625 edition is one of the well-known light and dark A +devices. This work is written in flowing and majestic +English; the 1629 edition in the cramped style of +translation.</p> + +<p>The copy bearing date 1628, to which reference has +been made, belonged to John Henry Shorthouse. He +has made this note on the front page: "Jno. Barclay's +description of himself under the person of Nicopompus +Argenis, p. 60." This is the description to +which he alludes:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"Him thus boldly talking, Nicopompus could no longer +endure: he was a man who from his infancy loved Learning; +but who disdaining to be nothing but a booke-man had left the +schooles very young, that in the courts of Kings and Princes, he +might serve his apprenticeship in publicke affairs; so he grew +there with an equall abilitie, both in learning and imployment, +his descent and disposition fitting him for that kind of life: wel +esteemed of many Princes, and especially of Meleander, whose +cause together with the rest of the Princes, he had taken upon +him to defend."</p> + +<p>This description is inaccurate as applied to John +Barclay, but in every detail it describes Francis Bacon.</p> + +<p>A comparison has been made between the editions of +1625 and 1629 with the 1621 Latin edition. It leaves +little room for doubting that the 1625 is the original +work. Throughout the Latin appears to follow it +rather than to be the leader; whilst the 1629 +edition follows the Latin closely. In some cases the +word used in the 1625 edition has been incorrectly +translated into the 1621 edition, and the Latin word re-translated +literally and incorrectly in view of the sense +in the 1629 edition. But space forbids this comparison +being further followed; suffice it to say that everything +points to the 1625 edition being the original work.</p> + +<p>As to the date of composition much may be said;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +but the present contention is that "The French +Academie," "The Argenis," and "Love's Labour's Lost" +are productions from the same pen, and that they all +represent the work of Francis Bacon probably between +the years 1577 and 1580. At any rate, the first-named +was written whilst he was in France, and the others +were founded on the incidents and experience obtained +during his sojourn there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII.</span><br /> + +BACON IN FRANCE, 1576-1579.</h2> + + +<p>This brilliant young scholar landed with Sir Amias +Paulet at Calais on the 25th of September, 1576, and +with him went straight to the Court of Henry III. +of France. It is remarkable that neither Montagu, +Spedding, Hepworth Dixon, nor any other biographer +seems to have thought it worth while to consider under +what influences he was brought when he arrived there +at the most impressionable period of his life. Hepworth +Dixon, without stating his authority, says that he +"quits the galleries of the Louvre and St. Cloud with +his morals pure," but nothing more. And yet Francis +Bacon arrived in France at the most momentous epoch +in the history of French literature. This boy, with +his marvellous intellect—the same intellect which +nearly half a century later produced the "Novum +Organum"—with a memory saturated with the records +of antiquity and with the writings of the classical +authors, with an industry beyond the capacity and a +mind beyond the reach of his contemporaries, skilled in +the teachings of the philosophers, with independence of +thought and a courage which enabled him to condemn +the methods of study followed at the University where +he had spent three years; this boy who had a "beam +of knowledge derived from God" upon him, who "had +not his knowledge from books, but from some grounds +and notions from himself," and above and beyond all +who was conscious of his powers and had unbounded +confidence in his capacity for using them; this boy +walked beside the English Ambassador elect into the +highest circles of French Society at the time when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +most important factors of influence were Ronsard and +his confrères of the Pléiade. He had left behind him in +his native country a language crude and almost barbaric, +incapable of giving expression to the knowledge +which he possessed and the thoughts which resulted +therefrom.</p> + +<p>At this time there were few books written in the +English tongue which could make any pretence to be +considered literature: Sir Thomas Eliot's "The +Governor," Robert Ascham's "The Schoolmaster," +and Thomas Wright's "Arts of Rhetoric," almost +exhaust the list. Thynne's edition, 1532, and Lidgate's +edition, 1561, of Chaucer's works are not intelligible. +Only in the 1598 edition can the great poet be read with +any understanding. The work of re-casting the poems +for this edition was Bacon's, and he is the man referred +to in the following lines, which are prefixed to it:—</p> + +<p class="center"><i>The Reader to Geffrey Chaucer.</i></p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Rea.</i>—</td><td align='left'>Where hast thou dwelt, good Geffrey al this while,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Unknown to us save only by thy bookes?</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Chau.</i>—</td><td align='left'>In haulks, and hernes, God wot, and in exile,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Where none vouchsaft to yeeld me words or lookes:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> Till one which saw me there, and knew my friends,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> Did bring me forth: such grace sometimes God sends.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Rea.</i>—</td><td align='left'>But who is he that hath thy books repar'd,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>And added moe, whereby thou are more graced?</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Chau.</i>—</td><td align='left'>The selfe same man who hath no labor spar'd,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>To helpe what time and writers had defaced:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> And made old words, which were unknoun of many,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> So plaine, that now they may be knoun of any.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Rea.</i>—</td><td align='left'>Well fare his heart: I love him for thy sake,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Who for thy sake hath taken all this pains.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><i>Chau.</i>—</td><td align='left'>Would God I knew some means amends to make,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>That for his toile he might receive some gains.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> But wot ye what? I know his kindnesse such,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> That for my good he thinks no pains too much:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> And more than that; if he had knoune in time,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'> He would have left no fault in prose nor rime.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is a catalogue of the library of Sir Thomas +Smith<a name="FNanchor_18_17" id="FNanchor_18_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> on August 1, 1566, in his gallery at Hillhall. It +was said to contain nearly a thousand books. Of these +only five were written in the English language. Under +Theologici, K. Henry VIII. book; under Juris Civilis, +Littleton's Tenures, an old abridgement of Statutes; +under Historiographi, Hall's Chronicles, and Fabian's +Chronicles and The Decades of P. Martyr; under +Mathematica, The Art of Navigation. The remainder +are in Greek, Latin, French, and Italian. Burghley's +biographer states that Burghley "never read any books +or praiers but in Latin, French, or Italian, very seldom +in Englishe."</p> + +<p>At this time Francis Bacon thought in Latin, for his +mother tongue was wholly insufficient. There is abundant +proof of this in his own handwriting. Under +existing conditions there could be no English literature +worthy of the name. If a Gentleman of the Court +wrote he either suppressed his writings or suffered +them to be published without his name to them, as it +was a discredit for a gentleman to seem learned and to +show himself amorous of any good art. Here is where +Spedding missed his way and never recovered himself. +Deep as is the debt of gratitude due to him for his +devoted labours in the preparation of "Bacon's Life +and Letters" and in the edition of his works, it must be +asserted that he accomplished this work without seeing +Francis Bacon. There was a vista before young +Bacon's eyes from which the practice of the law and +civil dignities were absent. He arrived at the French +Court at the psychological moment when an object-lesson +met his eyes which had a more far-reaching effect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +on the language and literature of the Anglo-Saxon race +than any or all other influences that have conspired to +raise them to the proud position which to-day they +occupy. It is necessary briefly to explain the position +of the French language and literature at this juncture.</p> + +<p>The French Renaissance of literature had its beginning +in the early years of the sixteenth century. It had been +preceded by that of Italy, which opened in the fourteenth +century, and reached its limit with Ariosto and Tasso, +Macchiavelli and Guicciardini during the sixteenth +century. Towards the end of the fifteenth century +modern French poetry may be said to have had its +origin in Villon and French prose in Comines. The +style of the former was artificial and his poems abounded +in recurrent rhymes and refrains. The latter had +peculiarities of diction which were only compensated +for by weight of thought and simplicity of expression. +Clement Marot, who followed, stands out as one of the +first landmarks in the French Renaissance. His graceful +style, free from stiffness and monotony, earned for +him a popularity which even the brilliancy of the +Pléiade did not extinguish, for he continued to be read +with genuine admiration for nearly two centuries. He +was the founder of a school of which Mellia de St. +Gelais, the introducer of the sonnet into France, was +the most important member. Rabelais and his followers +concurrently effected a complete revolution in fiction. +Marguerite of Navarre, who is principally known as the +author of "The Heptameron," maintained a literary +Court in which the most celebrated men of the time +held high place. It was not until the middle of the +sixteenth century that the great movement took place +in French literature which, if that which occurred in +the same country three hundred years subsequently be +excepted, is without parallel in literary history.</p> + +<p>The Pléiade consisted of a group of seven men and +boys who, animated by a sincere and intelligent love of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +their native language, banded themselves together to remodel +it and its literary forms on the methods of the +two great classical tongues, and to reinforce it with new +words from them. They were not actuated by any desire +for gain. In 1549 Jean Daurat, then 49 years of age, was +professor of Greek at le Collège de Coqueret in Paris. +Amongst those who attended his classes were five +enthusiastic, ambitious youths whose ages varied from +seventeen to twenty-four. They were Pierre de Ronsard, +Joachim du Bellay, Remy Belleau, Antoine de Baïf, +and Etienne Jodelle. They and their Professor associated +themselves together and received as a colleague +Pontus de Tyard, who was twenty-eight. They formed +a band of seven renovators, to whom their countrymen +applied the cognomen of the Pléiade, by which they will +ever be known. Realising the defects and possibilities +of their language, they recognised that by appropriations +from the Greek and Latin languages, and from the +melodious forms of the Italian poetry, they might +reform its defects and develop its possibilities so completely +that they could place at the service of great +writers a vehicle for expression which would be the +peer if not the superior of any language, classical or +modern. It was a bold project for young men, some of +whom were not out of their teens, to venture on. That +they met with great success is beyond question; the +extent of that success it is not necessary to discuss here. +The main point to be emphasised is that it was a +deliberate scheme, originated, directed, and matured by +a group of little more than boys. The French Renaissance +was not the result of a spontaneous bursting out +on all sides of genius. It was wrought out with sheer +hard work, entailing the mastering of foreign languages, +and accompanied by devotion and without hope of +pecuniary gain. The manifesto of the young band was +written by Joachim de Bellay in 1549, and was entitled, +"La Défense et Illustration de la langue Francaise."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +In the following year appeared Ronsard's Ode—the +first example of the new method. Pierre de Ronsard +entered Court life when ten years old. In attendance +on French Ambassadors he visited Scotland and +England, where he remained for some time. A severe +illness resulted in permanent deafness and compelled +him to abandon his profession, when he turned to +literature. Although Du Bellay was the originator of +the scheme, Ronsard became the director and the +acknowledged leader of the band. His accomplishments +place him in the first rank of the poets of the +world. Reference would be out of place here to the +movement which was after his death directed by Malherbe +against Ronsard's reputation and fame as a poet +and his eventual restoration by the disciples of Sainte +Beuve and the followers of Hugo. It is desirable, however, +to allude to other great Frenchmen whose labours +contributed in other directions to promote the growth +of French literature. Jean Calvin, a native of Noyon, +in Picardy, had published in Latin, in 1536, when only +twenty-seven years of age, his greatest work, both from +a literary and theological point of view, "The Institution +of the Christian Religion," which would be +accepted as the product of full maturity of intellect +rather than the firstfruits of the career of a youth. +What the Pléiade had done to create a French language +adequate for the highest expression of poetry Calvin +did to enable facility in argument and discussion. A +Latin scholar of the highest order, avoiding in his +compositions a tendency to declamation, he developed +a stateliness of phrase which was marked by clearness +and simplicity. Théodore Beza, historian, translator, +and dramatist, was another contributor to the literature +of this period. Jacques Amyot had commenced his translations +from "Ethiopica," treating of the royal and +chaste loves of Theagenes and Chariclea three years +before Du Bellay's manifesto appeared. Montaigne,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +referring to his translation of Plutarch, accorded to +him the palm over all French writers, not only for the +simplicity and purity of his vocabulary, in which he +surpassed all others, but for his industry and depth of +learning. In another field Michel Eyquem Sieur de Montaigne +had arisen. His moral essays found a counterpart +in the biographical essays of the Abbé de Brantôme. +Agrippa D'Aubigné, prose writer, historian, and +poet; Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, the Protestant +Ronsard whose works were more largely translated +into English than those of any other French writer; +Philippes Desportes and others might be mentioned as +forming part of that brilliant circle of writers who had +during a comparatively short period helped to achieve +such a high position for the language and literature of +France.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>In 1576, when Francis Bacon arrived in France, the +fame of the Pléiade was at its zenith. Du Bellay and +Jodelle were dead, but the fruit of their labours and of +those of their colleagues was evoking the admiration of +their countrymen. The popularity of Ronsard, the +prince of poets and the poet of princes, was without +precedent. It is said that the King had placed beside +his throne a state chair for Ronsard to occupy. Poets +and men of letters were held in high esteem by their +countrymen. In England, for a gentleman to be +amorous of any learned art was held to be discreditable, +and any proclivities in this direction had to be hidden +under assumed names or the names of others. In +France it was held to be discreditable for a gentleman +not to be amorous of the learned arts. The young men +of the Pléiade were all of good family, and all came +from cultured homes. Marguerite of Navarre had set +the example of attracting poets and writers to her +Court and according honours to them on account of +their achievements. The kings of France had adopted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +a similar attitude. During the same period in England +Henry VIII., Mary, and Elizabeth had been following +other courses. They had given no encouragement to +the pursuit of literature. Notwithstanding the repetition +by historians of the assertion that the good Queen +Bess was a munificent patron of men of letters, literature +flourished in her reign in spite of her action and +not by its aid.</p> + +<p>Bacon implies this in the opening sentences of the +second book of the "Advancement of Learning." He +speaks of Queen Elizabeth as being "a sojourner in +the world in respect of her unmarried life, rather than +an inhabitant. She hath indeed adorned her own time +and many waies enricht it; but in truth to Your +Majesty, whom God hath blest with so much Royall +issue worthy to perpetuate you for ever; whose youthfull +and fruitfull Bed, doth yet promise more children; +it is very proper, not only to iradiate as you doe your +own times, but also to extend your Cares to those Acts +which succeeding Ages may cherish, and Eternity itself +behold: Amongst which, if my affection to learning +doe not transport me, there is none more worthy, or +more noble, than the endowment of the world with +sound and fruitfull Advancement of Learning: For +why should we erect unto ourselves some few authors, +to stand like Hercules Columnes beyond which there +should be no discovery of knowledge, seeing we have +your Majesty as a bright and benigne starre to conduct +and prosper us in this Navigation." As Elizabeth had +been unfruitful in her body, and James fruitful, so had +she been unfruitful in encouraging the Advancement of +Learning, but the appeal is made to James that he, +being blessed with a considerable issue, should also +have an issue by the endowment of Learning.</p> + +<p>What must have been the effect on the mind of this +brilliant young Englishman, Francis Bacon, when he +entered into this literary atmosphere so different from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +that of the Court which he had left behind him? There +was hardly a classical writer whose works he had not +read and re-read. He was familiar with the teachings +of the schoolmen; imbued with a deep religious spirit, +he had mastered the principles of their faiths and the +subtleties of their disputations. The intricacies of the +known systems of philosophies had been laid bare before +his penetrating intellect. With the mysteries of mathematics +and numbers he was familiar. What had been +discovered in astronomy, alchemy and astrology he had +absorbed; however technical might be a subject, he had +mastered its details. In architecture the works of Vitruvius +had been not merely read but criticised with the +skill of an expert. Medicine, surgery—every subject—he +had made himself master of. In fact, when he +asserted that he had taken all knowledge to be his province +he spoke advisedly and with a basis of truth which +has never until now been recognised. The youth of 17 +who possessed the intellect, the brain and the memory +which jointly produced the "Novum Organum," whose +mind was so abnormal that the artist painting his portrait +was impelled to place round it "the significant +words," "<i>si tabula daretur digna, animum mallem</i>," who +had taken all knowledge to be his province, was capable +of any achievement of the Admirable Crichton. And this +youth it was who in 1576 passed from a country of literary +and intellectual torpor into the brilliancy of the +companionship of Pierre de Ronsard and his associates. +It is one of the most stupendous factors in his life. +Something happened to him before his return to England +which affected the whole of his future life. It may +be considered a wild assertion to make, but the time will +come when its truth will be proved, that "The Anatomie +of the Minde," "Beautiful Blossoms," and "The French +Academy," are the product of one mind, and that same +mind produced the "Arte of English Poesie," "An +Apology for Poetrie," by Sir John Harrington, and "The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +Defense of Poetry," by Sir Philip Sydney. The former +three were written before 1578 and place the philosopher +before the poet; the latter three were written after 1580 +and place the poet—the creator—before the philosopher. +Francis Bacon had recognised that the highest achievement +was the act of creation. Henceforth he lived to +create.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas Bacon died on or about the 17th of +February, 1578-9. How or where this news reached +Francis is not recorded, but on the 20th of the following +March he left Paris for England, after a stay of two and +a-half years on the Continent. He brought with him to +the Queen a despatch from Sir Amias Paulet, in which +he was spoken of as being "of great hope, endued with +many and singular parts," and one who, "if God gave +him life, would prove a very able and sufficient subject +to do her Highness good and acceptable service."<a name="FNanchor_19_18" id="FNanchor_19_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IX.</span><br /> + +BACON'S SUIT ON HIS RETURN TO +ENGLAND, 1580.</h2> + + +<p>Spedding states that the earliest composition of Bacon +which he had been able to discover is a letter written in +his 20th year from Grays Inn. From that time forward, +he continues, compositions succeed each other +without any considerable interval, and in following them +we shall accompany him step by step through his life. +What are the compositions which Spedding places as being +written but not published up to the year 1597, when +the first small volume of 10 essays containing less than +6,000 words was issued from the press? These are +they:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Notes on the State of Christendom<a name="FNanchor_20_19" id="FNanchor_20_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> (date 1580 to +1584).</p> + +<p>Letter of Advice to the Queen (1584-1586).</p> + +<p>An Advertisement touching the Controversies of the +Church of England (1586-1589).</p> + +<p>Speeches written for some Court device, namely, Mr. +Bacon in praise of Knowledge, and Mr. Bacon's discourse +in praise of his Sovereign (1590-1592).</p> + +<p>Certain observations made upon a libel published this +present year, 1592.</p> + +<p>A true report of the Detestable Treason intended by +Dr. Roderigo Lopez, 1594.</p> + +<p>Gesta Grayorum, 1594, parts of which are printed by +Spedding in type denoting doubtful authorship.</p> + +<p>Bacon's device, 1594-1598.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> +<p>Three letters to the Earl of Rutland on his travels, +1595-1596.</p></div> + +<p>That is all! These are the compositions which follow +each other without considerable interval, and by +which we are to accompany him step by step through +those seventeen years which should be the most important +years in a man's life! He could have turned them +out in ten days or a fortnight with ease. We expect +from Mr. Spedding bread, and he gives us a stone!</p> + +<p>This brilliant young man, who, when 15 years of age, +left Cambridge, having possessed himself of all the knowledge +it could afford to a student, who had travelled in +France, Spain and Italy to "polish his mind and mould +his opinion by intercourse with all kinds of foreigners," +how was he occupying himself during what should be +the most fruitful years of his life? Following his +profession at the Bar? His affections did not that way +tend. Spedding expresses the opinion that he had a +distaste for his profession, and, writing of the circumstances +with which he was surrounded in 1592, says: +"I do not find that he was getting into practice. +His main object still was to find ways and means for +prosecuting his great philosophical enterprise." What +was this enterprise? "I confess that I have as vast +contemplative ends as I have moderate means," he says, +writing to Burghley, "for I have taken all knowledge +to be my province." This means more than mere +academic philosophy.</p> + +<p>In 1593, when Bacon was put forward and upheld +for a year as a candidate for the post of Attorney-General, +Spedding writes of him; "He had had little +or no practice in the Courts; what proof he had +given of professional proficiency was confined to his +readings and exercises in Grays Inn.... Law, +far from being his only, was not even his favourite +study; ... his head was full of ideas so new and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +large that to most about him they must have seemed +visionary."</p> + +<p>Writing of him in 1594 Spedding says: "The +strongest point against Bacon's pretensions for the +Attorneyship was his want of practice. His opponents +said that 'he had never entered the place of battle.'<a name="FNanchor_21_20" id="FNanchor_21_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> +Whether this was because he could not find clients or +did not seek them I cannot say." In order to meet +the objection, Bacon on the 25th January, 1593-4, +made his first pleading, and Burghley sent his secretary +"to congratulate unto him the first fruits of his public +practice."</p> + +<p>There is one other misconception to be corrected. It +is urged that Bacon was, during this period, engrossed +in Parliamentary life. From 1584 to 1597 five Parliaments +were summoned. Bacon sat in each. In his +twenty-fifth year he was elected member for Melcombe, +in Dorsetshire. In the Parliament of 1586 he sat for +Taunton, in that of 1588 for Liverpool, in that of 1592-3 +for Middlesex, and in 1597 for Ipswich.</p> + +<p>But the sittings of these Parliaments were not of long +duration, and the speeches which he delivered and the +meetings of committees upon which he was appointed +would absorb but a small portion of his time. It must +be patent, therefore, that Spedding does not account +for his occupations from his return to England in 1578 +until 1597, when the first small volume of his Essays +was published.</p> + +<p>During the whole of this period Bacon was in +monetary difficulties, and yet there is no evidence that +he was living a life of dissipation or even of extravagance. +On the contrary, all testimony would point +to the conclusion that he was following the path of a +strictly moral and studious young man. On his return +to England he took lodgings in Coney Court, Grays +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +Inn. There Anthony found him when he returned from +abroad.</p> + +<p>There are no data upon which to form any reliable +opinion as to the amount of his income at this time. +Rawley states that Sir Nicholas Bacon had collected a +considerable sum of money which he had separated +with intention to have made a competent purchase of +land for the livelihood of his youngest son, but the +purchase being unaccomplished at his death, Francis +received only a fifth portion of the money dividable, by +which means he lived in some straits and necessities in +his younger years. It is not clear whether the "money +dividable" was only that separated by Sir Nicholas, or +whether he left other sums which went to augment +the fund divisible amongst the brothers. His other +children were well provided for. Francis was not, +however, without income. Sir Nicholas had left certain +manors, etc., in Herts to his sons Anthony and Francis +in tail male, remainder to himself and his heirs. Lady +Ann Bacon had vested an estate called Markes, in +Essex, in Francis, and there is a letter, dated 16th +April, 1593, from Anthony to his mother urging her to +concur in its sale, so that the proceeds might be applied +to the relief of his brother's financial position.<a name="FNanchor_22_21" id="FNanchor_22_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>Lady +Bacon lived at Gorhambury. She was not extravagant, +and yet in 1589 she was so impoverished that +Captain Allen, in writing to Anthony, speaking of his +mother, Lady Bacon, says she "also saith her jewels be +spent for you, and that she borrowed the last money of +seven several persons." Whatever her resources were, +they had by then been exhausted for her sons. Anthony +was apparently a man of considerable means. He was +master of the manor and priory of Redburn, of the +manor of Abbotsbury, Minchinbury and Hores, in the +parish of Barley, in the county of Hertford; of the +Brightfirth wood, Merydan-meads, and Pinner-Stoke +farms, in the county of Middlesex.<a name="FNanchor_24_23" id="FNanchor_24_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_23" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p>But within a few years after his return to England +Anthony was borrowing money wherever he could. +Mother and brother appear to have exhausted their +resources and their borrowing capabilities. There is +an account showing that in eighteen months, about +1593, Anthony lent Francis £373, equivalent to nearly +£3,000 at to-day's value. In 1597 Francis was arrested +by the sheriff for a debt of £300, for which a money-lender +had obtained judgment against him, and he was +cast into the Tower. Where had all the money gone? +There is no adequate explanation.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>The first letter of Francis Bacon's which Spedding +met with, to which reference has already been made, +is dated 11th July, 1580, to Mr. Doylie, and is of little +importance. The six letters which follow—all there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +are between 1580 and 1590<a name="FNanchor_25_24" id="FNanchor_25_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_24" class="fnanchor">[23]</a>—relate to one subject, and +are of great significance. The first is dated from Grays +Inn, 16th September, 1580, to Lady Burghley. In it +young Francis, now 19 years of age, makes this request: +"That it would please your Ladyship in your +letters wherewith you visit my good Lord to vouchsafe +the mention and recommendation of my suit; wherein +your Ladyship shall bind me more unto you than I can +look ever to be able to sufficiently acknowledge."</p> + +<p>The next letter—written on the same day—is addressed +to Lord Burghley. Its object is thus set forth:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"My letter hath no further errand but to commend unto your +Lordship the remembrance of my suit which then I moved unto +you, whereof it also pleased your Lordship to give me good +hearing so far forth as to promise to tender it unto her Majesty, +and withal to add in the behalf of it that which I may better +deliver by letter than by speech, which is, that although it must +be confessed that the request is rare and unaccustomed, yet if it +be observed how few there be which fall in with the study of the +common laws either being well left or friended, or at their own +free election, or forsaking likely success in other studies of more +delight and no less preferment, or setting hand thereunto early +without waste of years upon such survey made, it may be my +case may not seem ordinary, no more than my suit, and so more +beseeming unto it. As I force myself to say this in excuse of my +motion, lest it should appear unto your Lordship altogether undiscreet +and unadvised, so my hope to obtain it resteth only upon +your Lordship's good affection towards me and grace with her +Majesty, who methinks needeth never to call for the experience +of the thing, where she hath so great and so good of the person +which recommendeth it."</p><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>What was this suit? Spedding cannot suggest any +explanation. He says: "What the particular employment +was for which he hoped I cannot say; something +probably connected with the service of the Crown, to +which the memory of his father, an old and valued +servant prematurely lost, his near relationship to the +Lord Treasurer, and the personal notice which he had +himself received from the Queen, would naturally lead +him to look.... The proposition, whatever it was, +having been explained to Burghley in conversation, is +only alluded to in these letters. It seems to have been +so far out of the common way as to require an apology, +and the terms of the apology imply that it was for some +employment as a lawyer. And this is all the light I +can throw upon it." Subsequently Spedding says the +motion was one<a name="FNanchor_26_25" id="FNanchor_26_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_25" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> "which would in some way have +made it unnecessary for him to follow 'a course of +practice,' meaning, I presume, ordinary practice at the +Bar."</p> + +<p>Another expression in the letter makes it clear that +the object of the suit was an experiment. The Queen +could not have "experience of the thing," and Bacon +solicited Burghley's recommendation, because she +would not need the experience if he, so great and so +good, vouched for it.</p> + +<p>Burghley appears to have tendered the suit to the +Queen, for there is a letter dated 18th October, 1580, +addressed to him by Bacon, commencing:</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"Your Lordship's comfortable relation to her Majesty's +gracious opinion and meaning towards me, though at that time +your leisure gave me not leave to show how I was affected therewith, +yet upon every representation thereof it entereth and +striketh so much more deeply into me, as both my nature and +duty presseth me to return some speech of thankfulness."</p> + +<p>Spedding remarks thereon: "It seems that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +spoken to Burghley on the subject and made some overture, +which Burghley undertook to recommend to the +Queen; and that the Queen, who though slow to bestow +favours was careful always to encourage hopes, entertained +the motion graciously and returned a favourable +answer. The proposition, whatever it was, having been +explained to Burghley in conversation, is only alluded +to in these letters."</p> + +<p>Spedding dismisses these three letters in 22 lines of +comment, which contain the extracts before set out. He +regards the matter as of slight consequence, and admits +that he can throw no light upon it. But he points out +that it was "so far out of the common way as to require +an apology." Surely he has not well weighed the +terms of the apology when he says they "imply that it +was for some employment as a lawyer."</p> + +<p>There had been a conversation between Bacon and +Burghley during which Bacon had submitted a project +to the accomplishment of which he was prepared to +devote his life in the Queen's service. It necessitated +his abandoning the profession of the law. Apparently +Burghley had remonstrated with him, in the manner of +experienced men of the world, against forsaking a +certain road and avenue to preferment in favour of any +course rare and unaccustomed. Referring in his letter +to this, Bacon's parenthetical clause beginning "either +being well left or friended," etc., is confession and +avoidance. In effect he says:—Few study the common +laws who have influence; few at their own free election; +few desert studies of more delight and no less +preferment; and few devote themselves to that study +from their earliest years. Since there are few who, +having my opportunities, devote themselves to the +study of the common laws, my position in so doing +would not be an ordinary one, no more than is my suit. +Therefore, why should I, having your [Burleigh's] +influence to help me, sacrifice my great intellectual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +capabilities fitting me to accomplish my great contemplative +ends? Why should I sacrifice them to a +study of the common laws?</p> + +<p>The sentence may be otherwise construed, but in +any case it involves an apology for the abandonment +of the profession which had been chosen for him.</p> + +<p>The next letter is addressed to the Right Honourable +Sir Francis Walsingham, principal secretary to her +Majesty, and is dated from Grays Inn, 25th of August, +1585. Spedding's comment on it is as follows:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"For all this time, it seems, the suit (whatever it was) which he +had made to her through Burghley in 1580 remained in suspense, +neither granted nor denied, and the uncertainty prevented him +from settling his course of life. From the following letter to +Walsingham we may gather two things more concerning it: it +was something which had been objected to as unfit for so young +a man; and which would in some way have made it unnecessary +for him to follow 'a course of practice'—meaning, I presume, +ordinary practice at the Bar."</p> + +<p>This is the letter:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"It may please your Honour to give me leave amidst your +great and diverse business to put you in remembrance of my +poor suit, leaving the time unto your Honour's best opportunity +and commodity. I think the objection of my years will wear +away with the length of my suit. The very stay doth in this +respect concern me, because I am thereby hindered to take a +course of practice which, by the leave of God, if her Majesty +like not my suit, I must and will follow: not for any necessity of +estate, but for my credit sake, which I know by living out of +action will wear. I spake when the Court was at Theball's to +Mr. Vice-Chamberlain,<a name="FNanchor_27_26" id="FNanchor_27_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_26" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> who promised me his furderance; which +I did lest he mought be made for some other. If it may please +your Honour, who as I hear hath great interest in him, to speak +with him in it, I think he will be fast mine."</p> + +<p>Spedding remarks: "This is the last we hear of this +suit, the nature and fate of which must both be left to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +conjecture. With regard to its fate, my own conjecture +is that he presently gave up all hope of success in it, +and tried instead to obtain through his interest at Court +some furtherance in the direct line of his profession."</p> + +<p>He adds: "The solid grounds on which Bacon's pretensions +rested had not yet been made manifest to the +apprehension of Bench and Bar; his mind was full of +matters with which they could have no sympathy, and +the shy and studious habits which we have seen so +offend Mr. Faunt would naturally be misconstrued in +the same way by many others."<a name="FNanchor_28_27" id="FNanchor_28_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_27" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p>This passage refers to a letter to Burghley dated the +6th of the following May, <i>i.e.</i>, 1586, from which it will be +seen that the last had not been heard of the motion. +Burghley had been remonstrating with Bacon as to +reports which had come to him of his nephew's proceedings. +Bacon writes:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"I take it as an undoubted sign of your Lordship's favour +unto me that being hardly informed of me you took occasion +rather of good advice than of evil opinion thereby. And if +your Lordship had grounded only upon the said information of +theirs, I mought and would truly have upholden that few of the +matters were justly objected; as the very circumstances do induce +in that they were delivered by men that did misaffect me and +besides were to give colour to their own doings. But because +your Lordship did mingle therewith both a late motion of mine +own and somewhat which you had otherwise heard, I know it to +be my duty (and so do I stand affected) rather to prove your +Lordship's admonition effectual in my doings hereafter than +causeless by excusing what is past. And yet (with your Lordship's +pardon humbly asked) it may please you to remember +that I did endeavour to set forth that said motion in such sort as +it mought breed no harder effect than a denial, and I protest +simply before God that I sought therein an ease in coming +within Bars, and not any extraordinary and singular note of +favour."</p> + +<p>May not the interpretation of the phrase "I sought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +therein an ease in coming within Bars" be "I sought +in that motion a freedom from the burden (or necessity) +of coming within Bars." The phrase "an ease in" is +very unusual, and unless it was a term used in connection +with the Inns it is difficult to see its precise +meaning. In other words, he sought an alternative +method to provide means for carrying out his great +philosophical enterprise.</p> + +<p>There is an interval of five years before the next and +last letter of the six was written. It is undated, but an +observation in it shows that it was written when he was +about 31 years of age, thus fixing the date at 1591.</p> + +<p>From an entry in Burghley's note book,<a name="FNanchor_29_28" id="FNanchor_29_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_28" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> dated 29 +October, 1589, it appears that in the meantime a grant +had been made to Bacon of the reversion of the office of +Clerk to the Counsel in the Star Chamber. This was +worth about £1,600 per annum and executed by deputy, +but the reversion did not fall in for twenty years, so it +did not affect the immediate difficulty in ways and +means.</p> + +<p>There are occasional references to Francis in +Anthony's correspondence which show that the brothers +were residing at Grays Inn, but nothing is stated as to +the occupation of the younger brother.</p> + +<p>At this time, according to Spedding,<a name="FNanchor_30_29" id="FNanchor_30_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_29" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> who, however, +does not give his authority, Francis had a lodge at +Twickenham. Many of his letters are subsequently +addressed from it, and three years later he was keeping +a staff of scriveners there.</p> + +<p>The last letter is addressed to Lord Burghley, who +is in it described by Bacon as "the second founder of +my poor estate," and contains the following:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"I cannot accuse myself that I am either prodigal or slothful, +yet my health is not to spend nor my course to get. Lastly, I +confess that I have as vast contemplative ends as I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my +province. This whether it be curiosity or vain glory, or (if one +takes it favourably) <i>philanthropia</i>, is so fixed in my mind as it +cannot be removed. And I do easily see, that place of any +reasonable countenance doth bring commandment of more wits +than of a man's own, which is the thing I greatly affect. And +for your Lordship, perhaps you shall not find more strength and +less encounter in any other. And if your Lordship shall find +now, or at any time, that I do seek or affect any place, whereunto +any that is nearer to your Lordship shall be concurrent, +say then that I am a most dishonest man. And if your Lordship +will not carry me on, I will not do as Anaxagoras did, who +reduced himself with contemplation unto voluntary poverty; but +this I will do, I will sell the inheritance that I have, and purchase +some lease of quick revenue, or some office of gain that shall be +executed by deputy, and so give over all care of service and +become some sorry bookmaker, or a true pioneer in that mine of +truth, which he said lay so deep. This which I have writ to your +Lordship is rather thoughts than words, being set down without +all art, disguising or reservation."</p> + +<p>The suit has been of no avail. Once more Bacon +appeals (and this is to be his final appeal) to his uncle. +He is writing thoughts rather than words, set down +without art, disguising or reservation. But if his +Lordship will not carry him along he has definitely +decided on his course of action. The law is not now +even referred to. If the object of the suit was not +stated in 1580, there cannot be much doubt now but +that it had to do with the making of books and pioneer +work in the mine of truth. For ten years Francis Bacon +had waited, buoyed up by encouragements and false +hopes. Now he decides to take his fortune into his own +hands and rely no more on assistance either from the +Queen or Burghley.</p> + +<p>One sentence in the letter should be noted: "If your +Lordship shall find now, or at any time, that I do seek +or affect any place whereunto any that is nearer unto +your Lordship shall be concurrent, say then that I am a +most dishonest man." Surely this was an assurance on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +Bacon's part that he did not seek or affect to stand in +the way of the one—the only one, Robert Cecil—who +stood nearer to Burghley in kinship.</p> + +<p>It therefore appears evident from the foregoing +facts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>(1) That Francis Bacon at 17 years of age was an +accomplished scholar; that his knowledge was +abnormally great, and that his wit, memory, and +mental qualities were of the highest order—probably +without parallel.</p> + +<p>(2) That in the year 1580, when 19 years old, he +sought the assistance of Burghley to induce the +Queen to supply him with means and the opportunity +to carry out some great work upon the achievement +of which he had set his heart. The work was +without precedent, and in carrying it out he was prepared +to dedicate to her Majesty the use and spending +of his life.</p> + +<p>(3) That for ten years he waited and hoped for the +granting of his suit, which was rare and unaccustomed, +until eventually he was compelled to relinquish it and +rely upon his own resources to effect his object.</p> + +<p>(4) But he desired to command other wits than his +own, and that could be more easily achieved by one +holding place of any reasonable countenance. He +therefore sought through Burleigh place accompanied +by income, so that he might be enabled to achieve the +vast contemplative ends he had in view.</p> + +<p>(5) That during the years 1580 to 1597, in which +he claims that he was not slothful, there is no evidence +of his being occupied in his profession or in State +affairs to any appreciable extent, and yet there do not +exist any acknowledged works as the result of his +labours. Rawley states that Bacon would "suffer no +moment of time to slip from him without some present +improvement."</p> + +<p>(6) He received pecuniary assistance from his uncle,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +Lord Burghley. He strained the monetary resources +of his mother and brother, which were not inconsiderable, +to the utmost, exhausted his own, and heavily +encumbered himself with debts, and yet he was not +prodigal or extravagant.</p> + +<p>(7) Money and time he must have to carry out his +scheme, which, if one takes it favourably, might be +termed philanthropia, and he therefore decided that, +failing obtaining some sinecure office, he would sell the +inheritance he had, purchase some lease of quick +revenue or office of gain that could be executed by a +deputy, give over all care of serving the State, and +become some sorry bookmaker or a true pioneer in the +mine of truth.</p> + +<p>(8) Spedding says, "He could at once imagine like a +poet and execute like a clerk of the works"; but whatever +his contemplative ends were there is nothing +known to his biographers which reveals the result of +his labours as clerk of the works.</p> + +<p>(9) If he carried out the course of action which he +contemplated it is clear that he decided to do so without +himself appearing as its author and director. From +1580 to 1590 something more was on his mind than the +works he published after he had arrived at sixty years +of age. "I am no vain promiser," he said. Where can +the fulfilment of his promise be found? Can his course +be followed by tracing through the period the trail which +was left by some great and powerful mind directing the +progress of the English Renaissance?</p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter X.</span><br /> + +THE RARE AND UNACCUSTOMED SUIT.</h2> + + +<p>What was this rare and unaccustomed suit of which +the Queen could have had no experience and which, +according to Spedding, would make it unnecessary for +Bacon to follow "ordinary practice at the bar"? +Historians and biographers have founded on this suit +the allegation that from his earliest years Bacon was a +place hunter, entirely ignoring the fact, which is made +clear from the letter to Walsingham written four years +after the application was first made, that he had resolved +on a course of action which, if her Majesty liked not his +suit, by the leave of God he must and would follow, not +for any necessity of estate, but for his credit sake. Here +was a young man of twenty years of age, earnestly +urging the adoption of a scheme which he had conceived, +and which he feared Burghley might consider +indiscreet and unadvised. Failing in obtaining his +object, as will be proved by definite evidence, undertaking +at the cost of Thomas Bodley and other friends a +course of travel to better fit him for the task he had +mapped out as his life's work—returning to England +and, four years after his first request had been made, +renewing his suit—grimly in earnest and determined to +carry the scheme through at all costs, with or without +the Queen's aid. This is not the conduct of a mere +place hunter. If these letters be read aright and the +reasonable theory which will be advanced of the nature +of the suit be accepted—all efforts to suggest any +explanation having hitherto, as Spedding admits, proved +futile—a fresh light will be thrown upon the character +of Francis Bacon, and the heavy obligation under which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +he has placed his countrymen for all ages will for the +first time be recognised.</p> + +<p>In the seven volumes of "Bacon's Life and Letters" +there is nothing to justify the eulogy on his character +to which Spedding gave utterance in the following +words:—"But in him the gift of seeing in prophetic +vision what might be and ought to be was united with +the practical talent of devising means and handling +minute details. He could at once imagine like a poet +and execute like a clerk of the works. Upon the conviction +<i>This must be done</i> followed at once <i>How</i> may it +be done? Upon that question answered followed the +resolution to try and do it." But although Spedding +fails to produce any evidence to justify his statement, +it is nevertheless correct. More than that, the actual +achievement followed with unerring certainty, but +Spedding restricts Bacon's life's work to the establishment +of a system of inductive philosophy, and records +the failure of the system.</p> + +<p>William Cecil was a man of considerable classical +attainments, although these were probably not superior +to those of Mildred Cooke, the lady who became his +second wife. He was initiated into the methods of +statesmanship at an early age by his father, Richard +Cecil, Master of the Robes to Henry VIII. Having +found favour with Somerset, the Protector of Edward +VI., he was, when 27 years of age, made Master of +Requests. When Somerset fell from power in 1549 +young Cecil, with other adherents of the Protector, was +committed to the Tower. But he was soon released +and was rapidly advanced by Northumberland. He +became Secretary of State, was knighted and made a +member of the Privy Council. Mary would have continued +his employment in office had he not refused her +offers on account of his adhesion to the Protestant faith. +He mingled during her reign with men of all parties and +his moderation and cautious conduct carried him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +through that period without mishap. On Elizabeth's +accession he was the first member sworn upon the +Privy Council, and he continued during the remainder +of his life her principal Minister of State. Sagacious, +deliberate in thought and character, tolerant, a man of +peace and compromise, he became the mainstay of the +Queen's government and the most influential man in +State affairs. Whilst he maintained a princely magnificence +in his affairs, his private life was pure, gentle +and generous. This was the man to whom the +brilliant young nephew of his wife and the son of his +old friend, Sir Nicholas Bacon, disclosed, some time +during the summer of 1580, his scheme, of which there +had been no experience, and entrusted his suit, which +was rare and unaccustomed. The arguments in its +favour at this interview may have followed the following +outline:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I need not remind you of my devotion to learning. +You know that from my earliest boyhood I have followed +a course of study which has embraced all subjects. +I have made myself acquainted with all +knowledge which the world possesses. To enable +me to do this I mastered all languages in which books +are written. During my recent visit to foreign lands, I +have recognized how far my country falls behind others +in language, and consequently in literature. I would +draw your special attention to the remarkable advance +which has been made in these matters in France during +your lordship's lifetime. When I arrived there in 1576 +I made myself acquainted with the principles of the +movement which had been carried through by +Du Bellay, Ronsard, and their confrères. They recognized +that their native language was crude and lacking +in gravity and art. First by obtaining a complete +mastery of the Greek and Latin languages, as also of those +of Italy and Spain, they prepared themselves for a study +of the literatures of which those languages, with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +idioms and peculiarities, form the basis. Having obtained +this mastery they reconstructed their native language +and gave their country a medium by which her writers +might express their thoughts and emotions. They have +made it possible for their countrymen to rival the poets +of ancient Greece and Rome. They and others of their +countrymen have translated the literary treasures of +those ancient nations into their own tongue, and +thereby enabled those speaking their language, who are +not skilled in classical languages, to enjoy and profit +by the works of antiquity. Your lordship knows well +the deficiencies of the language of our England, the +absence of any literature worthy of the name. In these +respects the condition of affairs is far behind that +which prevailed in France even before the great movement +which Ronsard and Du Bellay initiated. I do +not speak of Italy, which possesses a language +melodious, facile, and rich, and a literature which can +never die.</p> + +<p>I know my own powers. I possess every qualification +which will enable me to do for my native tongue what +the Pléiade have done for theirs. I ask to be permitted +to give to my country this great heritage. Others may +serve her in the law, others may serve her in affairs of +state, but your Lordship knows full well that there are +none who could serve her in this respect as could I. +You are not unmindful of the poorness of my estate. +This work will not only entail a large outlay of money +but it necessitates command of the ablest wits of the +nation. This is my suit: that her Majesty will +graciously confer on me some office which will enable +me to control such literary resources and the services +of such men as may be necessary for the accomplishment +of this work; further, that she may be pleased +from time to time to make grants from the civil list to +cover the cost of the work. I need not remind your +Lordship what fame will ever attach to her Majesty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +and how glorious will be the memory of her reign if +this great project be effected in it. Your Lordship +must realise this because you and her Ladyship, my +aunt, are by your attainments qualified to appreciate +its full value. My youth may be urged as an objection +to my fitness for such a task, but your Lordship knows +full well—none better—that my powers are not to be +measured by my years. This I will say, I am no vain +promiser, but I am assured that I can accomplish all +that I contemplate. The Queen hath such confidence +in the soundness of your judgment that she will listen +to your advice. My prayer to you therefore is that it +may please your Lordship both herein and elsewhere to +be my patron and urge my suit, which, although rare +and unaccustomed, may be granted if it receives your +powerful support.</p></div> + +<p>The suit was submitted to the Queen, but without +result. Probably it was not urged with a determination +to obtain its acceptance in spite of any objections +which might be raised by the Queen. Five years after, +Bacon, still a suppliant, wrote to Walsingham: "I think +the objection to my years will wear away with the +length of my suit." Cautious Lord Burghley would +give full weight to the force of this objection if it were +advanced by the Queen. He loved this boy, with his +extraordinary abilities, but he had such novel and far-reaching +ideas. He appeared to have no adequate +reverence for his inferior superiors. On leaving Cambridge +he had arrogantly condemned its cherished +methods of imparting knowledge. Before power was +placed in his hands the use he might make of it must +be well weighed and considered. What effect might +the advancement of Francis Bacon have on Robert +Cecil's career? Granted that the contentions of the +former were sound, and the object desirable, should not +this work be carried out by the Universities? Never +leap until you know where you are going to alight was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +a proverb the soundness of which had been proved in +Lord Burghley's experience. What might be the outcome +if this rare and unaccustomed suit were granted? +Better for the Queen, who, though slow to bestow +favours, was always ready to encourage hopes, to follow +her usual course. She might entertain the motion +graciously and return a favourable answer and let it +rest there. And so it did.</p> + +<p>Then there was a happening which has remained +unknown until now.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XI.</span><br /> + +BACON'S SECOND VISIT TO THE +CONTINENT AND AFTER.</h2> + + +<p>In the "Reliquiæ Bodleianæ," published in 1703, is a +letter written without date by Thomas Bodley to +Francis Bacon. This letter does not appear to have +been known to Mallett, Montague, Dixon, Spedding, or +any of Bacon's biographers. It had been lost sight +of until the writer noticed it and reproduced it in +<i>Baconiana</i>. This is the letter:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"> +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Cousin</span>,—According to your request in your letter +(dated the 19th October at Orleans, I received here the 18th of +December), I have sent you by your merchant £30 (the thirty +is written thus 30 l) sterling for your present supply, and had +sent you a greater sum, but that my extraordinary charge this +year <i>hath utterly unfurnished me</i>. And now, cousin, though I +will be no <i>severe</i> exactor of the account, either of your money or +time, yet for the love I bear you, I am very desirous, both to +satisfy myself, and your friends how you prosper in your travels, +and how you find yourself bettered thereby, either in knowledge +of God, or of the world; the rather, because the Days you have +already spent abroad, are now both sufficient to give you Light, +how to fix yourself and end with counsel, and accordingly to +shape your course constantly unto it. Besides, it is a vulgar +scandal unto the travellers, that few return more religious (narrow, +<i>editor</i>) than they went forth; wherein both my hope and +Request is to you, that your principal care be to hold your +Foundation, and to make no other use of informing your self in +the corruptions and superstitions of other nations, than only +thereby to engage your own heart more firmly to the Truth. You +live indeed in a country of two several professions, and you shall +return a Novice, if you be not able to give an account of the +Ordinances, strength, and progress of each, in Reputation, and +Party, and how both are supported, ballanced and managed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +the state, as being the contrary humours, in the Temper of Predominancy +whereof, the Health or Disease of that Body doth +consist. These things you will observe, not only as an <i>English</i>-man, +whom it may concern, to what interest his country may +expect in the consciences of their Neighbours; but also, as a +Christian, to consider both the beauties and blemishes, the hopes +and dangers of the <i>church</i> in all places. Now for the world, I +know it <i>too</i> well, to persuade you to dive into the practices +thereof; rather stand upon your own guard, against all that +attempt you there unto, or may practise upon you in your +Conscience, Reputation, or your Purse. Resolve, no Man is wise +or safe, but he that is honest: And let this Persuasion turn your +studies and observations from the Complement and Impostures +of the debased age, to more real grounds of wisdom, gathered +out of the story of Times past, and out of the government of +the present state. Your guide to this, is the knowledge of the +country and the people among whom ye live; For the country +though you cannot see all places, yet if, as you pass along, you +enquire carefully, and further help yourself with Books that are +written of the cosmography of those parts, you shall sufficiently +gather the strength, Riches, Traffick, Havens, Shipping, <i>commodities</i>, +vent, and the wants and disadvantages of places. +Wherein also, for your good hereafter, and for your friends, it +will befit to note their buildings, Furnitures, Entertainments; +all their Husbandry, and ingenious inventions, in whatsoever +concerneth either Pleasure or Profit.</p> + +<p>For the people, your traffick among them, while you learn +their language, will sufficiently instruct you in their Habilities, +Dispositions, and Humours, if you a little enlarge the Privacy of +your own Nature, to seek acquaintance with the best sort of +strangers, and <i>restrain</i> your <i>Affections</i> and Participation, for your +own countrymen of whatsoever condition.</p> + +<p>In the story of France, you have a <i>large and pleasant Field</i> in +three lines of their Kings, to observe their alliances and successions, +their <i>Conquests</i>, their wars, <i>especially with us</i>; their +Councils, their treaties; and all Rules and examples of experiences +and Wisdom, which may be Lights and Remembrances to +you hereafter, to Judge of all occurants both at home and abroad.</p> + +<p>Lastly, for the Government, your end <i>must not be like an</i> +Intelligencer, to spend all your time in fishing after the present +News, Humours, Graces, <i>or</i> Disgraces of Court, which happily +may change before you come home; but your better and more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +constant ground will be, to know the Consanguinities, Alliances, +and Estates of their Princes; Proportion between the Nobility +and Magistracy; the Constitutions of their Courts of Justice; the +state of the Laws, as well for the making as the execution +thereof; How the Sovereignty of the King infuseth itself into +all Acts and Ordinances; how many ways they lay Impositions +and Taxations, and gather Revenues to the <i>Crown</i>.</p> + +<p>What be the Liberties and Servitudes of all degrees; what +Discipline and Preparations for wars; what Invention for increase +of Traffick at home, for multiplying their commodities, +encouraging Arts and Manufactures, or of worth in any kind. +Also what establishment, to prevent the <i>Necessities</i> and <i>Discontentment</i> +of <i>People</i>, To cut off suits at Law, and Duels, to suppress +thieves and all Disorders.</p> + +<p>To be short, because my purpose is not to bring all your +Observations to Heads, but only by these few to let you know +what manner of Return your Friends expect <i>from you</i>; let me, +for all these and all the rest, give you this one Note, which I +desire you to observe as the Counsels of a Friend, <i>Not</i> to spend +your Spirits, and the <i>precious</i> time of your Travel, in a Captious +Prejudice and censuring of all things, nor in an Infectious Collection +of base Vices and Fashions of Men and Women, or +general corruption of these times, which will be of use only +Among Humorists, for Jests and Table-Talk: but rather strain +your Wits and Industry soundly to instruct your-self in all things +between <i>Heaven and Earth</i> which may tend to Virtue, Wisdom, +and Honour, and which may make your life more profitable to +your country, and yourself more comfortable to your friends, +and acceptable to God. And to conclude, let all these Riches +be treasured up, not only in your memory, where time may lessen +your stock; but rather in good writings, and Books of Account, +which will <i>keept</i> them safe for your use hereafter.</p> + +<p>And if in this time of your liberal Traffick, you will give me +any advertizement of your commodities in these kinds, I will +make you as liberal a Return from my self and your Friends +here, as I shall be able.</p> + +<p>And so commending all your good Endeavours, to him that +must either <i>wither</i> or <i>prosper</i> them, I very kindly bid you +farewel.</p> + +<p class="center">Your's to be commanded,</p> +<p style='text-align: right'><span class="smcap">Thomas Bodley</span>.</p> +</div> + +<p>Spedding prints this letter (Vol. II. p. 16) com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>mencing +with the words, "Yet for the love I bear," to +the end, with the exception of the last sentence, as a +letter written probably by Bacon for Essex to send to +the Earl of Rutland. He identifies it as "the letter +which the compiler of Stephens' Catalogue took for a +letter addressed by Bacon to Buckingham," which he +says it could not be. The original is at Lambeth (MSS. +936, fo. 218). The seal remains, but the part of the +last sheet which contained the signature on one side, +and the superscription on the other, has been torn off. +The letter commences, "<i>My good Lord</i>," and ends, +"<i>Your Lordship's in all duty to serve you</i>." It would +appear, therefore, that someone had access to Bodley's +letter to Bacon, and, approving its contents, used its +contents a second time.</p> + +<p>There are two palpable deductions to be drawn from +this letter: (1) That Bacon was on a journey through +<i>several</i> countries to obtain knowledge of their customs, +laws, religion, military strength, shipping, and whatsoever +concerneth pleasure or profit. There is a striking +correspondence between Bodley's advice and the description +of Bacon's travels found in the "Life" prefixed +to "L'Histoire Naturelle." (2) That Bacon was +being supported by Bodley and other of his friends, +who desired him to keep a record of all that he observed +and learnt, and to report from time to time as he progressed, +and in return, said Bodley, "I will make you +as liberal a return from myself and your friends here +as I shall be able." This letter was written from +England, and there is a paragraph in Bodley's "Life," +written by himself, which makes it possible to fix the +year:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"My resolution fully taken I departed out of England anno +1576 and continued very neare foure yeares abroad, and that in +sundry parts of Italy, France, and Germany. A good while +after my return to wit, in the yeare 1585 I was employed by the +Queen," etc.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>If this letter was written between 1576 and 1579 it +would appear strange that Bodley and others should +be providing Bacon with money for his travels, and +requiring reports from him, whilst his father, Sir +Nicholas Bacon, was alive and prosperous. No such +difficulty, however, arises, for the letter, being sent from +England, could not have been written between the date +of Bacon's first departure for France in 1576 and his +return on his father's death in 1579, for during the +whole of that time Bodley was abroad. It is stated +in it that Bacon wrote from Orleans a letter dated +19th October, the year not being given. This could +not be in 1580, for Bacon wrote to Lord Burghley from +Gray's Inn on the 18th October, 1580. Spedding commences +the paragraph immediately following this letter +by saying, "From this time we have no further news +of Francis Bacon till the 5th of April, 1582," and +although he does not reproduce the letter, he relies on +a letter from Faunt to Anthony Bacon, to which that +date is attributed in Birch's " Memorials," Vol. I. +page 22. In it Faunt refers to having seen Anthony's +mother and his brother Francis. Faunt left Paris for +England on the 22nd March, 1582. This letter was +written on the 15th of the following month, so no trace +has been found of Francis being in England between +18th October, 1580, and 5th of April, 1582. Bodley's +letter, must, therefore, have been written in December, +1581, when Bacon was abroad making a journey +through several countries. From the foregoing facts it +is impossible to form any other conclusion. Now for +the first time this journey has been made known. There +is a letter amongst the State papers in the Record +Office, dated February, 1581, written by Anthony Bacon +to Lord Burghley, enclosing a note of advice and instructions +for his brother Francis. Anthony was an +experienced traveller, and was then abroad. It reads +as though he was sending advice and instructions to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +younger brother, who was about to start on travels +through countries with which Anthony was familiar. +If so, Francis would leave England early in March, +1581—that is, if he had not left before this letter was +received by Burghley.</p> + +<p>Having established beyond reasonable doubt the fact of +this journey, a new and remarkable suggestion presents +itself. Spedding, when dealing with the year 1582, +prints "Notes on the State of Christendom,"<a name="FNanchor_31_30" id="FNanchor_31_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_30" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> +with the following remarks:—</p> + +<p class="sblockquot">"If that paper of notes concerning 'The State of Europe' +which was printed as Bacon's in the supplement to Stephens' +second collection in 1734, reprinted by Mallet in 1760, and has +been placed at the beginning of his political writings in all +editions since 1563, be really of his composition, this is the period +of his life to which it belongs. I must confess, however, that I +am not satisfied with the evidence or authority upon which it +appears to have been ascribed to him."</p> + +<p>Robert Stephens, who was Historiographer Royal in +the reign of William and Mary, states that the Earl of +Oxford placed in his hands some neglected manuscripts +and loose papers to see whether any of the Lord Bacon's +compositions lay concealed there and were fit for publication. +He found some of them written, and others +amended, with his lordship's own hand. He found +certain of the treatises had been published by him, and +that others, certainly genuine, which had not, were fit +to be transcribed if not divulged. Spedding states that +he has little doubt that this paper on the state of Europe +was among these manuscripts and loose papers, for the +editor states that the supplementary pieces (of which +this was one) were added from originals found among +Stephens' papers. The original is now among the Harleian +MSS. in the British Museum. Spedding thus +describes it:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"The Harleian MS. is a copy in an old hand, probably contemporary, +but not Francis Bacon's. A few sentences have been +inserted afterwards by the same hand, and two by another which +is very like Anthony Bacon's; none in Francis's. The blanks +have all been filled up, but no words have been corrected, though +it is obvious that in some places they stand in need of correction.</p> + +<p>"Certain allusions to events then passing (which will be pointed +out in their place) prove that the original paper was written, or +at least completed, in the summer of 1582, at which time Francis +Bacon was studying law in Gray's Inn, while Anthony was +travelling in France in search of political intelligence and was in +close correspondence with Nicholas Faunt, a secretary of Sir +Francis Walsingham's, who had spent the previous year in +France, Germany, Switzerland, and the north of Italy, on the same +errand; and was now living about the English Court, studying +affairs at home, and collecting and arranging the observations +which he had made abroad, 'having already recovered all his +writings and books which he had left behind him in Italy and in +Frankfort' (see Birch's 'Memoirs,' I. 24), and it is remembered +that if this paper belonged to Anthony Bacon, it would naturally +descend at his death to Francis and so remain among his +manuscripts, where it is supposed to have been found.</p> + +<p>"Thus it appears that the external evidence justifies no inference +as to the authorship, and the only question is whether +the <i>style</i> can be considered conclusive. To me it certainly is +not. But as this is a point upon which the reader should be +allowed to judge for himself, and as the paper is interesting in +itself and historically valuable and has always passed for Bacon's, +it is here printed from the original though (to distinguish it +from his undoubted compositions) in a smaller type."</p></div> + +<p>Spedding's difficulty in accepting this paper as from +Bacon's pen really lay in the fact that from the internal +evidence it is obvious that it was written by one who +had himself travelled through, at any rate, some of the +countries described. The results of personal observation +are again and again apparent. According to Spedding, +Bacon was in 1581-1582 studying law at Gray's Inn; +according to Bodley he was on the Continent making +observations for his future guidance. The reader can +judge of the value of the external evidence. It is not con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>clusive, +but the draft being found amongst papers which +were unquestionably Bacon's writings and being adopted +as Bacon's and published as such by those who found +it, the balance of probabilities is distinctly in favour of +its being his. As to the internal evidence much may be +said. It corresponds as closely as it is possible with +Bodley's requirements as set forth in his letter of December. +It is exactly "the manner of return" Bodley +wrote to Francis "your friends expect from you." +"And," he added, "if in this time of your liberal +Traffick, you will give me any advertisement of your +commodities in these kinds, I will make you as liberal a +return from myself and your friends here as I shall be +able."</p> + +<p>The date agrees with that of Bacon's second visit to +the Continent. In Spedding's Life and Letters it +occupies twelve and a-half pages, of which five are +occupied by descriptions of Italy, one of Austria, two of +Germany (chiefly a recital of names and places), two of +France, three-quarters of Spain, one and three-quarters +of Portugal, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden. This may +have been Bacon's itinerary in 1581-2.</p> + +<p>Italy is treated with considerable detail and was +undoubtedly described from personal observation, as +were France and Spain. In a less degree the description +of Austria, Poland and Denmark produces this +impression; in a still smaller degree Portugal and +Sweden, and it is quite absent from the description of +Germany. Florence, Venice, Mantua, Genoa, Savoy, +are dealt with in most detail. Rawley states that it was +Bacon's intention to have stayed abroad some years +longer when he was called home by the death of his +father, to find himself left in straightened circumstances. +Then followed his ineffectual suit, which he +still persisted in. Bodley evidently was, if not the instigator, +at any rate the paymaster for this second +journey. Anthony's letter of February, 1581, points to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +Burghley as a participator in the project. He would +assist not only out of kindly feeling, but the journey +would at any rate get this ambitious, determined young +man out of the way for a time, and possibly the +journey might get this unaccustomed suit out of his +mind. Thus it came about.</p> + +<p>From Faunt's letters, Spedding says we derive what +little information we have with regard to Francis's +proceedings from 1583 to 1584. "From them we +gather little more than that he remained studying at +Gray's Inn, occasionally visiting his mother at Gorhambury, +or going with her to hear Travers at the +Temple and occasionally appearing at the Court."</p> + +<p>But the suit was not abandoned, for there is the +letter of 25th August, 1585, to Walsingham, when +Bacon writes: "I think the objection of my years +will wear away with the length of my suit. The very +stay doth in this respect concern me, because I am +thereby hindered to take a course of practice which by +the leave of God, if her Majesty like not of my suit, I +must and will follow: not for any necessity of estate, +but for my credit sake, which I know by living out of +action will wear."</p> + +<p>Again, the old, "rare and unaccustomed suit" of +which the Queen could have had no experience! Either +the persuasive powers of Burghley had failed or he had +not exerted them. Probably the latter, because the +troublesome, determined young man is now worrying +Walsingham and Hatton to urge its acceptance with the +Queen. The purport of the foregoing extract effectually +precludes the possibility of this suit referring to his +advancement at the bar. For five years it has been +proceeding—he has been indulging in hopes which +have been unfulfilled. Now he will wait no longer, +but he will adopt a course which, if her Majesty like +not his suit, by the leave of God he must and will +follow, not for any necessity of making money but be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>cause +he feels impelled to it by a sense of responsibility +which he must fulfil. Walsingham and Hatton do not +appear to have helped the matter forward. There was +little probability of them succeeding in influencing the +Queen where Burghley had failed. There was still less +probability of them attempting to influence her if Burghley +objected. Had this suit referred to advancement in +the law it would have been granted with the aid of +Burghley's influence years before. Had it referred to +some ordinary office of State, friends so powerful as +Burghley, Walsingham and Hatton could and would +have obtained anything within reason for this brilliant +young son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, for there was no +complication with Essex until after 1591. But this +rare and unaccustomed suit of which there had been no +experience was another matter.</p> + +<p>Six more years pass, and although there is now no suit +to the Queen there is the same idea prevailing in the +letter to Burghley—a seeking for help to achieve some +great scheme upon which Bacon's mind was so fixed "as +it cannot be removed," "whether it be curiosity, vainglory +or nature, or (if one take it favourably) philanthropia." +Still he required the command of more wits +than of a man's own, which is the thing he did greatly +affect. Still his course was not to get. Still the determination +to achieve the object without help, if help +could not be obtained—to achieve it by becoming some +sorry bookmaker or a pioneer in that mine of truth which +Anaxagoras said lay so deep. This is emphasised. +These are "thoughts rather than words, being set down +without all art, disguising or reservation."</p> + +<p>There are two significant sentences in this letter +written to Burghley when Bacon was 31 years of age. +He describes Burghley as "the second founder of my +poor estate," and, further, he uses the expression "And +if your Lordship will not carry me on." What can +these allusions mean but that Burghley had been render<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>ing +financial assistance to his nephew? If the theory +here put forward as to the nature of the suit be correct, +the object was one which would have Burghley's cordial +support. That he had expressed approval of it must be +deduced from the letter of the 16th of September, 1580. +The object was one which, without doubt, would find +still warmer support from Lady Mildred. But the suit +was so unprecedented that it is not to be wondered at +that Burghley did not try to force it through. The work +was going forward all the time—slowly for lack of +means and official recognition. Burghley, generous +in his nature, lavish in private life, might, however, be +expected to help a work which he would be glad to see +carried to a successful conclusion.</p> + +<p>Had he been less cautious and let young Francis have +his head, what might not have happened! But there +was always the fear of letting this huge intellectual +power forge ahead without restraint. It was, however, +working out unseen its scheme and that, too, with +Burghley's help and that of others. The period from +1576 to 1623—only 47 years—sees the English language +developed from a state of almost barbaric crudeness to +the highest pitch which any language, classical or +modern, has reached. There was but one workman +living at that period who could have constructed that +wonderful instrument and used it to produce such magnificent +examples of its possibilities. It is as reasonable +to take up a watch keeping perfect time and aver that +the parts came together by accident, as to contend that +the English language of the Authorised Version of the +Bible and the works of Shakespeare were the result of a +general up-springing of literary taste which was diffused +amongst a few writers of very mediocre ability. The +English Renaissance was conceived in France and born +in England in 1579. It ran its course and in 1623 +attained its maturity; but when Francis Bacon was no +more—he who had performed that in our tongue which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +may be preferred either to insolent Greece or haughty +Rome—"things daily fall, wits grow downward, and +eloquence grows backward: so that he may be named +and stand as the mark and ἀχμή of our language."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XII.</span><br /> + +IS IT PROBABLE THAT BACON LEFT +MANUSCRIPTS HIDDEN AWAY?</h2> + + +<p>It is difficult to leave this subject without some reference +to the articles which have appeared in the press +and magazines referring to the suggestion that there +were left concealed literary remains of Bacon hitherto +undiscovered.</p> + +<p>In an article which recently appeared in a Shakespearean +journal, a writer who evidently knows little +about the Elizabethan period said: "But why should +Bacon want to bury manuscripts, anyhow? Who does +bury manuscripts? Besides, they had been printed and +were, therefore, rubbish and waste paper merely." +The manuscript of John Harrington's translation of +Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso" may be seen in the +British Museum. It is beautifully written on quarto +paper. It was, apparently, the fair copy sent to the +printer from which the type was to be set up. Be this +as it may, it was undoubtedly a copy upon which +Bacon marked off the verses which are to go on each +page and set out the folio of each page and the printer's +signature which was to appear at the bottom. It also +contains instructions to the printer as to the type to be +used. This manuscript was not considered "rubbish +and waste paper merely."</p> + +<p>Francis Bacon has again and again insisted upon +the value of history. In the "Advancement of Learning" +he points out to the King "the indignity and +unworthiness of the history of England as it now is, in +the main continuation thereof." No man appreciated +as did Bacon the importance in the history of England<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +of the epoch in which he lived. That a truthful +relation of the events of those times would be +invaluable to posterity he knew full well. He of all men +living at that time was best qualified to write such a +history. He recognised that there were objections to a +history being written, or, at any rate, published, wherein +the actions of persons living were described, for he +said "it must be confessed that such kind of relations, +specially if they be published about the times of things +done, seeing very often that they are written with +passion or partiality, of all other narrations, are most +suspected." It is hardly conceivable that Bacon should +have failed to provide a faithful history of his own times +for the benefit of posterity, or, at any rate, that he should +have failed to preserve the materials for such a history. +Neither the history nor such materials are known to be +in existence. Supposing Bacon had prepared either the +one or the other, what could he do with it? Hand it +to Rawley with instructions for it to be printed? +With a strong probability, if it were a faithful history, +that it would never be published, but that it would be +destroyed, he would never take such a risk. There +would only be one course open to him. To conceal it +in some place where it would not be likely to be disturbed, +in which it might remain in safety, possibly for +hundreds of years. And then leave a clue either in +cypher or otherwise by which it might be recovered.</p> + +<p>It is by no means outside the range of possibility that +Bacon as early as 1588 had opened a receptacle for books +and manuscripts which he desired should go down to +posterity, and fearing their loss from any cause, he carefully +concealed them, adding to the store from time to +time. If he did so he left a problem to be solved, and +arranged the place of concealment so that it could only +be found by a solution of the problem.</p> + +<p>The emblems on two title-pages of two books of the +period are very significant. "Truth brought to Light<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +and discovered by Time" is a narrative history of the +first fourteen years of King James' reign. One portion +of the engraved title-page represents a spreading tree +growing up out of a coffin, full fraught with various +fruits (manuscripts and books) most fresh and fair to +make succeeding times most rich and rare. In the +Emblem (Fig. III.) now reproduced, which is found on +the title-page of the first edition of "New Atlantis," +1627,<a name="FNanchor_32_31" id="FNanchor_32_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_31" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> +Truth personified by a naked woman is being +revealed by Father Time, and the inscription round the +device is "<i>Tempore patet occulta veritas</i>—in time the +hidden truth shall be revealed."</p> + +<p>Then, in further confirmation of this view, there is +the statement of Rawley in his introduction to the +"Manes Verulamiani." Speaking of the fame of his +illustrious master he says, "Be this moreover enough, +to have laid, as it were, the foundations, in the name of +the present age. Every age will, methinks, adorn and +amplify this structure, but to what age it may be vouchsafed +to set the finishing hand—this is known only to +God and the Fates."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 456px;"> +<img src="images/fig_iii.jpg" width="456" height="452" alt="Fig. III." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Fig. III.<br /> +From the Title Page of "New Atlantis," 1627.</i></span> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 584px;"> +<img src="images/fig_iv.jpg" width="584" height="468" alt="Fig. IV." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Fig. IV.<br /> +From the Title Page of Peacham's "Minerva Britannia," 1612.</i></span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIII" id="Chapter_XIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIII.</span><br /> + +HOW THE ELIZABETHAN LITERATURE +WAS PRODUCED.</h2> + + +<p>The half century from 1576 to 1625 stands by itself in +the history of the literature of this country. During that +period not only was the English language made, not only +were there produced the finest examples of its capacities, +which to-day exist, but the knowledge and wisdom possessed +by the classical writers, the histories of the +principal nations of the world, practically everything +that was worth knowing in the literature which existed +in other countries were, for the first time, made available +in the English tongue. And what is still more +remarkable, these translations were printed and published. +These works embraced every art and subject +which can be imagined. Further, during this period +there were issued a large number of books crowded with +information upon general subjects. The names on the +title-pages of many of these works are unknown. It is +astonishing how many men as to whom nothing can +be learnt, appear about this time to have written one +book and one book only.</p> + +<p>These translations were published at a considerable +cost. For such works, being printed in the English +language, purchasers were practically confined to this +country, and their number was very limited. The +quantity of copies constituting an edition must have +been small. It is impossible to believe that the sale of +these books could realise the amount of their cost.</p> + +<p>Definite information on this point is difficult to obtain, +for little is known as to the prices at which these books +were sold.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>It appears from the "Transcripts of the Stationers' +Registers" that the maximum number of copies that +went to make up an edition was in the interest of the +workman fixed at 1,250 copies, so that if a larger +number were required the type had to be re-set for each +additional 1,250 copies. Double impressions of 2,500 +were allowed of primers, catechisms, proclamations, +statutes and almanacs. But the solid literature which +came into the language at this period would not be +required in such quantities. The printer was not usually +the vendor of the books. The publisher and bookseller +or stationer carried on in most cases a distinct business.</p> + +<p>Pamphlets, sermons, plays, books of poems, formed +the staple ware of the stationer. The style of the book +out of which the stationer made his money may be +gathered from the following extract from <i>The Return +from Parnassus</i>, Act I, scene 3:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'><i>Ingenioso.</i>—</td> +<td align='justify'>Danter thou art deceived, wit is dearer than thou +takest it to bee. I tell thee this libel of Cambridge +has much salt and pepper in the nose: it will sell +sheerely underhand when all those bookes of exhortations +and catechisms lie moulding on thy shopboard.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'><i>Danter.</i>—</td> +<td align='justify'>It's true, but good fayth, M. Ingenioso, I lost by your +last booke; and you know there is many a one that +pays me largely for the printing of their inventions, +but for all this you shall have 40 shillings and an +odde pottle of wine.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'><i>Ingenioso.</i>—</td> +<td align='justify'>40 shillings? a fit reward for one of your reumatick +poets, that beslavers all the paper he comes by, +and furnishes the Chaundlers with wast papers to +wrap candles in: ... it's the gallantest Child my invention +was ever delivered off. The title is, a Chronicle +of Cambridge Cuckolds; here a man may see, what +day of the moneth such a man's commons were inclosed, +and when throwne open, and when any +entayled some odde crownes upon the heires of their +bodies unlawfully begotten; speake quickly, ells I +am gone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'><i>Danter.</i>—</td> +<td align='justify'>Oh this will sell gallantly. Ile have it whatsoever it +cost, will you walk on, M. Ingenioso, weele sit over +a cup of wine and agree on it.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The publication of such works as Hollingshed's +"Chronicles," North's "Plutarch's Lives," Grimston's +"History of France," and "The French Academy," +could not have been produced with profit as the object. +A large body of evidence may be brought forward to +support this view, but space will only permit two +examples to be here set forth.</p> + +<p>In the dedication to Sir William Cecil, of Hollingshed's +"Chronicles," 1587, the writer says:</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>Yet when the volume grew so great as they that were to defraie +the charges for the impression were not willing to go through +with the whole, they resolved first to publish the histories of +England, Scotland, and Ireland with their descriptions.</p></div> + +<p>John Dee spent most of the year 1576 in writing a +series of volumes to be entitled "General and Rare +Memorials pertayning to the perfect Art of Navigation." +In 1577 the first volume was ready for the press. In +June he had to borrow £40 from one friend, £20 from +another, and £27 upon "the chayn of gold." In the +following August John Day commenced printing it at +his press in Aldersgate. The title was "The British +Monarchy or Hexameron Brytannicum," and the edition +consisted of 100 copies.</p> + +<p>The second volume, "The British Complement," was +ready in the following December. It was never published. +Dee states in his Diary that the printing would +cost many hundreds of pounds, as it contained tables +and figures, and he must first have "a comfortable +and sufficient opportunity or supply thereto." This he +was unable to procure, so the book remained in manuscript.<a name="FNanchor_33_32" id="FNanchor_33_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_32" class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>Books +of this class were never produced with the +object of making profit. The proceeds of sale would +not cover the cost of printing and publishing, without +any provision for the remuneration of the translator or +author. Why were they published, and how was the +cost provided?</p> + +<p>There was, however, another source of revenue open +to the author of a book. Henry Peacham, in "The +Truth of our Time," says:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"But then you may say, the Dedication will bee worth a great +matter, either in present reward of money, or preferment by your +Patrones Letter, or other means. And for this purpose you prefixe +a learned and as Panegyricall Epistle as can," etc.</p></div> + +<p>It is beyond question that an author usually obtained +a considerable contribution towards the cost of the production +of a book from the person to whom the dedication +was addressed. A number of books published +during the period from 1576 to 1598 are dedicated to +the Queen, to the Earl of Leicester, and to Lord +Burghley. One can only offer a suggestion on this +point which may or may not be correct. If Francis +Bacon was concerned in the issue of these translations +and other works, and Burghley was assisting him +financially, it is probable that Burghley would procure +grants from the Queen in respect of books which were +dedicated to her, and would provide funds towards the +cost of such books as were dedicated to himself. "The +Arte of English Poesie" was written with the intention +that it should be dedicated to the Queen, but there +was a change in the plans, and Burghley's name was +substituted. When Bacon, in 1591, is threatening to +become "a sorry bookmaker," he describes Burghley +as the second founder of his poor estate, and uses the +expression, "If your Lordship will not carry me on," +which can only mean that as to the matter which is +the subject of the letter, Burghley had not merely been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +assisting but carrying him. The evidence which exists +is strong enough to warrant putting forward this theory +as to the frequency of the names of the Queen and +Burghley on the dedications.</p> + +<p>The Earl of Leicester desired to have the reputation +of being a patron of the arts, and was willing to pay +for advertisement. He was the Chancellor of Oxford +University, and evidently recognised the value of printing, +for in 1585 he erected, at his own expense, a new +printing press for the use of the University. If he paid +at all for dedications he would pay liberally. But, +of course, the Queen, Burghley, and Leicester were +accessible to others besides Bacon, and the argument +goes no further than that towards the production of +certain books upon which their names appear the +patrons provided part of the cost. The recognition of +this fact, however, does not detract from the importance +of the expressions used by Bacon in his letter to +Burghley.</p> + +<p>There is abundant testimony to the fact that it was +the custom, during the Elizabethan age, for an author +to suppress his own name, and on the title-page<a name="FNanchor_34_33" id="FNanchor_34_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_33" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> substitute +either the initials or name of some other person. +The title-pages of this period are as unreliable as are +the names or initials affixed to the dedications and +epistles "To the Reader."</p> + +<p>In 1624 was published "The Historie of the Life and +Death of Mary Stuart Queene of Scotland." The dedication +is signed Wil Stranguage. In 1636 it was reprinted, +the same dedication being signed W. Vdall. +There are numerous similar instances.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIV" id="Chapter_XIV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIV.</span><br /> + +THE CLUE TO THE MYSTERY OF +BACON'S LIFE.</h2> + + +<p>The theory now put forward is based upon the assumption +that Francis Bacon at a very early age adopted the +conception that he would devote his life to the construction +of an adequate language and literature for his +country and that he would do this remaining invisible. +If he was the author of "The Anatomie of the Mind," +1576, and of "Beautiful Blossoms," 1577, he must have +adopted this plan of obscurity as early as his sixteenth +year. It is possible, however, that it may be shown +that at a date still earlier he had decided upon this course. +This, however, is beyond doubt—that if Francis Bacon +was associated in any way with the literature of +England from 1570 to 1605, with the exception of the +small volume of essays published in 1597, he most carefully +concealed his connection with it.</p> + +<p>"Therefore, set it down," he says in the essay Of +Simulation and Dissimulation, "that a habit of secrecy +is both politic and moral," and in <i>Examples of the Antitheta</i>,<a name="FNanchor_35_34" id="FNanchor_35_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_34" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> +"Dissimulation is a compendious wisdome." +Here again is the same idea: "Beside in all wise +humane Government, they that sit at the helme, doe +more happily bring their purposes about, and insinuate +more easily things fit for the people by pretexts, and +oblique courses; than by ... downright dealing. +Nay (which perchance may seem very strange) in things +meerely naturall, you may sooner deceive nature than +force her; so improper and selfeimpeaching are open +direct proceedings; whereas on the other side, an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +oblique and an insinuating way, gently glides along, and +compasseth the intended effect."<a name="FNanchor_36_35" id="FNanchor_36_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_35" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<p>It is noteworthy that Bacon had a quaint conceit of +the Divine Being which he was never tired of repeating. +In the preface to the "Advancement of Learning" +(1640), the following passage occurs:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"<i>For of the knowledges which contemplate the works of Nature, +the holy Philosopher hath said expressly</i>; that the glory of God is +to conceal a thing, but the glory of the King is to find it out: +<i>as if the Divine Nature, according to the innocent and sweet play of +children, which hide themselves to the end they may be found; took +delight to hide his works, to the end they might be found out; and of +his indulgence and goodness to mankind, had chosen the Soule of +man to be his Play-fellow in this game</i>."</p></div> + +<p>Again on page 45 of the work itself he says:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"For so he (King Solomon) saith expressly, <i>The Glory of God +is to conceale a thing, but the Glory of a King is to find it out</i>. As +if according to that innocent and affectionate play of children, +the Divine Majesty took delight to hide his works, to the end to +have them found out, and as if <i>Kings</i> could not obtain a greater +Honour, then to be God's play-fellowes in that game, especially +considering the great command they have of wits and means, +whereby the investigation of all things may be perfected."</p></div> + +<p>Another phase of the same idea is to be found on +page 136.</p> + +<p>In the author's preface to the "Novum Organum" +the following passage occurs:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"Whereas of the sciences which regard nature the Holy +Philosopher declares that 'it is the glory of God to conceal a +thing, but it is the glory of the King to find it out.' Even as +though the Divine Nature took pleasure in the innocent and +kindly sport of children playing at hide and seek, and vouched-safe +of his kindness and goodness to admit the human spirit for +his play fellow in that game."</p></div> + +<p>In almost identical words Bacon suggests the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +same conception in "In Valerius Terminus" and in +"Filum Labyrinthi."</p> + +<p>In the Epistle Dedicatorie of "The French Academie" +and elsewhere the author is insisting on the same idea +that "He (God) cannot be seene of any mortal creature +but is notwithstanding known by his works."</p> + +<p>The close connection of Francis Bacon with the +works (now seldom studied) of the Emblem writers is +vouched for by J. Baudoin.</p> + +<p>Oliver Lector in "Letters from the Dead to the Dead" +has given examples of his association with the Dutch +and French emblem writers. Three Englishmen appear +to have indulged in this fascinating pursuit—George +Whitney (1589), Henry Peacham (1612), and George +Withers (1634). From the Baconian point of view +Peacham's "Minerva Britannia" is by far the most +interesting. The Emblem on page 34 is addressed +"To the most judicious and learned, <span class="smcap">Sir Francis +Bacon</span> Knight." On the opposite leaf, paged thus, ·33,<a name="FNanchor_37_36" id="FNanchor_37_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_36" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> +the design represents a hand holding a spear as in the +act of shaking it. But it is the frontispiece which +bears specially on the present contention. The design +is now reproduced (Fig. IV). A curtain is drawn to hide +a figure, the hand only of which is protruding. It has +just written the words "<span class="smcap">Mente Videbor</span>"—"By the +mind I shall be seen." Around the scroll are the words +"Vivitur ingenio cetera mortis erunt"—one lives in +one's genius, other things shall be (or pass away) in +death.</p> + +<p>That emblem represents the secret of Francis Bacon's +life. At a very early age, probably before he was +twelve, he had conceived the idea that he would imitate +God, that he would hide his works in order that they +might be found out—that he would be seen only by his +mind and that his image should be concealed. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +was no haphazard work about it. It was not simply +that having written poems or plays, and desiring not to +be known as the author on publishing them, he put +someone else's name on the title-page. There was first +the conception of the idea, and then the carefully-elaborated +scheme for carrying it out.</p> + +<p>There are numerous allusions in Elizabethan and +early Jacobean literature to someone who was active in +literary matters but preferred to remain unrecognised. +Amongst these there are some which directly refer to +Francis Bacon, others which occur in books or under +circumstances which suggest association with him. It +is not contended that they amount to direct testimony, +but the cumulative force of this evidence must not be +ignored. In some of the emblem books of the period +these allusions are frequent.</p> + +<p>Then there is John Owen's epigram appearing in his +"Epigrammatum," published in 1612.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>AD. D.B.</b></p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> "Si bene qui latuit, bene vixit, tu bene vivis:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Ingeniumque tuum grande latendo patet."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Thou livest well if one well hid well lives,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>And thy great genius in being concealed is revealed."</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>D. is elsewhere used by Owen as the initial of +Dominus. The suggestion that Ad. D.B. represents +Ad Dominum Baconum is therefore reasonable.</p> + +<p>Thomas Powell published in 1630 the "Attourney's +Academy." The book is dedicated "To True Nobility +and Tryde learning beholden To no Mountaine for +Eminence, nor supportment for Height, Francis, Lord +Verulam and Viscount St. Albanes." Then follow +these lines:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"O Give me leave to pull the Curtaine by<br /> +That clouds thy Worth in such obscurity.<br /> +Good Seneca, stay but a while thy bleeding,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>T' accept what I received at thy Reading:<br /> +Here I present it in a solemne strayne,<br /> +And thus I pluckt the Curtayne backe again."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>In the "Mirrour of State and Eloquence," published +in 1656, the frontispiece is a very bad copy of Marshall's +portrait of Bacon prefixed to the 1640 Gilbert Wat's +"Advancement of Learning." Under it are these +lines:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Grace, Honour, virtue, Learning, witt,<br /> +Are all within this Porture knitt<br /> +And left to time that it may tell,<br /> +What worth within this Peere did dwell."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The frontispiece previously referred to of "Truth +brought to Light and discovered by Time, or a discourse +and Historicall narration of the first XIIII. yeares of +King James Reign," published in 1651, is full of cryptic +meaning and in one section of it there is a representation +of a coffin out of which is growing</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">"A spreading Tree</span><br /> +Full fraught with various Fruits most fresh and fair<br /> +To make succeeding Times most rich and rare."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The fruits are books and manuscripts. The volume +contains speeches of Bacon and copies of official documents +signed by him.</p> + +<p>The books of the emblem writers are still more +remarkable. "Jacobi Bornitii Emblemata Ethico +Politica," 1659, contains at least a dozen plates in +which Bacon is represented. A suggestive emblem is +No. 1 of Cornelii Giselberti Plempii Amsterodarnum +Monogrammon, bearing date 1616, the year of Shakespeare's +death. It is now reproduced (Fig. V.). It will +be observed that the initial letters of each word in the +sentence—<i>Obscænumque nimis crepuit Fortuna Batavis +appellanda</i>—yield F. Bacon. There are in other designs +figures which are evidently intended to represent +Bacon. Emblem XXXVI. shows the inside of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +printer's shop and two men at work in the foreground +blacking and fixing the type. Behind is a workman +setting type, and standing beside him, apparently +directing, or at any rate observing him, is a man with +the well-known Bacon hat on.</p> + +<p>The contention may be stated thus:—Francis +Bacon possessed, to quote Macaulay, "the most +exquisitely constructed intellect that has ever been +bestowed on any of the children of men." Hallam +described him as "the wisest, greatest of mankind," +and affirmed that he might be compared to Aristotle, +Thucydides, Tacitus, Philippe de Comines, Machiavelli, +Davila, Hume, "all of these together," and confirming +this view Addison said that "he possessed at once all +those extraordinary talents which were divided amongst +the greatest authors of antiquity." At twelve years of +age in industry he surpassed the capacity, and, in his +mind, the range of his contemporaries, and had acquired +a thorough command of the classical and modern +languages. "He, after he had survaied all the Records +of Antiquity, after the volumes of men, betook himself +to the volume of the world and conquered whatever +books possest." Having, whilst still a youth, taken all +knowledge to be his province, he had read, marked, and +absorbed the contents of nearly every book that had +been printed. How that boy read! Points of importance +he underlined and noted in the margin. Every +subject he mastered—mathematics, geometry, music, +poetry, painting, astronomy, astrology, classical drama +and poetry, philosophy, history, theology, architecture.</p> + +<p>Then—or perhaps before—came this marvellous conception, +"Like God I will be seen by my works, +although my image shall never be visible—<i>Mente +videbor</i>. By the mind I shall be seen." So equipped, +and with such a scheme, he commenced and successfully +carried through that colossal enterprise in which +he sought the good of all men, though in a despised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +weed. "This," he said, "whether it be curiosity or +vainglory, or (if one takes it favourably) philanthropia, +is so fixed in my mind as it cannot be removed."</p> + +<p>Translations of the classics, of histories, and other +works were made. In those he no doubt had assistance +by the commandment of more wits than his own, which +is a thing he greatly affected. Books came from his +pen—poetry and prose—at a rate which, when the truth +is revealed, will literally "stagger humanity." Books +were written by others under his direction. He saw +them through the press, and he did more. He had +his own wood blocks of devices, some, at any rate, of +which were his own design, and every book produced +under his direction, whether written by him or not, +was marked by the use of one or more of these wood +blocks. The favourite device was the light A and the +dark A. Probably the first book published in England +which was marked with this device was <i>De Rep. +Anglorum Instauranda libri decem, Authore Thoma +Chalonero Equite, Anglo</i>. This was printed by Thomas +Vautrollerius,<a name="FNanchor_38_37" id="FNanchor_38_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_37" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> and bears date 1579.</p> + +<p>Vautrollier, and afterwards Richard Field, printed +many of the books in the issue of which Bacon was concerned +from 1579 onwards. Henry Bynneman, and +afterwards his assignees Ralph Newbery and Henry +Denham and George Bishop, who was associated with +Denham, were also printing books issued under his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +auspices, and later Adam Islip, George Eld and James +Haviland came in for a liberal share of his patronage.</p> + +<p>The cost of printing and publishing must have been +very great. If the facts ever come to light it will probably +be found that Burghley was Bacon's mainstay for +financial support. It will also be found that Lady Anne +Bacon and Anthony Bacon were liberal contributors to +the funds, and that the cause of Francis Bacon's +monetary difficulties and consequent debts was the +heavy obligation which he personally undertook in connection +with the production of the Elizabethan +literature.</p> + +<p>In the Dedications, Prefaces, and Epistles "To the +Reader" also Francis Bacon's mind may be recognised. +When Addison wrote of Bacon, "One does not know +which to admire most in his writings, the strength of +reason, force of style, or brightness of imagination," +his words might have been inspired by these prefixes +to the literature of this period. When once the student +has made himself thoroughly acquainted with Bacon's +style of writing prefaces he can never fail to recognise +it, especially if he reads the passages aloud. The +Epistle Dedicatorie to the 1625 edition of Barclay's +"Argenis," signed Kingesmill Long, is one of the finest +examples of Baconian English extant. Who but the +writer of the Shakespeare plays could have written that +specimen of musical language? To hear it read aloud +gives all the enjoyment of listening to a fine composition +of music. It is the same with the Shakespeare plays; +only when they are read aloud can the richness and +charm of the language they contain be appreciated.</p> + +<p>Bacon's work can never be understood by anyone who +has not realised the marvellous character of the mind of +the boy, his phenomenal industry, and the fact that "he +could imagine like a poet and execute like a clerk of the +works." It has been suggested that he had a secret +Society, by the agency of which he carried through his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +works, but it is difficult to find any evidence that such +a Society existed. It may be that he had helpers without +there having been anything of the nature of a +Society.</p> + +<p>From 1575 to 1605 (thirty years) with the exception +of the trifles published as Essays in 1597, there are no +acknowledged fruits of his work to which his name is +attached. Even the two books of the "Advancement +of Learning," published in 1605, would have made little +demands on his time. Edmund Burke said: "Who is +there that hearing the name of Bacon does not instantly +recognise everything of genius the most profound, of +literature the most extensive, of discovery the most +penetrating, of observation of human life the most distinguished +and refined." For such a man to write "The +two books" would be no hard or lengthy task.</p> + +<p>The wonder is that Francis Bacon should have +attached his name to the 1597 edition of the essays. He +had written and published under other names tomes of +essays of at least equal merit. In Aphorism 128 of +the "Novum Organum" Bacon says, "But how sincere +I am in my profession of affection and goodwill towards +the received sciences my published writings, especially +the books on the Advancement of Learning, sufficiently +shew." What are the published writings referred to? +The only works which bore his name were the incomplete +volume of the Essays and the "Wisdom of the +Ancients," to neither of which the words quoted are +applicable.</p> + +<p>Anthony Bacon, writing to Lady Anne in April, 1593, +referring to her "motherly offer" to help Francis out +of debt by being content to bestow the whole interest +in an estate in Essex, called Markes, said "beseeching +you to believe that being so near and dear unto me as +he is, it cannot but be a grief unto me to see a mind +that hath given so sufficient proof of itself in having +brought forth many good thoughts for the general to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +overburdened and cumbered with a care of clearing his +particular estate."</p> + +<p>In 1593 nothing had been published under Bacon's +name, and there is not any production of his known +which would justify Anthony's remark. What was his +motive in selecting this insignificant little volume of +essays whereby to proclaim himself a writer? One can +understand his object in addressing James in <i>The Two +Books of the Advancement of Learning</i>. He obtained in +1606, as Peacham has it, "preferment by his Patrone's +letter" by being appointed Solicitor-General.</p> + +<p>During all this period—1575 to 1605—"the most +exquisitely constructed mind that has ever been bestowed +on any of the children of men" appears to have been +dormant. Take the first three volumes of Spedding's +"Life and Letters," and carefully note all that is recorded +as the product of that mind during the years when it +must have been at the zenith of its power and activity. +All the letters and tracts accredited to Bacon in them +which have come down to us would not account for +six months—not for three months—of its occupation.</p> + +<p>The explanation that he was building up his great +system of inductive philosophy is quite inadequate. +Rawley speaks of the "Novum Organum" as having +been in hand for twelve years. This would give 1608 +as the year when it was commenced. The "Cogitata +et Visa," of which it was an amplification, was probably +written in 1606 or 1607, for on the 17th February, +1607-8, Bodley writes acknowledging the receipt of it +and commenting on it.</p> + +<p>Rawley says that it was during the last five years +of Bacon's life that he composed the greatest part of +his books and writings both in English and Latin, +and supplies a list which comprises all his acknowledged +published works except the "Novum Organum" +and the Essays.</p> + +<p>In "The Statesmen and Favourites of England<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +since the Reformation," it is stated that the universal +knowledge and comprehension of things rendered Francis +Bacon the observation of great and wise men, and +afterward the wonder of all. Yet it is remarkable +how few are the references to him amongst his contemporaries. +Practically the only one that would +enable a reader to gain any knowledge of his personality +is Francis Osborn, who, in letters to his son, +published in 1658, describes him as he was in the last +few years of his life. No one has left data which +enables a clear impression to be formed of Francis +Bacon as he was up to his fortieth year. The omission +may be described as a conspiracy of silence. How +exactly the circumstances appear to fit in with the first +line of John Owen's epigram to Dominus B., published +in 1612!—"Thou livest well if one well hid +well lives"; and if the suggestion now put forward be +correct that Bacon deliberately resolved that his image +and personality should never be seen, but only the fruits +of his mind—the issues of his brain, to use Rawley's +expression—how apt is the second line of the epigram: +"And thy great genius in being concealed, is revealed."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XV" id="Chapter_XV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XV.</span><br /> + +BURGHLEY AND BACON.</h2> + + +<p>There was published in 1732 "The Life of the Great +Statesman William Cecil, Lord Burghley." The +preface signed by Arthur Collins states:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>The work I have for several years engaged in, of treating +of those families that have been Barons of this Kingdom, +necessarily induced me to apply to our Nobility for such helps, +as might illustrate the memory of their ancestors. And several +Noblemen having favour'd me with the perusal of their family +evidences, and being recommended to the Right Honourable the +present Earl of Exeter, his Lordship out of just regard to the +memory of his great Ancestor, was pleased to order the manuscript +Life of the Lord Burghley to be communicated to me.</p> + +<p>Which being very old and decayed and only legible to such +who are versed in ancient writings it was with great satisfaction +that I copied it literatim. And that it may not be lost to the +world, I now offer it to the view of the publick. It fully appears +to be wrote in the reign of Queen Elizabeth soon after his Lordship's +death, by one who was intimate with him, and an eye +witness of his actions for the last twenty-five years. It needs no +comment to set it off; that truth and sincerity which shines +through the whole, will, I don't doubt have the same weight with +the Readers as it had with me and that they will be of opinion +it's too valuable to be buried in oblivion.</p></div> + +<p>This "Life of Lord Burghley" is referred to by Nares +and other of his biographers as having been written by +"a domestic." It contains about 16,000 words and is +the most authentic account extant of the great statesman's +life. The narrative is full, but the observations +on the character and habits of Burghley are by far the +most important feature. The method of treatment of +the subject is after Bacon's style; the Life abounds +with phrases and with tricks of diction, which enable it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +to be identified as his. The concluding sentences could +only have been written with Bacon's pen:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>And so leaving his soule with God, his fame to the world, and +the truth to all charitable mynds, I leave the sensure to all +judicious Christians, who truly practising what they professe, will +better approve, and more indifferentlie interpret it, than envie or +malice can disprove it. The best sort will ever doe right, the +worst can but imagine mischief and doe wrong; yet this is a +comfort, the more his virtues are troden downe, the more will +theire brightnes appeare. Virtus vulnerata virescit.</p></div> + +<p>In 1592 the "Responsio ad edictum Reginæ Angliæ" +of the Jesuit Parsons had appeared, attacking the Queen +and her advisers (especially Burghley), to whom were +attributed all the evils of England and the disturbances +of Christendom. The reply to this was entrusted to +Francis Bacon, who responded with a pamphlet entitled +"Certain observations upon a libel published this +present year, 1592." It was first printed by Dr. Rawley +in the "Resuscitatio" in 1657. At the time it was +written it was circulated largely in manuscript, for at +least eight copies, somewhat varying from each other, +have been preserved.<a name="FNanchor_39_38" id="FNanchor_39_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_38" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> It is quite possible that it was +printed at the time, but that no copy has survived. +Throughout the whole work there are continual +references to Burghley. Chapter VI. is entirely devoted +to his defence and is headed "Certain true general notes +upon the actions of the Lord Burghley." Either "The +Life" and the "Observations on a Libel" are by the +same writer or the author of the former borrowed the +latter very freely.</p> + +<p>It is to be regretted that the original manuscript of +the "Life" cannot now be found. In 1732 it was at +Burghley House. Application has been made to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +present Marquis of Exeter for permission to inspect it, +but his Lordship's librarian has no knowledge of its +existence. If it could be examined it is probable that if +the text was not in Bacon's handwriting some notes or +alterations might be recognised as his. The writer says +he was an eye witness of Burghley's life and actions +twenty-five years together—that would be from 1573 +to 1598, which would well accord with the present +contention. If Bacon was the author it throws considerable +light on his relations with Burghley and +establishes the fact that they were of the most cordial +and affectionate character. It is reported that Bacon +said that in the time of the Burghleys—father and son—clever +or able men were repressed, and mainly upon this +has been based the impression that Burghley opposed +Francis Bacon's progress.</p> + +<p>Burghley's biographer refers to this report. He +writes: "He was careful and desirous to furder and +advaunce men of quality and desart to be Councellors +and officers to her Majesty wherein he placed manie and +laboured to bring in more ... yet would envy with +her slaunders report he hindered men from rising; but +howe true it is wise men maie judge, for it was the +Queene to take whom she pleased and not in a subject +to preferree whom he listed."</p> + +<p>It will eventually be proved that such a report conveys +an incorrect view. In the letter of 1591,<a name="FNanchor_40_39" id="FNanchor_40_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_39" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> addressed to +Burghley, Bacon says:—"Besides I do not find in myself +so much self-love, but that the greater parts of my +thoughts are to deserve well (if I were able) of my friends +and namely of your Lordship; who being the Atlas of +this Commonwealth, the honour of my house, and the +second founder of my poor estate, I am tied by all +duties, both of a good patriot, and of an unworthy +kinsman, and of an obliged servant, to employ whatsoever +I am to do your service," and later in the letter he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +employs the phrase, "And if your Lordship will not carry +me on," and then threatens to sell the inheritance that +he has, purchase some quick revenue that may be +executed by another, and become some sorry bookmaker +or a pioneer in that mine of truth which Anaxagoras +said lay so deep.</p> + +<p>Again, in a letter to Burghley, dated 31st March, 1594, +he says:—"Lastly, that howsoever this matter may go, +yet I may enjoy your lordship's good favour and help as +I have done in regard to my private estate, which as I +have not altogether neglected so I have but negligently +attended and which hath been bettered only by yourself +(the Queen except) and not by any other in matter of +importance." Further on he says: "Thus again +desiring the continuance of your Lordship's goodness +as I have hitherto found it on my part sought also to +deserve, I commend," etc.</p> + +<p>It is very easy, with little information as to Bacon's +actions and little knowledge of the period, to form a +definite opinion as to the relations of Bacon and +Burghley. The more information as to the one and +knowledge of the other one gets, the more difficult does +it become to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. Here +was the son of Elizabeth's great Lord Keeper, the +nephew of her trusted minister, himself from his boyhood +a <i>persona grata</i> with the Queen, of brilliant parts +and great wisdom—if he had been a mere place-hunter +his desires could have been satisfied over and over +again. There was some condition of circumstance, of +which nothing has hitherto been known, which prevented +him from obtaining the object of his desires. That he +had a definite object, and had mapped out a course by +which he hoped to achieve it, is evident from his letters<a name="FNanchor_41_40" id="FNanchor_41_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_40" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> +already quoted. It is equally clear that the course he +sought to pursue entailed his abandoning the law as a +profession. Either he would only have such place as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +he desired, and on his own terms, or he was known to be +following some course which, although not distasteful +to his close friends, caused him to be held in suspicion, +if not distrust, by the courtiers with whom Elizabeth +was surrounded. Every additional fact that comes to +light seems to point to the truth being that through his +life Burghley was Francis Bacon's staunch friend and +supporter. Upon Sir Nicholas Bacon's death Burghley +appears with Bodley to have been maintaining Bacon +in his travels abroad. Upon his return to England +Burghley gave him financial support in his great project. +In 1591 there was a crisis—someone had been spending +money for the past twelve years freely in making English +literature. That cannot be gainsaid. Burghley appears +to have pulled up and remonstrated; hence Bacon's +letter containing the threat before referred to. It is +significant that it was immediately after this letter was +written that Bacon's association with Essex commenced. +Bacon would take him and Southampton into +his confidence and seek their help. Essex was just the +man to respond with enthusiasm. Francis introduced +Anthony to him. The services of the brothers were +placed at his disposal, and he undertook to manage the +Queen. The office of Attorney-General for Francis +would meet the case. "It was dangerous in a factious +age to have my Lord Essex his favour," says the +biographer before quoted.<a name="FNanchor_42_41" id="FNanchor_42_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_41" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> + +<p>That Burghley was favourable to his appointment as +Attorney-General two letters written by Francis to +Lord Keeper Puckering in 1594 testify. In the first +Bacon writes: "I pray your Lordship to call to remembrance +my Lord Treasurer's kind course, who affirmed +directly all the rest to be unfit. And because <i>vis unita +fortior</i> I beg your Lordship to take a time with the +Queen when my Lord Treasurer is present."</p> + +<p>In a second letter he writes: "I thought good to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +remember your good Lordship and to request you as I +touched in my last that if my Lord Treasurer be absent +your Lordship would forbear to fall into my business +with her Majesty lest it mought receive some foil before +the time when it should be resolutely dealt in."</p> + +<p>Only Burghley was found to support Essex's advocacy, +and on the whole this was not to be wondered at. Such +an appointment, to say the least, would have been an +experiment. Possibly Essex was the stumbling-block, +but it may be that the real objection on the part of the +Queen and her advisers was that Bacon was known to +be so amorous of certain learned arts, so much given +over to invention, that the consensus of opinion was +that he was thereby unfitted to hold an important office +of the State. Or it may be that he was discredited by +his suspected or known association with certain printers. +There was some reason of which no explanation can +now be traced.</p> + +<p>It has been suggested that in 1591 there was a crisis +in Bacon's life. That is evident from the letter to +Burghley written in that year. John Harrington's +translation of "Orlando Furioso" was published about +this time. The manuscript, which is in a perfect +condition, is in the British Museum, and has been +marked in Bacon's handwriting throughout. The +pagination and the printer's signature are placed at the +commencement of the stanzas to be printed on each +page, and there are instructions to the printer at the +end which are not in his hand.</p> + +<p>There are good grounds for attributing the notes at +the end of each chapter to Bacon.</p> + +<p>It is very improbable that Sir John Harrington had +the classical knowledge which the writer of these notes +must have possessed. There is a letter written by him +to Sir Amias Pawlett, dated January, 1606-7. He is +relating an interview with King James, and says: +"Then he (the king) enquyrede muche of lernynge and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +showede me his owne in such sorte as made me remember +my examiner at Cambridge aforetyme. He soughte +muche to knowe my advances in philosophie and +utterede profounde sentences of Aristotle and such lyke +wryters, whiche I had never reade and which some are +bolde enoughe to saye others do not understand." It +would be difficult to mention any classical author with +whose works the writer of these notes was not familiar, +or to believe that "Epigrams both Pleasant and +Serious" (1615) came from the pen of that writer.</p> + +<p>At the end of the thirty-seventh chapter the following +note occurs: "It was because she (Porcia) wrote some +verses in manner of an Epitaph upon her husband after +his decease: In which kind, that honourable Ladie +(widow of the late Lord John Russell) deserveth no +lesse commendation, having done as much for two husbands. +And whereas my author maketh so great bost +only of one learned woman in Italie, I may compare +(besides one above all comparison that I have noted in +the twentith booke) three or foure in England out of one +family, and namely the sisters of that learned Ladie, as +witness that verse written by the meanest of the foure +to the Ladie Burlie which I doubt if Cambridge or Oxford +can mend."</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="10" summary=""> +<tr> +<td align='left'>The four daughters of Sir Anthonie Cooke—<br /> + Ladie Burlie,<br /> + Ladie Russell,<br /> + Lady Bacon,<br /> + Mistress Killygrew.<br /> +</td> +<td align='left'>Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti<br /> +Tu bona, tu melior, tu mihi sola soror;<br /> +Sin mali cessando retines, & trans mare mittis,<br /> +Tu mala, tu peior, tu mihi nulla soror.<br /> +Is si Cornubiam, tibi pax sit & omnia læta,<br /> +Sin mare Ceciliæ nuncio bella. Vale.<a name="FNanchor_43_42" id="FNanchor_43_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_42" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> +</td> +<td align='justify'>She wrote +to Lady Burlie<br /> +to send a +kinsman of<br /> +hers into +Cornwall,<br /> +where she +dwelt, and to<br /> +stop his going +beyond sea.</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<p>The writer of the Latin verse was <i>not</i> Ladie Russell, +and it was written <i>to</i> Ladie Burlie, so she must either +be Ladie Bacon or Mistress Killigrew. It is not an +improbable theory that Ladie Bacon was writing to her +sister Mildred, who had, through her husband, power +either to send Francis to Cornwall or permit him to +be sent away over the seas.</p> + +<p>There is a copy of Machiavelli's "History of +Florence," 1595, with Bacon's notes in the margins.<a name="FNanchor_45_43" id="FNanchor_45_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_43" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>At the end is a memorandum giving the dates when +the book was read "in Cornwall at," and then follow +two words, the second of which is "Lake," but the +first is undecipherable.</p> + +<p>Is it possible that Lady Anne Bacon had a house in +Cornwall which Francis Bacon, inheriting after her +death, was in the habit of visiting for retirement? But +this is conjecture.</p> + +<p>The following point is of interest. In the "Life of +Burghley" (1598) it is said that: "Bookes weare so +pleasing to him, as when he gott libertie to goe unto +his house to take ayre, if he found a book worth the +openinge, he wold rather loose his ridinge than his +readinge; and yet ryding in his garden walks upon his +litle moile was his greatest Disport: But so soone as he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>came in he fell to his readinge againe or els to dispatchinge +busines."</p> + +<p>Rawley, in his "Life of Bacon" (1657), attributes an +exactly similar habit to the philosopher, and almost +in identical phrase: "For he would ever interlace a +moderate relaxation of his mind with his studies as +walking, or taking the air abroad in his coach or some +other befitting recreation; and yet he would lose no +time, inasmuch as upon his first and immediate return +he would fall to reading again, and so suffer no +moment of time to slip from him without some present +improvement."</p> + +<p>It is difficult to approach any phase of the life of +Bacon without being confronted with what appears to +be evidence of careful preparation to obscure the facts. +This observation does not result from imagination or +prejudice; Bacon's movements are always enshrouded +in mystery. Investigation and research will, however, +eventually establish as a fact that there was a closer +connection between Burghley and Bacon than historians +have recognised, and that they had a strong +attachment for each other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVI" id="Chapter_XVI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVI.</span><br /> + +THE 1623 FOLIO EDITION OF SHAKESPEARE'S +PLAYS.</h2> + + +<p>Sir Sydney Lee has written<a name="FNanchor_46_44" id="FNanchor_46_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_44" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>:—"As a specimen of +typography, the First Folio is not to be commended. +There are a great many contemporary folios of larger +bulk far more neatly and correctly printed. It looks as +though Jaggard's printing office was undermanned. +The misprints are numerous, and are especially conspicuous +in the pagination." In the same year was +published "The Theater of Honour and Knighthood," +translated from the French of Andreu Favine. William +Jaggard was the printer. It is a large folio volume +containing about 1,200 pages, and is referred to as being +issued by Jaggard as an example of the printer's art to +maintain his reputation, which had suffered from the +apparently careless manner in which the Shakespeare +Folio was turned out. Both books contain the same +emblematic head-pieces and tail-pieces. There are, +however, some considerable mispaginations in "The +Theater of Honour." Mispaginations were not infrequent +in Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, but it is quite +possible that they were not unintentional. The most +glaring instance is to be found in the first Edition of +"The Two Bookes of Francis Bacon—Of the Proficience +and Advancement in Learning, Divine and +Humane," published by Henrie Tomes (1605). Each leaf +(not page) is numbered. The 45 leaves of the first book +are correctly numbered. In the second book there is no +number on leaf 6. Leaf 9 is numbered 6, the right figure +being printed upside down; 30 is numbered 33; from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +31 to 70 the numbering is correct, and then the leaves +are numbered as follows:—70, 70, 71, 70, 72, 74, 73, 74, +75, 69, 77, 78, 79, 80, 77, 74, 74, 69, 69, 82, 87, 79, 89, +91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 97, 99, 94, 100, 99, 102, 103, 103, +93, 106, and on correctly until the last page, 118, except +that 115 is numbered 105.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to attribute this mispagination to the +printer's carelessness. This was the first work published +bearing Bacon's name, excepting the trifle of +essays published in 1597. There does not appear to +have been any hurry in its production. It is quite a +small volume, and yet the foregoing remarkable mispaginations +occur. There must be some purpose in this +which has yet to be found out.</p> + +<p>The 1623 Shakespeare Folio will be found to be one +of the most perfect examples of the printer's art extant, +because no work has been produced under such difficult +conditions for the printer. There are few mistakes +in pagination or spelling which are not intentional. +The work is a masterpiece of enigma and cryptic +design. The lines "To the Reader" opposite to the +title-page are a table or code of numbers. The same +lines and the lettering on the title-page form another +table. The ingenuity displayed in this manipulation of +words and numbers to create analogies is almost beyond +the comprehension of the human mind. The mispaginations +are all intentional and have cryptic meanings. +The acme of wit is the substitution of 993 for +399 on the last page of the tragedies; a hundred has +been omitted in "Hamlet," 257 following 156, and other +errors made in order to obtain this result on the last +page. The manner in which the printer's signatures +have been arranged with the pages is equally wonderful. +The name William Shakespeare must have been +created without reference to him of Stratford, who +possibly bore or had assigned to him a somewhat similar +name. A great superstructure is built up on the exact<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +spelling of the words William Shakespeare. The year +1623 was specially selected for the issue of the complete +volume of the plays, because of the marvellous relations +which the numbers composing it bear to the names +William Shakespeare and Francis Bacon, to the year +1560, in which the birth of Bacon is registered, and to +1564 and 1616, the reputed dates of the birth and death +of the Stratford man. Nor do the wonders end here. +The use of numerical analogies has been carried into +the construction of the English language. All this, and +much more, will be made manifest when the work of +Mr. E. V. Tanner comes to be investigated and appreciated. +He has made the greatest literary discovery +of all time. The wonder is how it has been possible +for anyone to pierce the veil and reveal the secrets of +the volume. The value of the Shakespeare Folio 1623 +will be enhanced. It will stand alone as the greatest +monument of the achievements of the human intellect.</p> + +<p>To any literary critic who should honour this book +by noticing it, it is probable the foregoing statements +may seem extravagant and untrustworthy. To such +the request is now made that before making any +comment he will inspect the proof of the foregoing +statements which are in the writer's possession. The +dramas of Shakespeare are, by universal consent, +placed at the head of all literature. The invitation +is now put forth in explicit terms, and facilities are +offered for the investigation of the truth, or otherwise, +of every statement made in the foregoing paragraph.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVII" id="Chapter_XVII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVII.</span><br /> + +THE AUTHORIZED VERSION OF THE +BIBLE, 1611.</h2> + + +<p>Is it not strange that there is no mention of any +connection of Francis Bacon with this work? There +was a conference held at Hampton Court Palace before +King James on January, 1603, between the Episcopalians +and Puritans. John Rainoldes urged the +necessity of providing for his people a uniform translation +of the Bible. Rainoldes was the leader of the +Puritans, a person of prodigious reading and doctrine, +and the very treasury of erudition. Dr. Hall, Bishop +of Norwich, reports that "he alone was a well furnished +library, full of all faculties, of all studies, of all learning—the +memory and reading of that man were near a +miracle." The King approved the suggestion and +commissioned for that purpose fifty-four of the most +learned men in the universities and other places. +There was a "careful selection of revisers made by +some unknown but very competent authority." The +translators were divided into six bands of nine each, +and the work of translation was apportioned out to +them. A set of rules was drawn up for their guidance, +which has happily come down to modern times—almost +the only record that remains of this great undertaking. +These concise rules have a homogeneity, breadth and +vigour which point to Bacon as their author. Each +reviser was to translate the whole of the original +allocated to his company; then they were to compare +their translations together, and, as soon as a company +had completed its part, it was to communicate the +result to the other companies, that nothing might pass<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +without the general consent. If any company, upon +the review of the translation so sent, differed on any +point, they were to note their objection and state their +reasons for disagreement. If the differences could not +be adjusted, there was a committee of arbitration which +met weekly, consisting of a representative from each +company, to whom the matter in dispute was referred. +If any point was found to be very obscure, letters were +to be addressed, by authority, to learned persons +throughout the land inviting their judgment. The work +was commenced in 1604. Rainoldes belonged to the +company to whom Isaiah and the prophets were +assigned. He died in 1607, before the work was completed. +During his illness his colleagues met in his +bedroom so that they might retain the benefit of his +learning. Only forty-seven out of the fifty-four names +are known. When the companies had completed their +work, one complete copy was made at Oxford, one at +Cambridge, and one at Westminster. Those were sent +to London. Then two members were selected from +each company to form a committee to review and +polish the whole. The members met daily at Stationers' +Hall and occupied nine months in their task. Then a +final revision was entrusted to Dr. Thomas Bilson and +Dr. Miles Smith, and in 1609 their labours were completed +and the result was handed to the King. Many +of the translators have left specimens of their writing in +theological treatises, sermons, and other works. A +careful perusal of all these available justifies the assertion +that amongst the whole body there was not one +man who was so great a literary stylist as to be able to +write certain portions of the Authorised Version, +which stamp it as one of the two greatest examples of the +English language. Naturally the interest centres on Dr. +Thomas Bilson and Dr. Miles Smith, to whom the final +revision was entrusted. There are some nine or ten +theological works by the former and two sermons by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +the latter. Unless the theory of a special divine inspiration +for the occasion be admitted, it is clear that neither +Bilson nor Miles Smith could have given the final +touches to the Bible. And now a curious statement +has come down to us. In 1609 the translators handed +their work to the King, and in 1610 he returned it to +them completed. James was incapable of writing +anything to which the term beautiful could be applied. +What had happened to the translators' work whilst it +was left in his hands?</p> + +<p>James had an officer of state at that time of whom a +contemporary biographer wrote that "he had the contrivance +of all King James his Designs, until the match +with Spain." It will eventually be proved that the +whole scheme of the Authorised Version of the Bible +was Francis Bacon's. He was an ardent student not +only of the Bible, but of the early manuscripts. St. +Augustine, St. Jerome, and writers of theological works, +were studied by him with industry. He has left his +annotations in many copies of the Bible and in scores +of theological works. The translation must have been +a work in which he took the deepest interest and which +he would follow from stage to stage. When the last +stage came there was only one writer of the period who +was capable of turning the phrases with that matchless +style which is the great charm of the Shakespeare plays. +Whoever that stylist was, it was to him that James +handed over the manuscripts which he received from the +translators. That man then made havoc of much of +the translation, but he produced a result which, on its +literary merits, is without an equal.</p> + +<p>Thirty years ago another revision took place, but, +notwithstanding the advantages which the revisers of +1880 had over their predecessors of 1611, their version +has failed to displace the older version, which is too +precious to the hearts of the people for them to +abandon it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>Although not one of the translators has left any +literary work which would justify the belief that he was +capable of writing the more beautiful portions of the +Bible, fortunately Bacon has left an example which +would rather add lustre to than decrease the high +standard of the Bible if it were incorporated in it. As +to the truth of this statement the reader must judge +from the following prayer, which was written after his +fall, and which was described by Addison as resembling +the devotion of an angel rather than a man:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Remember, O Lord, how Thy servant hath walked before +Thee; remember what I have first sought, and what been +principal in mine intentions. I have loved Thy assemblies; +I have mourned for the divisions of Thy Church; I have +delighted in the brightness of Thy sanctuary.</i></p> + +<p><i>This vine, which Thy right hand hath planted in this +nation, I have ever prayed unto Thee that it might have the +first and the latter rain, and that it might stretch her +branches to the seas and to the floods.</i></p> + +<p><i>The state and bread of the poor and oppressed have been +precious in mine eyes. I have hated all cruelty and hardness +of heart. I have, though in a despised weed, procured +the good of all men.</i></p> + +<p><i>If any have been mine enemies, I thought not of them, +neither hath the sun almost set upon my displeasure; but I +have been as a dove, free from superfluity of maliciousness.</i></p> + +<p><i>Thy creatures have been my books, but Thy scriptures +much more. I have sought Thee in the courts, fields, and +gardens, but I have found Thee in Thy temples.</i></p> + +<p><i>Thousand have been my sins and ten thousand my transgressions, +but Thy sanctifications have remained with me, +and my heart, through Thy grace, hath been an unquenched +coal upon Thine altar.</i></p> + +<p><i>O Lord, my strength, I have since my youth met with +Thee in all my ways, by Thy fatherly compassions, by Thy +comfortable chastisements, and by Thy most visible provi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>dence. +As Thy favours have increased upon me, so have +Thy corrections, so that Thou hast been ever near me, O +Lord; and ever, as Thy worldly blessings were exalted, so +secret darts from Thee have pierced me, and when I have +ascended before men, I have descended in humiliation before +Thee.</i></p> + +<p><i>And now, when I thought most of peace and honour, Thy +hand is heavy upon me, and hath humbled me according to +Thy former lovingkindness, keeping me still in Thy fatherly +school, not as a bastard but as a child. Just are Thy judgments +upon me for my sins, which are more in number than +the sands of the sea, but have no proportion to Thy mercies; +for what are the sands of the sea to the sea? Earth, heavens, +and all these are nothing to Thy mercies.</i></p> + +<p><i>Besides my innumerable sins, I confess before Thee that I +am debtor to Thee for the gracious talent of Thy gifts and +graces, which I have neither put into a napkin, nor put it +(as I ought) to exchangers, where it might have made most +profit, but misspent it in things for which I was least fit so +that I may truly say my soul hath been a stranger in the +course of my pilgrimage.</i></p> + +<p><i>Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for my Saviour's sake, +and receive me into Thy bosom or guide me in Thy ways.</i></p></div> + +<p>There is another feature about the first editions of +the Authorised Version which arrests attention. In +1611 the first folio edition was published. The design +with archers, dogs and rabbits which is to be found +over the address "To the Christian Reader" which +introduces the genealogies is also to be found in +the folio edition of Shakespeare over the dedication +to the most noble and Incomparable paire of +Brethren, over the Catalogue and elsewhere. Except +that the mark of query which is on the head of the +right hand pillar in the design in the Bible is missing +in the Shakespeare folio, and the arrow which the archer +on the right hand side is shooting contains a message in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +the design used in the Bible and is without one in the +Shakespeare folio.</p> + +<p>In the 1612 quarto edition of the Authorised Version +on the title-page of the Genealogies are two designs; +that at the head of the page is printed from the identical +block which was used on the title-page of the first +edition of "Venus and Adonis," 1593, and the first +edition of "Lucrece," 1594. At the bottom is the +design with the light A and dark A, which is over the +dedication to Sir William Cecil in the "Arte of English +Poesie," 1589. An octavo edition, which is now very +rare, was also published in 1612. On the title-page of +the Genealogies will be found the design with the light +A and dark A which is used on several of the Shakespeare +quartos and elsewhere. (Figure XXI.)</p> + +<p>The selection of these designs was not made by +chance. They were deliberately chosen to create +similitudes between certain books, and mark their +connection with each other.</p> + +<p>The revised translation of the Bible was undertaken +as a national work. It was carried out under the +personal supervision of the King, but every record of +the proceedings has disappeared. The British Museum +does not contain a manuscript connected with the +proceedings of the translators. In the Record Office +have been preserved the original documents referring to +important proceedings of that period. The parliamentary, +judicial, and municipal records are, on the +whole, in a complete condition, but ask for any records +connected with the Authorised Version of the Bible +and the reply is: "We have none." And yet it is +reasonable to suppose that manuscripts and documents +of such importance would be preserved. Where are +they to be found?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVIII" id="Chapter_XVIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVIII.</span><br /> + +HOW BACON MARKED BOOKS WITH THE +PUBLICATION OF WHICH HE WAS +CONNECTED.</h2> + + +<p>At a very early period in the history of printing, the +custom was introduced of placing on title-pages, at the +heads and ends of the chapters, emblematical designs. +In English printed books these are seldom to be found +until the latter half of the 16th century.</p> + +<p>An investigation of the books of the period reveals +the fact that the same blocks were used by different +printers. Articles have been written on the migration +of printer's blocks, but, so far, no explanation has been +offered as to any object other than decoration for which +these blocks were used.</p> + +<p>Among other designs in use between 1576 and 1640 +are a number of variants of a device in which a light A +and a dark A form the most conspicuous points. +Camden, in his "Remaines Concerning Britaine," 1614, +commences a chapter on "Impresses," at the head of +which the device is found, thus:—"An Imprese (as the +Italians call it) is a device in picture with his Motto, or +Word, borne by noble and learned personages, to +notifie some particular conceit of their owne: as +Emblemes (that we may omitte other differences) doe +propound some general instructions to all." Then +follow a number of examples, and amongst them this:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Variete and vicissitude of humane things he seemed +to shew which parted his shield, Per Pale, Argent & +Sables and counter-changeably writte in the Argent, +Ater and in the Sables Albus."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>But even if the light A and dark A are used in the +design of the head-piece to represent Albus and Ater it +does not afford any satisfactory explanation as to why +they are so used.</p> + +<p>In MDCXVI. was published "Les Emblemes +Moraulx et Militaires du Sieur Jacob De Bruck Angermundt +Nouvellement mis en Lumiere A Strasbourg, +Par Jacob de Heyden Graveur."</p> + +<p>In Emblem No. 18, now reproduced, the light A and +the dark A will be found in the branch of the tree +which the man is about to cut off. (Figure VI.)<a name="FNanchor_47_45" id="FNanchor_47_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_45" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> + +<p>Another Emblem does not contain the light A and +dark A, but the bark of the trunk and branches of the +tree on the design exhibit a strong contrast between the +dark and light, which feature is represented in most of +the title-pages of books in which the device is found. +(Figure VII.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Charles T. Jacob, Chiswick Press, London, who +is the author of "Books and Printing" (London, 1902), +and several works on typography, referring to an article +on the migration of woodblocks, said:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>It is a well-known fact to Bibliographers that the same blocks +were sometimes used by different printers in two places quite +far apart, and at various intervals during the seventeenth and +eighteenth centuries. That the same blocks were employed is +apparent from a comparison of technical defects of impressions +taken at different places, and at two periods. There was +no method of duplication in existence until stereotyping was first +invented in 1725; even then the details were somewhat crude, and +the process being new, it met with much opposition and was +practically not adopted until the early part of the nineteenth +century. Electrotyping, which is the ideal method of reproducing +woodblocks, was not introduced until 1836 or thereabouts. +Of course, it was quite possible to re-engrave the same +design, but absolute fidelity could not be relied on by these +means, even if executed by the same hand.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>The earliest date which appears on a book in which +the head-piece, containing the device of the light A and +dark A is found, is 1563. The book is "De Furtivis +Literarum Notis Vulgo. De Ziferis," Ioan. Baptista +Porta Neapolitano Authore. Cum Privilegio Neapoli, +apud Ioa. Mariam Scotum. MDLXIII. (Figure VIII.)</p> + +<p>It is only used once—over the dedication Ioanni +Soto Philippi Regis. There is no other head-piece in +the book. John Baptist Porta was, with the exception +of Trithemius, whom he quotes, the first writer on +cyphers. At the time at which he wrote cypher-writing +was studied in every Court in Europe. It is significant +that this emblematic device is used in the earliest period +in which head-pieces were adopted, in a book which is +descriptive and is in fact a text-book of the art of +concealment. This has, however, now been proved to +be a falsely dated book.</p> + +<p>The first edition of this work was published in Naples in +1563 by Ioa. Marius Scotus, but this does not contain the +A A design. In 1591 the book was published in London +by John Wolfe; this reprint was dedicated to Henry +Percy, Earl of Northumberland. After the edition had +been printed off, the title-page was altered to correspond +with the 1563 Naples publication. The dedication was +taken out, and a reprint of the original dedication was +substituted, and over this was placed the A A head-piece; +then an edition was struck off, and, until to-day, +it has been sold and re-sold as the first edition of +Baptista Porta's work. It is difficult to offer any +explanation as to why this fraud was committed.</p> + +<p>The first occasion upon which this device was used +appears to be in a book so rare that no copy of it can +be found, either in the British Museum or the Bodleian +Library. Unfortunately, in the copy belonging to the +writer, the title-page and the two first pages are +missing. The work is called "Hebraicum Alphabethum +Jo. Bovlaese." It is a Hebrew Grammar, with proof-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>sheets +added. It is interleaved with sheets of English-made +paper, containing Bacon's handwriting. Bound +up with it is another Hebrew Grammar, similarly +interleaved, called "Sive compendium, quintacunque +Ratione fieri potuit amplessimum, Totius linguæ," +published in Paris in 1566. The book ends with the +sentence: "Ex collegio Montis—Acuti 20 Decembris +1576"; then follow two pages in Hebrew, with the +Latin translation over it, headed "Decem Præcepta +decalogi Exod." Over this is the design containing the +light A and the dark A, and the squirrel and rabbits. +(Figure IX.) One thing is certain, that the copy now +referred to was in the possession of Bacon, and that +the interleaved sheets of paper contain his handwriting, +in which have been added page by page the equivalents +of the Hebrew in Greek, Chaldæic, Syriac and Arabic.</p> + +<p>In 1577 Christophor Plantin published an edition of +Andrea Alciat's "Emblemata." On page 104 is Emblem +No. 45, "In dies meliora." This has been re-designed +for the 1577 edition. It contains at the back the pillars +of Hercules, with a scroll around bearing the motto: +"Plus oltre." These pillars stand on some arches, +immediately in front of which is a mound or pyramid, +two sides of which are seen. On one is to be found the +light A and on the other the dark A. The design was +appropriated by Whitney, and appears on page 53 in +the 1586 edition of his Emblems. From this time forth, +A A devices are to be found in numbers of books +published in England, and on some published on the +Continent. Amongst the former are the first editions +of "Venus and Adonis," "Lucrece," the "Sonnets," +the quarto editions of Shakespeare's plays, the folio +edition (1623) of his works, and the first quarto and +octavo editions (1612) of the Authorised Version of the +Bible.</p> + +<p>There are fourteen distinct designs, in all of which, +varying widely in other respects, the light A and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +dark A constitute the outstanding figure. The use of +the two letters so shaded must have had a special significance. +In nearly every case it will be observed that +the letter A is so drawn as to make the letter C on +the inside. Was its significance of general knowledge +amongst printers and readers, or was it an earmarking +device used by one person, or by a Society?</p> + +<p>A possible interpretation of the use of the light and +dark shading, is that the book in which it is used +contains more than is revealed; that is to say, the overt +and the concealed.</p> + +<p>A copy of "Æsopiphrygis vita et fabellæ cum latina +interpretatione" exists, date 1517. The book is annotated +by Bacon. On one side is the Greek text and on the +opposite page the Latin translation. On pages 102 and +103 are two initial letters printed from blocks of the +letter A. These are coloured so that the one on the +left hand side is a light A, and that on the opposite page +a dark A.</p> + +<p>There are other designs which are used apparently +as part of a scheme. The identical block (Figure X.) +which was used at the top of the title page of "Venus +and Adonis" (1593) and "Lucrece" (1594) did service on +the title page of the Genealogies in the quarto edition of +the Authorised Version of the Bible, 1612. This design +was, so far as can be traced, only used twice in the +intervening nineteen years—on "An Apologie of the Earl +of Essex to Master Anthony Bacon," penned by himself +in 1598, and printed by Richard Bradocke in 1603, and +in 1607, on the "World of Wonders," printed by +Richard Field. It was of this book that Caldecott, the +bibliophile and Shakespearean scholar, wrote: "The +phraseology of Shakespeare is better illustrated in this +work than in any other book existing." The design +which is found on the title page of the "Sonnets +of Shakespeare," 1609, is found also in the first edition +of Napier's "Mirifici Logarithmorum," 1611, but printed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +from a different block. The design with archers shooting +at the base of the central figure is to be found in +a large number of the folio editions of the period. +Amongst these are the Authorised Version of the +Bible, 1611, the "Novum Organum," 1620, and the 1623 +edition of Shakespeare's works.</p> + +<p>There are other designs which are usually found +accompanying the light A and dark A and the other +devices before referred to.</p> + +<p>These designs were first brought into use from 1576 +and practically cease to appear about 1626. Afterwards +they are seldom seen except in books bearing Bacon's +name, and eventually they lapse. The last use of an +A A device is over the life of the author in the second +volume of an edition of Bacon's Essays edited by +Dr. William Willymott, published by Henry Parson in +1720. After an interval of about 60 years a new design +is made, which is not one of those employed by Bacon.</p> + +<p>By means of these devices a certain number of books +may be identified as forming a class by themselves.</p> + +<p>There is another feature connected with them which +is of special interest. One man appears to have contributed +to all the books thus marked—either the dedication, +the preface,<a name="FNanchor_48_46" id="FNanchor_48_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_46" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> or the lines "To the Reader"; in +some cases all three. It may be urged in opposition to +this view that in those days there was a form in which +dedications and prefaces were written, and that this +was more or less followed by many writers, but this +contention will not stand investigation. There are +tricks of phrasing and other peculiarities which enable +certain literary productions to be identified as the work +of one man. Some of the finest Elizabethan literature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +is to be found in the prefaces and dedications in these +books.</p> + +<p>The theory now put forth is that Francis Bacon was +directing the production of a great quantity of the +Elizabethan literature, and in every book in the production +of which he was interested, he caused to be inserted +one of these devices. He kept the blocks in his +own custody; he sent them out to a printer when a +book was approved by him for printing. On the completion +of the work, the printer returned the blocks to +Bacon so that they could be sent elsewhere by him as +occasion required.</p> + +<p>The most elaborate of the AA designs is Figure XII., +and the writer has only found it in one volume. It is +"Le Historie della Citta Di Fiorenza," by M. Jacopo, +published in Lyons by Theobald Ancelin in 1582.</p> + +<p>"Exact was his correspondence abroad and at home, +constant his Letters, frequent his Visits, great his +obligations," states the contemporary biographer, speaking +of Francis Bacon. It is difficult to arrive at the +exact meaning of these words. There is little correspondence +with those abroad remaining, no record of +visits, no particulars of the great obligations into which +he entered. In the dedication of the 1631 edition of +the "Histoire Naturelle" to Monseigneur de Chasteauneuf, +the author speaking of Bacon writes:—"Le +Chancelier, qu'on a fait venir tant de fois en France, +n'a point encore quitté l'Angleterre avec tant de +passion de nous découvrir ses merveilles que depuis +qu'il a sceu le rang dont on avoit reconnu vos vertus."</p> + +<p>These frequent visits to France are unrecorded elsewhere, +but here is definite testimony that they were +made.</p> + +<p>There are good grounds for believing that Bacon was +throughout his life, until their deaths, in constant communication +with Christophor Plantin (1514-1589), +Aldus Manutius, Henry Stephen (1528-1598), and also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +with Robert Stephens the third (1563-1640). All these +men were not only printers, but brilliant scholars and +writers. If search be made, it is quite possible that +correspondence or other evidence of their friendship +may come to light. Be that as it may, there were +undoubtedly a number of books published on the continent +between 1576 and 1630 which in the sparta upon +them bear testimony to Bacon's association with their +publication.</p> + +<p>The following are instances of where the several +designs which are reproduced may be found. They +however occur in many other volumes.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='center'>Figure</td><td align='right'>IX. —</td><td align='left'>"The Arte of English Poesie," 1589.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XIII. —</td><td align='left'>"Orlando Furioso," 1607.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XIV. —</td><td align='left'>Spencer's "Fairie Queen."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XV. —</td><td align='left'>"Florentine History translation," 1595, and 1636 edition of Barclay's "Argenis."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XI. —</td><td align='left'>"Sonnets."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XVI. —</td><td align='left'>Simon Pateriche's translation of "Discourse against Machiavel."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XVII. —</td><td align='left'>Lodge's translation of "Seneca," 1614.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XVIII. —</td><td align='left'>Shakespeare Folio, 1623.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XIX. —</td><td align='left'>"Dæmonologie," 1603.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'>XX. —</td><td align='left'>Alciat's "Emblems," published in Paris, 1584.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIX" id="Chapter_XIX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIX.</span><br /> + +BACON AND EMBLEMATA.</h2> + + +<p>In "Shakespeare and the Emblem Writers" the Rev. +Henry Green endeavours to show the similarities of +thought and expression between the great poet and the +authors of Emblemata, but the line of enquiry which +he there opened does not appear to have been followed +by subsequent writers. To-day the Emblemata literature +is a <i>terra incognita</i> except to a very few students, +and yet it is full of interest, romance, and mystery. +Emblem literature may be said to have had its origin +with Andrea Alciat, the celebrated Italian jurisconsult, +who was famous for his great knowledge and power of +mind. In 1522 he published at Milan an "Emblematum +Libellus," or Little Book of Emblems. Green says: +"It established, if it did not introduce, a new style of +emblem literature, the classical in the place of the +simply grotesque and humorous, or of the heraldic and +mythic." The first edition now known to exist was +published at Augsburg in 1531, a small octavo containing +eighty-eight pages with ninety-seven emblems, +and as many woodcuts. It was from time to time +augmented, and passed through many editions. For +some years the Emblemata appears to have been produced +chiefly by Italians, with a few Frenchmen. Until +the last half of the sixteenth century the output of books +of this character was not large. Thenceforth for the +next hundred years the creation of emblems became a +popular form of literary exercise. The Italians continued +to be prolific, but Dutch, French, and German +scholars were but little behind them. There were a few +Englishmen and Spaniards who also practised the art.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1905 was published a book called "Letters from +the Dead to the Dead," by Oliver Lector. In it attention +is drawn to the remarkable features of some of the +books on emblems printed during Bacon's life, and to +the evidence that he was in some manner connected +with the publication of many of these volumes. The +author claims this to be especially the case with the +"Emblemata Moralia et Bellica," 1615, of Jacob de +Bruck, of Angermundt, and the "Emblemata Ethic +Politica" of J. Bornitius.</p> + +<p>The emblem pictures for the most part appear to be +picture puzzles. In the "Critique upon the Mythology +of the Ancients" Bacon says:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"It may pass for a farther indication of a concealed and secret +meaning, that some of these fables are so absurd and idle in +their narration as to proclaim and shew an allegory afar off. A +fable that carries probability with it may be supposed invented +for pleasure, or in imitation of history; but, those that would +never be conceived or related in this way, must surely have a +different use."</p></div> + +<p class="noin">If this line of reasoning be applied to the illustrations in +the emblem books, it is clear that they conceal some +hidden meaning, for they are apparently unintelligible, +and the accompanying letterpress does not afford any +illumination.</p> + +<p>Jean Baudoin was the translator of Bacon's "Essaies" +into the French language (1626). Baudoin published +in 1638-9 "Recueil D'Emblèmes divers avec des Discours +Moraux, Philos. et Polit." In the preface he +says: "Le grand chancelier Bacon m'ayant fait naître +l'envie de travailler à ces emblèmes ... m'en a fourni +les principaux que j'ai tirés de l'explication ingénieuse +qu'il a donnée de quelques fables et de ses autres +ouvrages." Here is definite evidence of Bacon's association +with a book of emblems.</p> + +<p>The first volume of Emblemata in which traces of +Bacon's hand are to be found is the 1577 edition of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +Alciat's "Emblems," published by the Plantin Press, +with notes by Claude Mignault. It is in this edition, in +Emblem No. 45, "In dies meliora," that for the first +time the light A and the dark A is to be found. In +previous editions this device is absent. For this volume +a new design has been engraved in which it appears.</p> + +<p>In the emblem books written in Italian Bacon does +not appear to have been concerned, unless an exception +be made of Ripa's "Iconologia," a copy of which contains +his handwriting and initials. In some way he had +control of a large number of those written in Latin, and +bearing names of Dutch, French, and some Italian +authors, and also of several written in Dutch and of +the English writers. The field is a very wide one, and +only a few of the principal examples can be mentioned.</p> + +<p>The most important work is the "Emblemata Moralia +et Bellica" of Jacob à Bruck, of Angermundt, 1615. +"Argentorati per Jacobum ab Heyden." With many +of the designs in this volume Oliver Lector has dealt +fully in "Letters from the Dead to the Dead,"<a name="FNanchor_49_47" id="FNanchor_49_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_47" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> before +referred to. There is another volume bearing the name +of Jacob à Bruck, published in 1598. Only one copy of +this book is known to be in existence, and that is in +the Royal Library of St. Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The "Emblemata Ethico Politica of Jacobus Bornitius, +1659, Moguntiæ," is remarkable because many of +the engravings contain portraits of Bacon, namely, in +Sylloge Prima, Plates Nos. vii., xxiii., xliv., xlv., xlvix.; +and in Sylloge II., Plates ix. and xxxvi. Oliver Lector +says: "I have not met with an earlier edition of +Bornitius than 1659. My conjecture, however, is +that the manuscript came into the hands of Gruter +with other of Bacon's published by him in the year +1653."</p> + +<p>There are two productions of Janus Jacobus Boissardus +in which Bacon's hand may be recognised—"Emblèmes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +Latines avec l'Interprétation Françoise du I. Pierre Ioly +Messin. Metis, 1588," and "Emblematum liber. Ipsa +Emblemata ab Auctore delineata: a Theodoro de Bry +sculpta et nunc recens in lucem edita," 1593, Frankfort. +Two editions of the latter were printed in the same +year. The title-pages are identical, and the same plates +have been used throughout, but the letterpress is in +Latin in the one, and in French in the other. In both, +the dedications are addressed in French to Madame de +Clervent, Baronne de Coppet, etc. The dedication +of the former bears the name Jan Jacques Boissard at +the head, and addresses the lady as "que come estes +addonnée à la speculation des choses qui appartiennent +à l'instruction de l'âme." The dedication of the latter +is signed Ioly, who explains that he has translated the +verses into French, so that they may be of more service +to the dedicatee.</p> + +<p>Otho Van Veen enjoys the distinction of having had +Rubens for a disciple. A considerable number of +emblem books emanated from him. In 1608 were published +at Antwerp two editions of his "Amorum Emblemata." +In one copy the verses are in Latin, German, +and French, and in the other in Latin, English, and +Italian. There are commendatory verses in the latter, +two of which are by Daniel Heinsius and R. V., who +was Robert Verstegen, the author of "A Restitution of +Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities." The dedication +is "To the most honourable and worthie brothers +William Earle of Pembroke, and Phillip Earle of Montgomerie, +patrons of learning and chevalrie," who are +"the most noble and incomparable paire of brethren" +to whom the 1623 Shakespeare Folio was dedicated. +In this volume Bacon has left his marks.</p> + +<p>"Emblemata door Zacharias Heyns," published in +Rotterdam in 1625, comprises four books bound together. +The inscriptions over the plates are in Latin. +The letterpress, which is in Dutch and French,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +apparently bears very little reference to the illustrations.</p> + +<p>Johannis de Brunes I.C. Emblemata of Sinne-Werck, +Amsterdam, 1624, is written in Dutch. Emblem VIII. +contains an indication that the number 1623 is a key.</p> + +<p>The "Silenus Alcibiades sive Proteus" was published +at Middleburgh in 1618. There is no author's name on +the title-page, but the Voor-reden, written in Dutch, is +signed J. Cats. Attached to two of the preliminary +complimentary verses are the names of Daniel Heyns +and Josuah Sylvester, the translator of "Du Bartas." +The verses are in Latin, Dutch, and French. Immediately +following the title-page is a preface in Latin, +signed by Majores de Baptis. Over this is the familiar +emblem containing the archers, rabbits, and dogs, with +the note of query on the right-hand side, and the +message on the arrow. This volume is one of the +most remarkable of the emblem books. The Latin +preface is autobiographical. If the writer can be +identified as the author of "Venus and Adonis," it +becomes one of the most important contributions to his +biography.</p> + +<p>In 1616, the year of Shakespeare's death, was published +at Amsterdam a book bearing on its title-page the +inscription: "Cornelii Giselberti Plempii Amsterodamum +Monogrammon." It contains fifty illustrations, +with Latin verses attached. Emblem I. is reproduced +(Fig. V.) On reference to it, it will be seen that Fortune +stands on a globe, and with one hand is pushing off +from the pinnacle of fame a man dressed as a player with +a feather in his hat; with the other hand she is raising +up a man who is wearing the Bacon hat, but whose face +is hidden. The prophecy expressed by the emblem is now +being fulfilled. It will be seen that the initial letters of +each word in the sentence of the letterpress—Obscænùmque +nimis crepuit, Fortuna Batavis appellanda—yield F. +Bacon. Bacon's portrait is found in several of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +illustrations in this book. Other emblem writers whose +works bear traces of Bacon's co-operation are G. Rollenhagen, +J. Camerius, J. Typotius, D. Hensius.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 706px;"> +<img src="images/fig_v.jpg" width="706" height="726" alt="Fig. V." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Fig. V.</i></span> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"><big><i> +En Fortuna: manu quos rupem ducit in altam,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Præcipites abigit: carnificina Dea est.</span><br /> +Firma globo imponi voluerunt fata caducam,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ipsa quoquè ut posset risus, & esse iocus.</span><br /> +Olim unctos Salÿ qui præsilière per utres,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ridebant caderet si qua puella malè.</span><br /> +O quàm sæpe sales, plausumque merente ruinâ,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Erubuit vitium fors inhonest a suum!</span><br /> +Obscænùmque nimis crepuit, Fortuna Batavis<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Appellanda; sono, quo sua curta vocant.</span><br /> +Quoque sono veteres olim sua furta Latini:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Vt nec, Homere, mali nomen odoris ames.</span><br /> +</i></big></p></div> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>There yet remain to be mentioned two English emblem +writers. A "Choice of Emblems" by Geffrey Whitney was +published in 1586 by Francis Raphelengius in the house +of Christopher Plantin at Leyden. The dedication is to +Robert Earle of Leicester. There are only from fifteen +to twenty original designs out of 166 illustrations. The +remainder are taken from other emblem writers, chiefly +from Alciat, Sambucus, Paradin, and Hadrian Junius. +On page 53 is the design headed "In dies meliora" +found in the 1577 edition of Alciat, but the letterpress, +which is in English, is quite different from the Latin +verse attached to it in the Alciat.</p> + +<p>The "Minerva Britanna" of Henry Peacham was +published in 1612. The emblem on the title-page<a name="FNanchor_50_48" id="FNanchor_50_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_48" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> +represents the great secret of Francis Bacon's life, and +on page ·33 is an emblem in which the name Shakespeare +is represented. The volume is full of devices +which will amply repay a careful study.</p> + +<p>Apart from any connection which Bacon may have +had with this remarkable class of books, they are of +great interest to the student of the Elizabethan and +Jacobean periods. They contain pictorial representations +full of information as to the habits and customs of +the people. With the exception of Whitney's "Choice +of Emblems," a facsimile reprint of which was published +in 1866, edited by the Rev. Henry Green, no reprint of +any of these curious books has been issued. As the +original editions of many of them are very rare, and of +none of them plentiful, their study is a matter of difficulty, +and few students find their way to this fascinating +field of research. How close Bacon's connection was +with the writers of these books, or with their publishers, +it is difficult to say, but there is considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +evidence that in some way he was able to introduce +into every one of the books here enumerated, and +many others, some plates illustrative of his inductive +philosophy.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XX" id="Chapter_XX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XX.</span><br /> + +SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS.</h2> + + +<p>"Shakespeare's Sonnets never before Imprinted," +have afforded commentators material for many volumes +filled with theories which to the ordinary critical mind +appear to have no foundation in fact. Chapters have +been written to prove that Mr. W. H., the only begetter +of the Sonnets, was Henry Wriothesley, Earl of +Southampton, and chapters have been written to prove +that he was no such person, but that William Herbert, +Earl of Pembroke, was the man intended to be designated. +Theories have been elaborated to identify the +individuals represented by the Rival Poet and the dark +Lady. Not one of these theories is supported by the +vestige of a shred of testimony that would stand investigation. +There has not come down any evidence +that Shakspur, of Stratford, knew either the Earl of +Southampton, the Earl of Pembroke or Marie Fitton. +The truth is that Mr. W. H. was <i>Shakespeare</i>, who <i>was</i> +the only begetter of the Sonnets, and the proof of this +statement will in due time be forthcoming. It may be +well to try and read some of the Sonnets as they stand +and endeavour to realise what is the obvious meaning +of the printed words.</p> + +<p>The key to the Sonnets will be found in No. 62. The +language in which it is written is explicit and capable +of being understood by any ordinary intellect.</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Sinne of selfe-love possesseth al mine eie<br /> +And all my soule, and al my every part;<br /> +And for this sinne there is no remedie,<br /> +It is so grounded inward in my heart.<br /> +Me thinkes no face so gratious is as mine,<br /> +No shape so true, no truth of such account,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>And for my selfe mine owne worth do define,<br /> +As I all other in all worth's surmount<br /> +But when my glasse shewes me my selfe indeed<br /> +Beated and chopt with tand antiquitie,<br /> +Mine own selfe love quite contrary I read<br /> +Selfe, so selfe loving were iniquity.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Tis thee (my-selfe) that for myself I praise</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Painting my age with beauty of thy daies."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The writer here states definitely that he is dominated +by the sin of self-love; it possesseth his eye, his +soul, and every part of him. There can be found no +remedy for it; it is so grounded in his heart. No face is +so gracious as is his, no shape so true, no truth of such +account. He defines his worth as surmounting that of +all others. This is the frank expression of a man who +not only believed that he was, but knew that he was +superior to all his contemporaries, not only in intellectual +power, but in personal appearance. Then comes an +arrest in the thought, and he realises that time has been +at work. He has been picturing himself as he was when +a young man. He turns to his glass and sees himself +beated and chopt with tanned antiquity; forty summers +have passed over his brow.<a name="FNanchor_51_49" id="FNanchor_51_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_49" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p>Francis Bacon at forty years of age, or thereabouts, +unmarried, childless, sits down to his table, Hilliard's +portrait before him, with pen in hand, full of self-love, +full of admiration for that beautiful youth on whose +counterfeit presentment he is gazing. His intellectual +triumphs pass in review before him, most of them known +only to himself and that youth—his companion through +life. That was the Francis Bacon who controlled him +in all his comings and goings—his ideal whom he +worshipped. If he could have a son like that boy! His +pen begins to move on the paper—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"From fairest creatures we desire increase<br /> +That thereby beauty's rose might never die,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>But as the riper should by time decrease<br /> +His tender heire might bear his memory."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The pen stops and the writer's eye wanders to the +miniature:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"But <i>thou</i><a name="FNanchor_52_50" id="FNanchor_52_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_50" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> contracted to thine own bright eyes."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>And so the Sonnets flow on, without effort, without +the need of reference to authorities, for the great, fixed +and methodical memory needs none.</p> + +<p>How natural are the allusions—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Thou art thy mother's glasse and she in thee<br /> +Calls backe the lovely Aprill of her prime."<br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Be as thy presence is, gracious and kind,<br /> +Or to thyselfe at least kind hearted prove.<br /> +Make thee another self, for love of me<br /> +That beauty may still live in thine or thee."<br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Let those whom nature hath not made for store,<br /> +Harsh, featureless and rude, barrenly perish;<br /> +Look, whom she best indow'd she gave the more;<br /> +Which bountious guift thou shouldst in bounty cherrish;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">She carv'd thee for her seale, and ment therby</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thou shouldst print more, not let that coppy die."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"O that you were yourselfe, but love you are<br /> +No longer yours, then you yourselfe here live,<br /> +Against this cunning end you should prepare,<br /> +And your sweet semblance to some other give<br /> +<b> · · · · · · </b><br /> +Who lets so faire a house fall to decay<br /> +<b> · · · · · · </b><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">O none but unthrifts, deare my love you know</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">You had a Father, let your Son say so."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"But wherefore do not you a mightier waie<br /> +Make warre uppon this bloodie tirant Time?<br /> +And fortifie your selfe in your decay<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>With meanes more blessed, then my barren rime?<br /> +Now stand you on the top of happie houres<br /> +And many maiden gardens, yet onset,<br /> +With virtuous wish would beare you living flowers<br /> +Much liker than your painted counterfeit:<br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +Who will beleeve my verses in time to come<br /> +If it were fil'd with your most high deserts?<br /> +Though yet heaven knows, it is but as a tombe<br /> +<i>Which hides your life</i>, and shewes not halfe your parts:<br /> +If I could write the beauty of your eyes<br /> +And in fresh numbers number all your graces,<br /> +The age to come would say this Poet lies,<br /> +Such heavenly touches nere toucht earthly faces.<br /> +So should my papers (yellowed with their age)<br /> +Be scorn'd, like old men of lesse truth than tongue,<br /> +And your true rights be termd a Poets rage<br /> +And stretched miter of an Antique song.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But were some childe of yours alive that time,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">You should live twise, in it and in my rime."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Yet doe thy worst, ould Time, dispight thy wrong<br /> +My love shall in my verse ever live young."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>He realises that he no longer answers Ophelia's +description:</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's eye, tongue, sword:<br /> +The expectancy and rose of the fair state<br /> +The glass of fashion and the mould of form,<br /> +The observed of all observers....<br /> +That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>But he cannot forget what he has been, he cannot +realise that he is no longer the brilliant youth whose +miniature he has before him, with the words inscribed +around, "Si tabula daretur digna animum mallem"—If +materials could be found worthy to paint his mind +("O could he but have drawn his wit") and then with +a burst of poetic enthusiasm he exclaims:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Tis thee (myselfe) that for myselfe I praise,<br /> +Painting my age with beauty of thy daies."<br /> +</p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<p>This is the common experience of a man as he +advances in life. So long as he does not see his reflection +in a glass, if he tries to visualize himself, he sees +the youth or young man. Only in his most pessimistic +moments does he realise his age.</p> + +<p>There is no longer any difficulty in understanding +Shakespeare's Sonnets. They were addressed by +"Shakespeare," the poet, to the marvellous youth who +was known under the name of Francis Bacon, and they +were written, with Hilliard's portrait placed on his table +before him.</p> + +<p>In that age (please God it may be the present age), +which is known only to God and to the fates when the +finishing touch shall be given to Bacon's fame,<a name="FNanchor_53_51" id="FNanchor_53_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_51" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> it will +be found that the period of his life from twelve to thirty-five +years of age surpassed all others, not only in brilliant +intellectual achievements, but for the enduring +wealth with which he endowed his countrymen. And +yet it was part of his scheme of life that his connection +with the great renaissance in English literature should +lie hidden until posterity should recognise that work as +the fruit of his brain:—"Mente Videbor"—"by the +mind I shall be seen."</p> + +<p>How lacking all his modern biographers have been in +perception!</p> + +<p>Every difficulty in those which are termed the procreation +Sonnets disappears with the application of this +key. Only by it can Sonnet 22 be made intelligible:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"My glass shall not persuade me I am old,<br /> +As long as youth and thou are of one date;<br /> +But when in thee time's furrow I behold,<br /> +Then look, I death my days would expirate<br /> +For all that beauty that doth cover thee<br /> +Is but the steady raiment of my heart.<br /> +Which in my breast doth live, as thine in me.<br /> +How can I then be older than thou art?<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>O, therefore, love, be of thyself so wary<br /> +As I, not for myself, but for thee will;<br /> +Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary<br /> +As tender nurse her babe from faring ill.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou gavest me thine, not to give back again."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>But nearly every Sonnet might be quoted in support +of this view. Especially is it of value in bringing an +intelligent and allowable explanation to Sonnets 40, +41, and 42, which now no longer have an unsavoury +flavour.</p> + +<p>Sonnet No. 59 is most noteworthy, because it implies +a belief in re-incarnation. Shakespeare expresses his +longing to know what the ancients would have said of +his marvellous intellect. If he could find his picture in +some antique book over 500 years old, see an image of +himself as he then was, and learn what men thought of +him!</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"If their bee nothing new, but that which is<br /> +Hath beene before, how are our braines begulld,<br /> +Which laboring for invention, beare amisse<br /> +The second burthen of a former child?<br /> +Oh that record could with a back-ward looke,<br /> +Even of five hundredth courses of the Sunne,<br /> +Show me your image in some antique booke,<br /> +Since minde at first in carrecter was done,<br /> +That I might see what the old world could say<br /> +To this composed wonder of your frame;<br /> +Whether we are mended, or where better they,<br /> +Or whether revolution be the same.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh sure I am, the wits of former daies,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To subjects worse have given admiring praise."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>There is the same idea in Sonnet 71, which suggests +that in some future re-incarnation Bacon might read +Shakespeare's praises of him.</p> + +<p>Conjectures as to who was the rival poet may be +dispensed with. The following rendering of Sonnet +No. 80 makes this perfectly clear:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"O how I (<i>the poet</i>) faint when I of you (<i>F.B.</i>) do write,<br /> +Knowing a better spirit (<i>that of the philosopher</i>) doth use your name<br /> +And in the praise thereof spends all his might<br /> +To make me tongue tied, speaking of your fame!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(<i>Shakespeare never refers to Bacon or vice-versa</i>)</span><br /> +But since your (<i>F.B.'s</i>) worth wide as the ocean is,<br /> +The humble as the proudest sail doth bear,<br /> +My saucy bark (<i>that of the poet</i>) inferior far to his (<i>that of the philosopher</i>),<br /> +On your broad main doth wilfully appear.<br /> +Your shallowest help will hold me (<i>the poet</i>) up afloat<br /> +Whilst he (<i>the philosopher</i>) upon your soundless deep doth ride."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>It is impossible to do justice to this subject in the +space here available. By the aid of this key every line +becomes intelligible. The charm and beauty of the +Sonnets are increased tenfold. Every unpleasant +association of them is removed. No longer need +Browning say, "If so the less Shakespeare he."</p> + +<p>These are not "Shakespeare's sug'rd<a name="FNanchor_54_52" id="FNanchor_54_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_52" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> Sonnets +amongst his private friends" to which Meres makes +reference. They are to be found elsewhere.</p> + +<p>If there had been an intelligent study of Elizabethan +literature from original sources the authorship of the +Sonnets would have been revealed long ago. It was a +habit of Bacon to speak of himself as some one apart +from the speaker. The opening sentence of <i>Filum +Labyrinthi, Sivo Forma Inquisitiones</i> is an example. +<i>Ad Filios</i>—"Francis Bacon thought in this manner." +Prefixed to the preface to Gilbert Wats' interpretation +of the "Advancement of Learning" is a chapter commencing, +"Francis Lo Verulam consulted thus: and +thus concluded with himselfe. The publication whereof +he conceived did concern the present and future age."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing that has been written is more perfectly +Baconian in style and temperament than are the Sonnets. +They breathe out his hopes, his aspirations, his +ideals, his fears, in every line. He knew he was not for +his time. He knew future generations only would render +him the fame to which his incomparable powers entitled +him. He knew how far he towered above his contemporaries, +aye, and his predecessors, in intellectual +power. His hopes were fixed on that day in the distant +future—to-day—when for the first time the meshes +which he wove, behind which his life's work is obscured, +are beginning to be unravelled.</p> + +<p>The most sanguine Baconian, in his most enthusiastic +moments, must fail adequately to appreciate the +achievements of Francis Bacon and the obligations +under which he has placed posterity. But Bacon knew—and +he alone knew—their full value. It was fitting +that the greatest poet which the world had produced +should in matchless verse do honour to the world's +greatest intellect. It was a pretty conceit. Only a +master mind would dare to make the attempt. The +result has afforded another example of how his great +wit, in being concealed, was revealed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXI" id="Chapter_XXI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXI.</span><br /> + +BACON'S LIBRARY.</h2> + + +<p>In the "Advancement of Learning" Bacon refers to +the annotations of books as being deficient. There was +living at the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the +seventeenth century a scholar through whose hands at +least several thousand books passed. He appears to +have made a practice of annotating in the margins every +book he read. The chief purpose, however, of the +notes, apparently, was to aid the memory, for in some +books nearly every name occurring in the text is carried +into the margin without comment. The notes are also +accompanied by scrolls, marks, and brackets, which +support the contention that they are the work of one +man. The annotation of books was not a common +practice then, nor has it been since. If a reader takes +up a hundred books in a second-hand book shop he +will probably not find more than one containing manuscript +notes, and not one in five hundred in which the +annotations have been systematically carried through. +There does not appear to have been any other scholar +living at that time, with the exception of this one, who +was persistently making marginal notes on the books +he read.</p> + +<p>Spedding writes: "What became of his (Bacon's) +books, which were left to Sir John Constable and must +have contained traces of his reading, we do not know; +but very few appear to have survived."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Pott, in "Francis Bacon and his Secret Society," +draws attention to the mystery as to the disappearance +of Bacon's library. "Which is a mystery," she adds, +"although the world has been content to take it very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +apathetically. Where is Bacon's library? Undoubtedly +the books exist and are traceable. We should expect +them to be recognisable by marginal notes; yet those +notes, whether in pencil or in ink, may have been +effaced. If annotated, Bacon and his friends would +not wish his books to attract public attention." And +further on: "It is probable that the latter (<i>i.e.</i>, the +books) will seldom or never be found to bear his name +or signature." And again: "Yet it may reasonably +be anticipated that some at least are 'noted in the +margin,' or that some will be found with traces of +marks which were guides to the transcriber or amanuensis +as to the portions which were to be copied for +future use in Bacon's collections or book of commonplaces." +Mrs. Pott's words were written in a spirit of +true prophecy.</p> + +<p>The collecting together of these books originated +with that distinguished Baconian scholar, Mr. W. +M. Safford. For years past he has been steadily +engaged in reconstituting Bacon's Library. The +writer has had the privilege of being associated with +him in this work during the past three years. A +collection of nearly two thousand volumes has been +gathered together. The annotations on the margins of +these books are unquestionably the work of one man, +and that man, or rather boy and man, was undoubtedly +Francis Bacon. The books bear date from 1470 to +1620. It is impossible to enumerate them all here, but +they include the works of Seneca, Aristotle, Plato, +Horace, Alciat, Lucanus, Dionysius, Catullus, Lactinius, +Plutarch, Pliny, Aristophanes, Plautus, Cornelius +Agrippa, Cicero, Vitruvius, Euclid, Virgil, Ovid, Lucretius, +Apuleius, Salust, Tibullus, Isocrates, and hundreds +of other classical writers; St. Augustine, St. Jerome, +Calvin, Beza, Beda, Erasmus, Martin Luther, J. Cammerarius, +Sir Thomas Moore, Machiavelli, and other +more modern writers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>The handwriting varies,<a name="FNanchor_55_53" id="FNanchor_55_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_53" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> but there is a particular +hand which is found accompanied by a boy's sketches. +There are drawings of full-length figures, heads of men +and women, animals, birds, reptiles, ships, castles, +cathedrals, cities, battles, storms, etc. The writing is a +strong, clerkly student's hand. There is a passage in +"Hamlet," Act V., scene ii., which is noteworthy. +Hamlet, speaking to Horatio, says:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">"I sat me down</span><br /> +Devised a new commission; wrote it fair;<br /> +I once did hold it, as our statists do,<br /> +A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much<br /> +How to forget that learning; but, Sir, now<br /> +It did me yeomans service."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The nature of this statement is so personal that it +could only have been written as the result of experience. +Hamlet had been taught, when young, to write a hand +so fair that he was capable of producing a fresh commission +which would pass muster as the work of a +Court copyist. The annotation of these books possessed +the same qualification. In the margins of these books +are abundant references in handwriting to the whole +range of classical authors.</p> + +<p>A copy of the "Grammatice Compendium" of Lactus +Pomponius, a very rare book printed by De Fortis in +Venice in 1484, contains on the margins the boy's +scribble and drawings, besides a number of manuscript +notes. It bears traces of his reading probably at eight +years of age. A large folio volume entitled "T. Livii +Palvini Latinæ Historiæ Principis Decades Tres," published +by Frobenius in 1535, is a treasure. It is most +copiously annotated and embellished with sketches. +The notes are usually in Latin, but interspersed with +Greek and sometimes with English. Obviously the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +writer thought in Latin, and the character of the drawings +justifies the assumption that, at the time, his age +would be from ten to fourteen years.</p> + +<p>The most remarkable reference to these annotations +is to be found in the "Rape of Lucrece." The fifteenth +stanza is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"But she that never cop't with straunger eies,<br /> +Could picke no meaning from their parling lookes,<br /> +<i>Nor read the subtle shining secrecies<br /> +Writ in the glassie margents of such bookes</i>,<br /> +Shee toucht no unknown baits, nor feared no hooks,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Nor could shee moralize his wanton sight</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">More than his eies were opend to the light."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>It would be difficult to conceive a more inappropriate +simile for the lustful looks in Tarquin's eyes than "the +subtle shining secrecies, writ in the glassie margents of +such books." That this is lugged in for a purpose outside +the object of the poem is manifest. How many readers +of "Lucrece" would know of such a practice? Nay. +If it did exist, was not its use very rare?</p> + +<p>But the margin of the verse itself yields a subtle +shining secret! The initial letters of the lines are +B, C, N, W, Sh, N, M. It is only necessary to supply +the vowels—BACoN, W. Sh., NaMe. Sh is on line +103, which is the numerical value of the word Shakespeare. +The numerical value of Bacon is 33. In view +of this the line 33 is significant:—"Why is Colatine +the publisher?" The use of the word <i>publisher</i> here is +quite inappropriate. It is introduced for some reason +outside the purpose of the text.</p> + +<p>The "Rape of Lucrece" commences with Bacon's +monogram and, as the late Rev. Walter Begley pointed +out, ends with his signature.</p> + +<p>The theory now advanced is that when Bacon read a +book he made marginal notes in it—the object being +mainly to assist his memory, but the critical notes are +numerous. It does not follow that all these books constituted +his library. He would read a book and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +having served his purpose he would dispose of it. Some +books no doubt he would retain and these would form +his library.</p> + +<p>The annotations are chiefly in Latin, but some are in +Greek, some in Hebrew, French and Spanish. When +these have been examined and translated the meaning +of the phrase that he had taken all knowledge to be his +province will be better understood. Rawley says: "He +read much and that with great judgment and rejection +of impertinences incident to many authors."</p> + +<p>The writer having examined annotations, many and +varied, of books in his library, and having enjoyed the +privilege of free access to those collected by Mr. +Safford, ventures to assert that much of the ripe learning +of the Shakespeare plays can be traced therein to +its proper origin. Amongst the former is a copy of +Alciat's Emblems, 1577, in the early part profusely +annotated. Ben Jonson in his "Discoveries" has +incorporated the translation of a portion of one of the +Emblems and <i>has also incorporated a portion of the +annotations from this very book</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXII" id="Chapter_XXII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXII.</span><br /> + +TWO GERMAN OPINIONS ON SHAKESPEARE +AND BACON.</h2> + + +<p>Dr. G. G. Gervinus, the eminent German Historian +and Professor Extraordinary at Heidelberg, published in +1849 his work, "Shakespeare Commentaries." This +was years before any suggestion had been made that +Bacon was in any way connected with the authorship +of the Shakespearean dramas.</p> + +<p>In the Prospectus of "The New Shakespeare +Society," written in 1873, Dr. F. J. Furnivall says:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"The profound and generous 'Commentaries' of Gervinus—an +honour to a German to have written, a pleasure to an +Englishman to read—is still the only book known to me that +comes near the true treatment and the dignity of its subject, or +can be put into the hands of the student who wants to know the +mind of Shakespeare."</p></div> + +<p>The book abounds with references to Bacon. From +the Preface to the last chapter Gervinus appears to have +Bacon continually suggested to him by the thoughts +and words of Shakespeare.</p> + +<p>In the Preface, after speaking of the value accruing +to German literature by naturalizing Shakespeare +"even at the risk of casting our own poets still further +in the shade," he says:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"A similar benefit would it be to our intellectual life if his +famed contemporary, Bacon, were revived in a suitable manner, +in order to counterbalance the idealistic philosophy of Germany. +For both these, the poet as well as the philosopher, having +looked deeply into the history and politics of their people, stand +upon the level ground of reality, notwithstanding the high art +of the one and the speculative notions of the other. By the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +healthfulness of their own mind they influence the healthfulness +of others, while in their most ideal and most abstract representations +they aim at a preparation for life <i>as it is</i>—for <i>that</i> life +which forms the exclusive subject of all political action."</p></div> + +<p>In the chapter on "His Age," written prior to 1849, +the Professor pours out the results of a profound study +of the writings attributed to both men in the following +remarkable sentences:—</p> + +<div class="sblockquot"><p>"Judge then how natural it was that England, if not the birthplace +of the drama, should be that of dramatic legislature. Yet +even this instance of favourable concentration is not the last. +Both in philosophy and poetry everything conspired, as it were, +throughout this prosperous period, in favour of two great minds, +Shakespeare and Bacon; all competitors vanished from their +side, and they could give forth laws for art and science which it +is incumbent even upon present ages to fulfil. As the revived +philosophy, which in the former century in Germany was divided +among many, but in England at that time was the possession of +a single man, so poetry also found one exclusive heir, compared +with whom those later born could claim but little.</p> + +<p>"That Shakespeare's appearance upon a soil so admirably +prepared was neither marvellous nor accidental is evidenced +even by the corresponding appearance of such a contemporary +as Bacon. Scarcely can anything be said of Shakespeare's +position generally with regard to mediæval poetry which does +not also bear upon the position of the renovator Bacon with +regard to mediæval philosophy. Neither knew nor mentioned +the other, although Bacon was almost called upon to have done +so in his remarks upon the theatre of his day. It may be presumed +that Shakespeare liked Bacon but little, if he knew his +writings and life; that he liked not his ostentation, which, without +on the whole interfering with his modesty, recurred too +often in many instances; that he liked not the fault-finding +which his ill-health might have caused, nor the narrow-mindedness +with which he pronounced the histrionic art to be infamous, +although he allowed that the ancients regarded the drama as a +school for virtue; nor the theoretic precepts of worldly wisdom +which he gave forth; nor, lastly, the practical career which he +lived. Before his mind, however, if he had fathomed it, he must +have bent in reverence. For just as Shakespeare was an inter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>preter +of the secrets of history and of human nature, Bacon was +an interpreter of lifeless nature. Just as Shakespeare went +from instance to instance in his judgment of moral actions, and +never founded a law on single experience, so did Bacon in +natural science avoid leaping from one experience of the senses +to general principles; he spoke of this with blame as anticipating +nature; and Shakespeare, in the same way, would have +called the conventionalities in the poetry of the Southern races +an anticipation of human nature. In the scholastic science of +the middle ages, as in the chivalric poetry of the romantic +period, approbation and not truth was sought for, and with one +accord Shakespeare's poetry and Bacon's science were equally +opposed to this. As Shakespeare balanced the one-sided errors +of the imagination by reason, reality, and nature, so Bacon led +philosophy away from the one-sided errors of reason to experience; +both with one stroke, renovated the two branches of +science and poetry by this renewed bond with nature; both, disregarding +all by-ways, staked everything upon this 'victory in +the race between art and nature.' Just as Bacon with his new +philosophy is linked with the natural science of Greece and +Rome, and then with the latter period of philosophy in western +Europe, so Shakespeare's drama stands in relation to the +comedies of Plautus and to the stage of his own day; between +the two there lay a vast wilderness of time, as unfruitful for the +drama as for philosophy. But while they thus led back to +nature, Bacon was yet as little of an empiric, in the common +sense, as Shakespeare was a poet of nature. Bacon prophesied +that if hereafter his commendation of experience should prevail, +great danger to science would arise from the other extreme, and +Shakespeare even in his own day could perceive the same with +respect to his poetry; Bacon, therefore, insisted on the closest +union between experience and reason, just as Shakespeare effected +that between reality and imagination. While they thus bid adieu +to the formalities of ancient art and science, Shakespeare +to conceits and taffeta-phrases, Bacon to logic and syllogisms, +yet at times it occurred that the one fell back into the +subtleties of the old school, and the other into the constrained +wit of the Italian style. Bacon felt himself quite an original +in that which was his peculiar merit, and so was Shakespeare; +the one in the method of science he had laid down, +and in his suggestions for its execution, the other in the +poetical works he had executed, and in the suggestions of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +new law. Bacon, looking back to the waymarks he had left for +others, said with pride that his words required a century for +their demonstration and several for their execution; and so too +it has demanded two centuries to understand Shakespeare, but +very little has ever been executed in his sense. And at the +same time we have mentioned what deep modesty was interwoven +in both with their self-reliance, so that the words +which Bacon liked to quote hold good for the two works:—'The +kingdom of God cometh not with observation.' Both +reached this height from the one starting point, that Shakespeare +despised the million, and Bacon feared with Phocion +the applause of the multitude. Both are alike in the rare +impartiality with which they avoided everything one-sided; +in Bacon we find, indeed, youthful exercises in which he +endeavoured in severe contrasts to contemplate a series of +things from two points of view. Both, therefore, have an equal +hatred of sects and parties; Bacon of sophists and dogmatic +philosophers, Shakespeare of Puritans and zealots. Both, therefore, +are equally free from prejudices, and from astrological +superstition in dreams and omens. Bacon says of the alchemists +and magicians in natural science that they stand in similar +relation to true knowledge as the deeds of Amadis to those of +Cæsar, and so does Shakespeare's true poetry stand in relation to +the fantastic romance of Amadis. Just as Bacon banished +religion from science, so did Shakespeare from Art; and when +the former complained that the teachers of religion were against +natural philosophy, they were equally against the stage. From +Bacon's example it seems clear that Shakespeare left religious +matters unnoticed on the same grounds as himself, and took the +path of morality in worldly things; in both this has been equally +misconstrued, and Le Maistre has proved Bacon's lack of Christianity, +as Birch has done that of Shakespeare. Shakespeare +would, perhaps, have looked down just as contemptuously on the +ancients and their arts as Bacon did on their philosophy and +natural science, and both on the same grounds; they boasted of +the greater age of the world, of more enlarged knowledge of +heaven, earth, and mankind. Neither stooped before authorities, +and an injustice similar to that which Bacon committed against +Aristotle, Shakespeare <i>perhaps</i> has done to Homer. In both a +similar combination of different mental powers was at work; and +as Shakespeare was often involuntarily philosophical in his profoundness, +Bacon was not seldom surprised into the imagination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +of the poet. Just as Bacon, although he declared knowledge in +itself to be much more valuable than the use of invention, insisted +throughout generally and dispassionately upon the practical use +of philosophy, so Shakespeare's poetry, independent as was his +sense of art, aimed throughout at bearing upon the moral life. +Bacon himself was of the same opinion; he was not far from declaring +history to be the best teacher of politics, and poetry the +best instructor in morals. Both were alike deeply moved by the +picture of a ruling Nemesis, whom they saw, grand and powerful, +striding through history and life, dragging the mightiest and +most prosperous as a sacrifice to her altar, as the victims of their +own inward nature and destiny. In Bacon's works we find a +multitude of moral sayings and maxims of experience, from which +the most striking mottoes might be drawn for every Shakespearian +play, aye, for every one of his principal characters (we have +already brought forward not a few proofs of this), testifying to a +remarkable harmony in their mutual comprehension of human +nature. Both, in their systems of morality rendering homage to +Aristotle, whose ethics Shakespeare, from a passage in Troilus, +may have read, arrived at the same end as he did—that virtue +lies in a just medium between two extremes. Shakespeare would +also have agreed with <i>him</i> in this, that Bacon declared excess to +be 'the fault of youth, as defect is of age;' he accounted 'defect +the worst, because excess contains some sparks of magnanimity, +and, like a bird, claims kindred of the heavens, while defect, only +like a base worm, crawls upon the earth.' In these maxims lie +at once, as it were, the whole theory of Shakespeare's dramatic +forms and of his moral philosophy."</p></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Kuno Fischer</span>, the distinguished German critic +and historian of philosophy, in a volume on Bacon, +published in 1856, writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The same affinity for the Roman mind, and the same +want of sympathy with the Greek, we again find in +Bacon's greatest contemporary, whose imagination +took as broad and comprehensive a view as Bacon's +intellect. Indeed, how could a Bacon attain that +position with respect to Greek poetry that was unattainable +by the mighty imagination of a Shakspeare? +For in Shakspeare, at any rate, the imagination of the +Greek antiquity could be met by a homogeneous power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +of the same rank as itself; and, as the old adage says, +"like comes to like." But the age, the spirit of the +nation—in a word, all those forces of which the genius +of an individual man is composed, and which, moreover, +genius is least able to resist—had here placed an +obstacle, impenetrable both to the poet and the +philosopher. Shakspeare was no more able to exhibit +Greek characters than Bacon to expound Greek poetry. +Like Bacon, Shakspeare had in his turn of mind something +that was Roman, and not at all akin to the Greek. +He could appropriate to himself a Coriolanus and a +Brutus, a Cæsar and an Antony; he could succeed +with the Roman heroes of Plutarch, but not with the +Greek heroes of Homer. The latter he could only +parody, but his parody was as infelicitous as Bacon's +explanation of the "Wisdom of the Ancients." Those +must be dazzled critics indeed who can persuade themselves +that the heroes of the Iliad are excelled by the +caricatures in "Troilus and Cressida." The success of +such a parody was poetically impossible; indeed, he that +attempts to parody Homer shows thereby that he has +not understood him. For the simple and the naïve do not +admit of a parody, and these have found in Homer their +eternal and inimitable expression. Just as well might +caricatures be made of the statues of Phidias. Where +the creative imagination never ceases to be simple and +naïve, where it never distorts itself by the affected or +the unnatural, there is the consecrated land of poetry, +in which there is no place for the parodist. On the +other hand, where there is a palpable want of simplicity +and nature, parody is perfectly conceivable; nay, may +even be felt as a poetical necessity. Thus Euripides, +who, often enough, was neither simple nor naïve, could +be parodied, and Aristophanes has shown us with what +felicity. Even Æschylus, who was not always as simple +as he was grand, does not completely escape the +parodising test. But Homer is safe. To parody Homer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +is to mistake him, and to stand so far beyond his scope +that the truth and magic of his poetry can no longer be +felt; and this is the position of Shakespeare and Bacon. +The imagination of Homer, and all that could be +contemplated and felt by that imagination, namely, the +classical antiquity of the Greeks, are to them utterly +foreign. We cannot understand Aristotle without +Plato; nay, I maintain that we cannot contemplate +with a sympathetic mind the Platonic world of ideas, +if we have not previously sympathised with the world of +the Homeric gods. Be it understood, I speak of the +<i>form</i> of the Platonic mind, not of its logical matter; in +point of doctrine, the Homeric faith was no more that +of Plato than of Phidias. But these doctrinal or logical +differences are far less than the formal and æsthetical +affinity. The conceptions of Plato are of Homeric +origin.</p> + +<p>This want of ability to take an historical survey of +the world is to be found alike in Bacon and Shakspeare, +together with many excellencies likewise common to +them both. To the parallel between them—which +Gervinus, with his peculiar talent for combination, has +drawn in the concluding remarks to his "Shakespeare," +and has illustrated by a series of appropriate instances—belongs +the similar relation of both to antiquity, their +affinity to the Roman mind, and their diversity from +the Greek. Both possessed to an eminent degree that +faculty for a knowledge of human nature that at once +pre-supposes and calls forth an interest in practical life +and historical reality. To this interest corresponds the +stage, on which the Roman characters moved; and here +Bacon and Shakspeare met, brought together by a +common interest in these objects, and the attempt to +depict and copy them. This point of agreement, more +than any other argument, explains their affinity. At the +same time there is no evidence that one ever came into +actual contact with the other. Bacon does not even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +mention Shakspeare when he discourses of dramatic +poetry, but passes over this department of poetry with a +general and superficial remark that relates less to the +subject itself than to the stage and its uses. As far as +his own age is concerned, he sets down the moral value +of the stage as exceedingly trifling. But the affinity of +Bacon to Shakspeare is to be sought in his moral and +psychological, not in his æsthetical views, which are too +much regulated by material interests and utilitarian prepossessions +to be applicable to art itself, considered with +reference to its own independent value. However, even +in these there is nothing to prevent Bacon's manner of +judging mankind, and apprehending characters from +agreeing perfectly with that of Shakspeare; so that human +life, the subject-matter of all dramatic art, appeared to +him much as it appeared to the great artist himself, who, +in giving form to this matter, excelled all others. Is not +the inexhaustible theme of Shakspeare's poetry the +history and course of human passion? In the treatment +of this especial theme is not Shakspeare the greatest of +all poets—nay, is he not unique among them all? And +it is this very theme that is proposed by Bacon as the +chief problem of moral philosophy. He blames Aristotle +for treating of the passions in his rhetoric rather than +his ethics; for regarding the artificial means of exciting +them rather than their natural history. It is to the +natural history of the human passions that Bacon +directs the attention of philosophy. He does not find +any knowledge of them among the sciences of his time. +"The poets and writers of histories," he says, "are the +best doctors of this knowledge; where we may find +painted forth with great life how passions are kindled +and incited; and how pacified and refrained; and how +again contained from act and further degree; how they +disclose themselves; how they work; how they vary; +how they gather and fortify; how they are inwrapped +one within another; and how they do fight and en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>counter +one with another; and other the like particularities."<a name="FNanchor_56_54" id="FNanchor_56_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_54" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +Such a lively description is required by +Bacon from moral philosophy. That is to say, he desired +nothing less than a natural history of the passions—the +very thing that Shakspeare has produced. Indeed, +what poet could have excelled Shakspeare in this +respect? Who, to use a Baconian expression, could +have depicted man and all his passions more <i>ad +vivum</i>? According to Bacon, the poets and historians +give us copies of characters; and the outlines of these +images—the simple strokes that determine characters—are +the proper objects of ethical science. Just as +physical science requires a dissection of bodies, that +their hidden qualities and parts may be discovered, +so should ethics penetrate the various minds of men, in +order to find out the eternal basis of them all. And not +only this foundation, but likewise those external conditions +which give a stamp to human character—all +those peculiarities that "are imposed upon the mind +by the sex, by the age, by the region, by health and +sickness, by beauty and deformity, and the like, which +are inherent and not external; and, again, those which +are caused by external fortune"<a name="FNanchor_57_55" id="FNanchor_57_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_55" class="fnanchor">[54]</a>—should come within +the scope of ethical philosophy. In a word, Bacon +would have man studied in his individuality as a +product of nature and history, in every respect determined +by natural and historical influences, by +internal and external conditions. And exactly in the +same spirit has Shakespeare understood man and his +destiny; regarding character as the result of a certain +natural temperament and a certain historical position, +and destiny as a result of character.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIII" id="Chapter_XXIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXIII.</span><br /> + +THE TESTIMONY OF BACON'S +CONTEMPORARIES.</h2> + + +<p>A distinguished member of the Bench in a recent +post-prandial address referred to Bacon as "a shady +lawyer." Irresponsible newspaper correspondents, when +attacking the Baconian theory, indulge in epithets of +this kind, but it is amazing that any man occupying a +position so responsible as that of an English judge +should, either through ignorance or with a desire to be +considered a wit, make use of such a term.</p> + +<p>Whatever may have been Francis Bacon's faults, one +fact must stand unchallenged—that amongst those of +his contemporaries who knew him there was a consensus +of opinion that his virtues overshadowed any failings +to which he might be subject.</p> + +<p>The following testimonies establish this fact:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Let <span class="smcap">Ben Jonson</span> speak first:</p></div> + +<p>"Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker, +who was full of gravity in his speaking. His language +(where he could spare or pass a jest) was nobly +censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more +pressly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less +idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech, +but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not +cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded +where he spoke; and had his judges angry and +pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections +more in his power. The fear of every man that heard +him was, lest he should make an end," and, after referring +to Lord Ellesmere, Jonson continues:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"But his learned and able (though unfortunate) +successor, (<i>i.e.</i>, Bacon) is he who hath filled up +all numbers, and performed that in our tongue, +which may be compared or preferred either to insolent +Greece, or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, +and about his times, were all the wits born, that could +honour a language, or help study. Now things daily +fall, wits grow downward, and eloquence grows backward: +so that he may be named, and stand as the mark +and άκωη of our language.</p> + +<p>"My conceit of his person was never increased +toward him by his place, or honours: but I have and +do reverence him, for the greatness that was only +proper to himself, in that he seemed to me ever, by his +work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of +admiration, that had been in many ages. In his +adversity I ever prayed God would give him strength; +for greatness he could not want. Neither could I +condole in a word or syllable for him, as knowing no +accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to +make it manifest."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Sir Toby Matthew</span> describes Francis Bacon as</p></div> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin">"A friend unalterable to his friends;<br /> +A man most sweet in his conversation and ways";</p></div> + +<p>and adds:</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin">"It is not his greatness that I admire, but his virtue."</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Thomas Bushel</span>, his servant, in a letter to Mr. John +Eliot, printed in 1628, in a volume called "The First +Part of Youth's Errors," says:</p></div> + +<p>"Yet lest the calumnious tongues of men might +extenuate the good opinion you had of his worth and +merit, I must ingenuously confess that my selfe and +others of his servants were the occasion of exhaling his +vertues into a darke exlipse; which God knowes would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +have long endured both for the honour of his King and +the good of the Commonaltie; had not we whom his +bountie nursed, laid on his guiltlesse shoulders our base +and execrable deeds to be scand and censured by the +whole senate of a state, where no sooner sentence was +given, but most of us forsoke him, which makes us bear +the badge of Jewes to this day. Yet I am confident +there were some Godly Daniels amongst us.... +As for myselfe, with shame I must acquit the title, and +pleade guilty; which grieves my very soule, that so +matchlesse a Peer should be lost by such insinuating +caterpillars, who in his owne nature scorn'd the least +thought of any base, unworthy, or ignoble act, though +subject to infirmites as ordained to the wisest."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In <span class="smcap">Fuller's</span> "Worthies" it is written:</p></div> + +<p>"He was a rich Cabinet filled with Judgment, Wit, +Fancy and Memory, and had the golden Key, Elocution, +to open it. He was singular in singulis, in every +Science and Art, and being In-at-all came off with +Credit. He was too Bountifull to his Servants, and +either too confident of their Honesty, or too conniving +at their Falsehood. 'Tis said he had 2 Servants, one +in all Causes Patron to the Plaintiff, the other to the +Defendant, but taking bribes of both, with this Condition, +to restore the Mony received, if the Cause went +against them. Such practices, tho' unknown to their +Master, cost him the loss of his Office."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In "The Lives of Statesmen and Favourites of +Elizabeth's Reign" it is said:—</p></div> + +<p>"His religion was rational and sober, his spirit +publick, his love to relations tender, to Friends faithful, +to the hopeful liberal, to men universal, to his very +Enemies civil. He left the best pattern of Government +in his actions under one king and the best principles of +it in the Life of the other."</p><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The following is a translation from the discourse on +the life of Mr. Francis Bacon which is prefixed to the +"Histoire Naturelle," by <span class="smcap">Piere Amboise</span>, published in +Paris in 1631:</p></div> + +<p>"Among so many virtues that made this great man +commendable, prudence, as the first of all the moral +virtues, and that most necessary to those of his profession, +was that which shone in him the most brightly. +His profound wisdom can be most readily seen in his +books, and his matchless fidelity in the signal services +that he continuously rendered to his Prince. Never was +there man who so loved equity, or so enthusiastically +worked for the public good as he; so that I may aver +that he would have been much better suited to a +Republic than to a Monarchy, where frequently the +convenience of the Prince is more thought of than that +of his people. And I do not doubt that had he lived in +a Republic he would have acquired as much glory from +the citizens as formerly did Aristides and Cato, the one +in Athens, the other in Rome. Innocence oppressed +found always in his protection a sure refuge, and the +position of the great gave them no vantage ground +before the Chancellor when suing for justice.</p> + +<p>"Vanity, avarice, and ambition, vices that too often +attach themselves to great honours, were to him quite +unknown, and if he did a good action it was not from +the desire of fame, but simply because he could not do +otherwise. His good qualities were entirely pure, without +being clouded by the admixture of any imperfections, +and the passions that form usually the defects in +great men in him only served to bring out his virtues; +if he felt hatred and rage it was only against evil-doers, +to shew his detestation of their crimes, and success or +failure in the affairs of his country brought to him the +greater part of his joys or his sorrows. He was as truly +a good man as he was an upright judge, and by the +example of his life corrected vice and bad living as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +much as by pains and penalties. And, in a word, it +seemed that Nature had exempted from the ordinary +frailities of men him whom she had marked out to deal +with their crimes. All these good qualities made him +the darling of the people and prized by the great ones +of the State. But when it seemed that nothing could +destroy his position, Fortune made clear that she did +not yet wish to abandon her character for instability, +and that Bacon had too much worth to remain so long +prosperous. It thus came about that amongst the great +number of officials such as a man of his position must +have in his house, there was one who was accused +before Parliament of exaction, and of having sold the +influence that he might have with his master. And +though the probity of Mr. Bacon was entirely exempt +from censure, nevertheless he was declared guilty of the +crime of his servant and was deprived of the power that +he had so long exercised with so much honour and +glory. In this I see the working of monstrous ingratitude +and unparalleled cruelty—to say that a man who could +mark the years of his life rather by the signal services +that he had rendered to the State than by times or +seasons, should have received such hard usage for the +punishment of a crime which he never committed; +England, indeed, teaches us by this that the sea that +surrounds her shores imparts to her inhabitants somewhat +of its restless inconstancy. This storm did not at +all surprise him, and he received the news of his disgrace +with a countenance so undisturbed that it was easy to +see that he thought but little of the sweets of life since +the loss of them caused him discomfort so slight." +Thus ended this great man whom England could +place alone as the equal of the best of all the previous +centuries."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Peter Boener</span>, who was private apothecary to Bacon +for a time, wrote in 1647 a Life, of portions of which +the following are translations:—</p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But how runneth man's future. He who seemed +to occupy the highest rank is alas! by envious +tongues near King and Parliament deposed from +all his offices and chancellorship, little considering +what treasure was being cast in the mire, as +afterwards the issue and result thereof have shown +in that country. But he always comforted himself +with the words of Scripture—nihil est novi; that +means 'there is nothing new.' Because so is Cicero +by Octavianus; Calisthenes by Alexander; Seneca (all +his former teachers) by Nero; yea, Ovid, Lucanus, +Statius (together with many others), for a small cause +very unthankfully the one banished, the other killed, the +third thrown to the lions. But even as for such men +banishment is freedom—death their life, so is for this +author his deposition a memory to greater honour and +fame, and to such a sage no harm can come.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>"Whilst his fortunes were so changed, I never saw +him—either in mien, word or acts—changed or disturbed +towards whomsoever; <i>ira enim hominis non implet +justitiam Dei</i>, he was ever one and the same, both in +sorrow and in joy, as becometh a philosopher; always +with a benevolent allocution—<i>manus nostræ sunt oculatæ, +credunt quod vident</i>.... A noteworthy example and +pattern for everyone of all virtue, gentleness, peacefulness, +and patience."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Francis Osborn</span>, in his "Advice to a Son," writes:—</p></div> + +<p>"And my memory neither doth nor (I believe possible +ever) can direct me towards an example more splendid +in this kind, than the Lord Bacon Earl of St. Albans, +who in all companies did appear a good Proficient, if +not a Master in those Arts entertained for the Subject of +every ones discourse. So as I dare maintain, without +the least affectation of Flattery or Hyperbole, That his +most casual talk deserveth to be written, As I have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +told his first or foulest Copys required no great Labour +to render them competent for the nicest judgments. A +high perfection, attainable only by use, and treating +with every man in his respective profession, and what +he was most vers'd in. So as I have heard him entertain +a Country Lord in the proper terms relating to +Hawks and Dogs. And at another time out-Cant a +London Chirurgeon. Thus he did not only learn himself, +but gratifie such as taught him; who looked upon +their Callings as honoured through his Notice; Nor did +an easie falling into Arguments (not unjustly taken for a +blemish in the most) appear less than an ornament in +Him: The ears of the hearers receiving more gratification, +than trouble; And (so) no less sorry when he came +to conclude, than displeased with any did interrupt +him. Now this general Knowledge he had in all things, +husbanded by his wit, and dignifi'd by so Majestical a +carriage he was known to own, strook such an awful +reverence in those he question'd, that they durst not +conceal the most intrinsick part of their Mysteries from +him, for fear of appearing Ignorant, or Saucy. All which +rendered him no less Necessary, than admirable at the +Council Table, where in reference to Impositions, Monopolies, +&c. the meanest Manufacturers were an usual +Argument: And, as I have heard, did in this Baffle, the +Earl of Middlesex, that was born and bred a Citizen &c. +Yet without any great (if at all) interrupting his other +Studies, as is not hard to be Imagined of a quick +Apprehension, in which he was Admirable."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIV" id="Chapter_XXIV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXIV.</span><br /> + +THE MISSING FOURTH PART OF "THE +GREAT INSTAURATION."</h2> + + +<p>It has been urged by critics that Bacon, whilst professing +to take all knowledge for his province, ignored +one-half of it—that half which was a knowledge +of himself; that to him the external world was everything, +the internal nothing. All that Nature revealed +was external; nothing that was internal was of much +importance.</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that all that we have of +Bacon's was written as he was passing into the "vale +of life." Of his early productions nothing has come +down to the present times under his own name. The +following extracts from his acknowledged works establish +two facts:—(1) That the foregoing criticism is +unfounded, for he placed the study of man's mind and +character above all other enquiries. (2) That he had +prepared examples, being "actual types and models, by +which the entire process of the mind and the whole +fabric and order of invention from the beginning to +the end in certain subjects and those various and +remarkable should be set, as it were, before the eyes." +Where are these works to be found?</p> + +<p>Bacon never tires of quoting from the Roman poet the line—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,"<br /> +</p></div> + +<p class="noin">which, in an Elizabethan handwriting, may be seen in +a contemporary volume thus rendered—</p> + +<div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +"He of all others fittest is to write<br /> +Which with some profit allso ioynes delight." +</p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p class="noin">He repeats in different forms, until the reiteration becomes +almost tedious, the following incident:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"And as Alexander Borgia was wont to say, of the +expedition of the French for Naples, that they came +with chalk in their hands to marke up their lodgings +not with weapons to fight; so we like better, that +entry of truth, which comes peaceably where the +Mindes of men, capable to lodge so great a guest, +are signed, as it were, with chalke; than that which +comes with Pugnacity, and forceth itselfe a way by +contentions and controversies."</p></div> + +<p>The same idea is embodied in the following example +of the antitheta:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A witty conceit is oftentimes a convoy of a Truth +which otherwise could not so handsomely have been +ferried over."</p></div> + +<p>In the "Advancement of Learning," Lib. II., again +the same view is insisted on:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Besides in all wise humane Government, they +that sit at the helme, doe more happily bring their +purposes about, and insinuate more easily things fit +for the people, by pretexts, and oblique courses; than +by downe-right dealing. Nay (which perchance may +seem very strange) in things meerely naturall, you may +sooner deceive nature, than force her; so improper, +and selfe impeaching are open direct proceedings; +whereas on the other side, an oblique and an insinuing +way, gently glides along and compasseth the intended +effect."</p></div> + +<p>One other fact must be realised before the full import +of the quotations about to be made can be appreciated. +In the "Distributio Operis" prefixed to the "Novum +Organum" the following significant passage occurs<a name="FNanchor_58_56" id="FNanchor_58_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_56" class="fnanchor">[55]</a>:—</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For as often as I have occasion to report anything +as deficient, the nature of which is at all obscure, so +that men may not perhaps easily understand what I +mean or what the work is which I have in my head, I +shall always (provided it be a matter of any worth) take +care to subjoin either directions for the execution of +such work, or else a portion of the work itself executed +by myself as a sample of the whole: thus giving +assistance in every case either by work or by counsel."</p></div> + +<p>In the "Advancement of Learning," Book II., chap. i., +it is written:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That is the truest Partition of humane Learning, +which hath reference to the three Faculties of Man's +soule, which is the feat of Learning. History is referred +to Memory, Poesy to the Imagination, Philosophy to +Reason. By Poesy, in this place, we understand nothing +else, but feigned History, or Fables. As for Verse, that +is only a style of expression, and pertaines to the Art of +Elocution, of which in due place."</p> + +<p>"Poesy, in that sense we have expounded it, is likewise +of Individuals, fancied to the similitude of those +things which in true History are recorded, yet so as +often it exceeds measure; and those things which in +Nature would never meet, nor come to passe, Poesy +composeth and introduceth at pleasure, even as Painting +doth: which indeed is the work of the Imagination."</p></div> + +<p>And in the same book, Chapter XIII.:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Drammaticall, or Representative Poesy, which +brings the World upon the stage, is of excellent use, if +it were not abused. For the Instructions, and Corruptions, +of the Stage, may be great; but the corruptions +in this kind abound, the Discipline is altogether +neglected in our times. For although in moderne +Commonwealths, Stage-plaies be but estimed a sport or +pastime, unlesse it draw from the Satyre, and be mordant; +yet the care of the Ancients was, that it should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +instruct the minds of men unto virtue. Nay, wise men +and great Philosophers, have accounted it, as the +Archet, or musicall Bow of the Mind. And certainly it +is most true, and as it were, a secret of nature, that the +minds of men are more patent to affections, and impressions, +Congregate, than solitary."</p></div> + +<p>The third chapter of Book VII. of the "De Augmentis" +is devoted to emphasising the importance of a +knowledge of the internal working of the mind and of +the disposition and character of men. The following +extracts are of special moment:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Some are naturally formed for contemplation, others +for business, others for war, others for advancement of +fortune, others for love, others for the arts, others for a +varied kind of life; so among the poets (heroic, satiric, +tragic, comic) are everywhere interspersed, representations +of characters, though generally exaggerated and +surpassing the truth. And this argument touching the +different characters of dispositions is one of those +subjects in which the common discourse of men (as +sometimes, though very rarely, happens) is wiser than +books."</p></div> + +<p>The drama as the only vehicle through which this can +be accomplished at once suggests itself to the reader. +But in order to emphasize this point he proceeds—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But far the best provision and material for this +treatise is to be gained from the wiser sort of historians, +not only from the commemorations which they commonly +add on recording the deaths of illustrious persons, +but much more from the entire body of history as often +as such a person enters upon the stage."</p></div> + +<p>Bacon becomes still more explicit. He continues:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Wherefore out of these materials (which are surely +rich and abundant) let a full and careful treatise be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +constructed. Not, however, that I would have their +characters presented in ethics (as we find them in +history, or poetry, or even in common discourse) in the +shape of complete individual portraits, but rather the +several features and simple lineaments of which they +are composed, and by the various combinations and +arrangements of which all characters whatever are made +up, showing how many, and of what nature these are, +and how connected and subordinated one to another; +that so we may have a scientific and accurate dissection +of minds and characters, and the secret dispositions of +particular men may be revealed; and that from a knowledge +thereof better rules may be framed for the treatment +of the mind. And not only should the characters +of dispositions which are impressed by nature be received +into this treatise, but those also which are imposed upon +the mind by sex, by age, by region, by health and +sickness, by beauty and deformity and the like; and +again, those which are caused by fortune, as sovereignty, +nobility, obscure birth, riches, want, magistracy, +privateness, prosperity, adversity and the like."</p></div> + +<p>Shortly after follows this remarkable pronouncement.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But to speak the truth the poets and writers of +history are the best doctors of this knowledge,<a name="FNanchor_59_57" id="FNanchor_59_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_57" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> where +we may find painted forth with great life and dissected, +how affections are kindled and excited, and how +pacified and restrained, and how again contained from +act and further degree; how they disclose themselves, +though repressed and concealed; how they work; how +they vary; how they are enwrapped one within another; +how they fight and encounter one with another; and +many more particulars of this kind; amongst which this +last is of special use in moral and civil matters; how, I +say, to set affection against affection, and to use the aid of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>one to master another; like hunters and fowlers who use +to hunt beast with beast, and catch bird with bird, which +otherwise perhaps without their aid man of himself +could not so easily contrive; upon which foundation is +erected that excellent and general use in civil government +of reward and punishment, whereon commonwealths +lean; seeing these predominant affections of fear +and hope suppress and bridle all the rest. For as in +the government of States it is sometimes necessary to +bridle one faction with another, so is it in the internal +government of the mind."</p></div> + +<p>In his "Distributio Operis" Bacon thus describes +the missing fourth part of his "Instauratio Magna":—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Of these the first is to set forth examples of inquiry +and invention<a name="FNanchor_60_58" id="FNanchor_60_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_58" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> according to my method exhibited by +anticipation in some particular subjects; choosing such +subjects as are at once the most noble in themselves +among those under enquiry, and most different one from +another, that there may be an example in every kind. +I do not speak of these precepts and rules by way of +illustration (for of these I have given plenty in the +second part of the work); but I mean actual types and +models, by which the entire process of the mind and the +whole fabric and order of invention from the beginning +to the end in certain subjects, and those various and +remarkable, should be set as it were before the eyes. +For I remember that in the mathematics it is easy to +follow the demonstration when you have a machine +beside you, whereas, without that help, all appears involved +and more subtle than it really is. To examples +of this kind—being, in fact, nothing more than an +application of the second part in detail and at large—the +fourth part of the work is devoted."</p></div> + +<p>The late Mr. Edwin Reed has, in his "Francis Bacon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +our Shakespeare," page 126, drawn attention to a remarkable +circumstance. In 1607 Bacon had written +his "Cogitata et Visa," which was the forerunner of +his "Novum Organum." It was not published until +twenty-seven years after his death, namely, in 1653, by +Isaac Gruter, at Leyden. In 1857 Mr. Spedding found +a manuscript copy of the "Cogitata" in the library of +Queen's College at Oxford. This manuscript had been +corrected in Bacon's own handwriting. It contained +passages which were omitted from Gruter's print. +Spedding did not realise the importance of the omitted +passages, but Mr. Edwin Reed has made this manifest. +The following extract is specially noteworthy, the +portion printed in italics having been omitted by +Gruter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"... So he thought best, after long considering the +subject and weighing it carefully, first of all to prepare +<i>Tabulæ Inveniendi</i> or regular forms of inquiry; in other +words, a mass of particulars arranged for the understanding, +and to serve, as it were, for an example and +almost visible representation of the matter. For nothing +else can be devised that would place in a clearer light +what is true and what is false, or show more plainly +that what is presented is more than words, and must +be avoided by anyone who either has no confidence in +his own scheme or may wish to have his scheme taken +for more than it is worth.</p> + +<p>"<i>But when these Tabulæ Inveniendi have been put +forth and seen, he does not doubt that the more timid +wits will shrink almost in despair from imitating them +with similar productions with other materials or on other +subjects; and they will take so much delight in the specimen +given that they will miss the precepts in it. Still, +many persons will be led to inquire into the real meaning +and highest use of these writings, and to find the key to +their interpretation, and thus more ardently desire, in some +degree at least, to acquire the new aspect of nature which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +such a key will reveal. But he intends, yielding neither +to his own personal aspirations nor to the wishes of others, +but keeping steadily in view the success of his undertaking, +having shared these writings with some, to withhold +the rest until the treatise intended for the people +shall be published.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>Now what conclusions may be drawn from the foregoing +extracts? Bacon attached the greatest importance +to the consideration of the internal life of man. +He affirms that dramaticall or representative poesy, +which brings the world upon the stage, is of excellent +use if it be not abused. The discipline of the stage +was neglected in his time, but the care of the ancients +was that it should instruct the minds of men unto +virtue, and wise men and great philosophers accounted +it as the musical bow of the mind. He has devoted +the fourth part of his "Instauratio Magna" to setting +forth examples of inquiry and invention, choosing such +subjects as are at once the most noble in themselves +and the most different one from another, that there +may be an example in every kind. He is not speaking +of precepts and rules by way of interpretation, but +actual types and models by which the entire process of +the mind, and the whole fabric and order of invention, +should be set, as it were, before the eyes.</p> + +<p>Not only should the characters of dispositions which +are impressed by nature be received into this treatise, +but those also which are imposed upon the mind by +sex, by age, by region, by health and sickness, by +beauty and deformity, and the like; and, again, those +that are caused by fortune, as sovereignty, nobility, +obscure birth, riches, want, magistracy, privateness, +prosperity, adversity, and the like.</p> + +<p><i>The fourth part of Bacon's "Great Instauration" is +missing.</i> The above requirements are met in the +Shakespeare plays. Could the dramas be more accurately +described than in the foregoing extracts?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>From a study of the plays let a list be made out of the +qualifications which the author must have possessed. It +will be found that the only person in whom every +qualification will be found who has lived in any age +of any country was Francis Bacon. Any investigator +who will devote the time and trouble requisite for an +exhaustive examination of the subject can come to no +other conclusion.</p> + +<p>One cannot without feeling deep regret recognise that +we have to turn to a foreigner to give "reasons for the +faith which we English have in Shakespeare." It was +a German, Schlegel, who discovered the great dramatist, +and to-day we must turn to his "Lectures on the +Drama" for the most penetrating description of his +plays. The following is a translation of a passage +which in describing the plays almost adopts the words +Bacon uses in the foregoing passages as to the scope +and object of the fourth part of his "Great Instauration."</p> + +<p>"Never, perhaps, was there so comprehensive a talent +for the delineation of character as Shakespeare's. It +not only grasps the diversities of rank, sex, and age, +down to the dawnings of infancy; not only do the king +and the beggar, the hero and the pickpocket, the sage +and the idiot speak and act with equal truth; not only +does he transport himself to distant ages and foreign +nations, and portray in the most accurate manner, with +only a few apparent violations of costume, the spirit of +the ancient Romans, of the French in their wars with +the English, of the English themselves during a great +part of their history, of the Southern Europeans (in the +serious part of many comedies), the cultivated society +of that time, and the former rude and barbarous state of +the North; his human characters have not only such +depth and precision that they cannot be arranged under +classes, and are inexhaustible, even in conception; no, +this Prometheus not merely forms men, he opens the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +gates of the magical world of spirits, calls up the midnight +ghost, exhibits before us his witches amidst their +unhallowed mysteries, peoples the air with sportive +fairies and sylphs; and these beings, existing only in +imagination, possess such truth and consistency that +even when deformed monsters like Caliban, he extorts +the conviction that if there should be such beings they +would so conduct themselves. In a word, as he carries +with him the most fruitful and daring fancy into the +kingdom of nature; on the other hand, he carries nature +into the regions of fancy, lying beyond the confines of +reality. We are lost in astonishment at seeing the extraordinary, +the wonderful, and the unheard of in such +intimate nearness."</p> + +<p>"If Shakespeare deserves our admiration for his +characters he is equally deserving of it for his exhibition +of passion, taking this word in its widest signification, +as including every mental condition, every tone from +indifference or familiar mirth to the wildest rage and +despair. He gives us the history of minds, he lays open +to us in a single word a whole series of preceding conditions. +His passions do not at first stand displayed to us +in all their height, as is the case with so many tragic poets +who, in the language of Lessing, are thorough masters +of the legal style of love. He paints, in a most inimitable +manner, the gradual progress from the first origin. +'He gives,' as Lessing says, 'a living picture of all the +most minute and secret artifices by which a feeling +steals into our souls; of all the imperceptible advantages +which it there gains, of all the stratagems by which +every other passion is made subservient to it, till it +becomes the sole tyrant of our desires and our aversions.' +Of all poets, perhaps, he alone has portrayed +the mental diseases—melancholy, delirium, lunacy—with +such inexpressible, and in every respect definite truth, +that the physician may enrich his observations from +them in the same manner as from real cases."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXV" id="Chapter_XXV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXV.</span><br /> + +THE PHILOSOPHY OF BACON.</h2> + + +<p>To attempt anything of the nature of a review of Bacon's +acknowledged works is a task far too great for the scope +of the present volume. To attempt a survey of the +whole of his works would require years of diligent study, +and would necessitate a perusal of nearly every book +published in England between 1576 and 1630. Not that +it is suggested that all the literature of this period was +the product of his pen or was produced under his supervision, +but each book published should be read and considered +with attention to arrive at a selection.</p> + +<p>There has been no abler judgment of the acknowledged +works than that which will be found in William +Hazlitt's "Lectures on the Literature of the Age of +Elizabeth." Lecture VII. commences with an account +of the "Character of Bacon's Works."</p> + +<p>It may not, however, be out of place here to try and +make plain in what sense Bacon was a philosopher.</p> + +<p>In Chapter CXVI. of the "Novum Organum" he +makes his position clear in the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"First then I must request men not to suppose that +after the fashion of ancient Greeks, and of certain +moderns, as Telesius, Patricius, Severinus, I wish to +found a new sect in philosophy. For this is not what +I am about; nor do I think that it matters much to +the fortunes of men what abstract notions one may +entertain concerning nature and the principles of things; +and no doubt many old theories of this kind can be +revived, and many new ones introduced; just as many +theories of the heavens may be supposed which agree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +well enough with the phenomena and yet differ with +each other.</p> + +<p>"For my part, I do not trouble myself with any +such speculative and withal unprofitable matters. My +purpose on the contrary, is to try whether I cannot in +very fact lay more firmly the foundations and extend +more widely the limits of the power and greatness of +man ... I have no entire or universal theory to propound."</p></div> + +<p>So the idea that there was what is termed a system +of philosophy constructed by Bacon must be abandoned. +What justification is there for calling him the father +of the Inductive Philosophy?</p> + +<p>It is difficult to answer this question. Spedding +admits that Bacon was not the first to break down the +dominion of Aristotle. That followed the awakening +throughout the intellectual world which was brought +about by the Reformation and the revival of learning. +Sir John Herschel justifies the application to Bacon of +the term "The great Reformer of Philosophy" not on +the ground that he introduced inductive reasoning, but +because of his "keen perception and his broad and +spirit-stirring, almost enthusiastic announcement of its +paramount importance, as the Alpha and Omega of +science, as the grand and only chain for linking together +of physical truths and the eventual key to every +discovery and application."</p> + +<p>Bacon was 60 years of age when his "Novum Organum" +was published. It was founded on a tract he had +written in 1607, which he called "Cogitata et Visa," not +printed until long after his death. He had previously +published a portion of his Essays, the two books on "The +Advancement of Learning" and "The Wisdom of the +Ancients." Just at the end of his life he gave to the +world the "Novum Organum," accompanied by "The +Parasceve." Certainly it was not understood in his +time. Coke described it as only fit to freight the Ship of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +Fools, and the King likened it "to the peace of God +which passeth all understanding." It is admittedly incomplete, +and Bacon made no attempt in subsequent +years to complete it. It is a book that if read and re-read +becomes fascinating. Taine describes it as "a +string of aphorisms, a collection as it were of scientific +decrees as of an oracle who foresees the future and +reveals the truth." "It is intuition not reasoning," he +adds. The wisdom contained in its pages is profound. +An understanding of the interpretation of the Idols +and the Instances has so far evaded all commentators. +Who can explain the "Latent Process"? But the book +contains no scheme of arrangement. Therein is found +a series of desultory discourses—full of wisdom, rich in +analogies, abundant in observation and profound in +comprehension. From here and there in it with the +help of the "Parasceve" one can grasp the intention +of the great philosopher.</p> + +<p>In Chapter LXI. he says:—"But the course I propose +for the discovery of sciences is such as leaves but +little to the acuteness and strength of wits, but places +all wits and understandings on a level." How was this +to be accomplished? By the systemization of labour +expended on scientific research. A catalogue of the +particulars of histories which were to be prepared is +appended to the "Parasceve." It embraces every +subject conceivable. In Chapter CXI. he says, "I +plainly confess that a collection of history, natural +and experimental, such as I conceive it, and as it ought +to be, is a great, I may say a royal work, and of much +labour and expense."</p> + +<p>In the "Parasceve" he says:—"If all the wits of all +the ages had met or shall hereafter meet together; if the +whole human race had applied or shall hereafter apply +themselves to philosophy, and the whole earth had +been or shall be nothing but academies and colleges +and schools of learned men; still without a natural and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +experimental history such as I am going to prescribe, no +progress worthy of the human race could have been +made or can be made in philosophy and the sciences. +Whereas on the other hand let such a history be once +provided and well set forth and let there be added to it +such auxiliary and light-giving experiments as in the +very course of interpretation will present themselves or +will have to be found out; and the investigation of +nature and of all sciences will be the work of a few +years. This therefore must be done or the business +given up."</p> + +<p>To carry out this work an army of workers was +required. In the preparation of each history some were +to make a rough and general collection of facts. Their +work was to be handed over to others who would +arrange the facts in order for reference. This accomplished, +others would examine to get rid of superfluities. +Then would be brought in those who would +re-arrange that which was left and the history would +be completed.</p> + +<p>From Chapter CIII. it is clear that Bacon contemplated +that eventually all the experiments of all the +arts, collected and digested, <i>should be brought within one +man's knowledge and judgment</i>. This man, having a +supreme view of the whole range of subjects, would +transfer experiments of one art to another and so lead +"to the discovery of many new things of service to the +life and state of man."</p> + +<p>Nearly three hundred years have passed since Bacon +propounded his scheme. The arts and sciences have +been greatly advanced. They might have proceeded +more rapidly had the histories been prepared, but since +his time there has arisen no man who has taken "all +knowledge to be his province"—no man who could +occupy the position Bacon contemplated.</p> + +<p>The method by which the induction was to be followed +is described in Chapter CV. There must be an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +analysis of nature by proper rejections and exclusions, +and then, after a sufficient number of negatives, a conclusion +should be arrived at from the affirmative +instances. "It is in this induction," Bacon adds, +"that our chief hope lies."</p> + +<p>Bacon's new organ has never been constructed, and +all wits and understandings have not yet been placed on +a level.</p> + +<p>We come back to the mystery of Francis Bacon, the +possessor of the most exquisite intellect that was ever +bestowed on any of the children of men. As an historian, +he gives us a taste of his quality in "Henry VII." +In the Essays and the "Novum Organum," sayings +which have the effect of axioms are at once striking +and self-evident. But he is always desultory. In perceiving +analogies between things which have nothing in +common he never had an equal, and this characteristic, +to quote Macaulay, "occasionally obtained the mastery +over all his other faculties and led him into absurdities +into which no dull man could have fallen." His +memory was so stored with materials, and these so +diverse, that in similitude or with comparison he +passed from subject to subject. In the "Advancement +of Learning" are enumerated the deficiencies which +Bacon observed, <i>nearly the whole of which were supplied +during his lifetime</i>.</p> + +<p>The "Sylva Sylvarum" is the most extraordinary +jumble of facts and observations that has ever been +brought together. It is a literary curiosity. The +"New Atlantis" and other short works in quantity +amount to very little. Bacon's life has hitherto remained +unaccounted for. In the foregoing pages +an attempt has been made to offer an intelligible +explanation of the work to which he devoted his life, +namely, to supply the deficiencies which he had himself +pointed out and which retarded the advancement of +learning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hallam has said of Bacon: "If we compare what +may be found in the sixth, seventh, and eighth books +of the 'De Augmentis,' and the various short treatises +contained in his works on moral and political wisdom and +on human nature, with the rhetoric, ethics, and politics +of Aristotle, or with the historians most celebrated +for their deep insight into civil society and human +character—with Thucydides, Tacitus, Phillipe de +Comines, Machiavel, David Hume—we shall, I think, +find that one man may almost be compared with all of +these together."</p> + +<p>Pope wrote: "Lord Bacon was the greatest genius +that England, or perhaps any other country, ever produced." +If an examination, more thorough than has +hitherto been made, of the records and literature of +his age establishes beyond doubt the truth of the suggestions +which have now been put forward, what more +can be said? This at any rate, that to him shall be +given that title to which he aspired and for which he +was willing to renounce his own name. He shall be +called "The Benefactor of Mankind."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<p>Sir Thomas Bodley left behind him a short history +of his life which is of a fragmentary description. One-fourth +of it is devoted to a record of how much he +suffered in permitting Essex to urge his advancement +in the State. The following is the passage:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Now here I can not choose but in making report of +the principall accidents that have fallen unto me in +the course of my life, but record among the rest, that +from the very first day I had no man more to friend +among the Lords of the Councell, than was the Lord +Treasurer Burleigh: for when occasion had beene +offered of declaring his conceit as touching my service, +he would alwaies tell the Queen (which I received from +her selfe and some other ear-witnesses) that there was +not any man in <i>England</i> so meet as myselfe to undergoe +the office of the Secretary. And sithence his sonne, +the present Lord Treasurer, hath signified unto me in +private conference, that when his father first intended +to advance him to that place, his purpose was withall +to make me his Colleague. But the case stood thus +in my behalf: before such time as I returned from the +Provinces united, which was in the yeare 1597, and +likewise after my returne, the then Earle of <i>Essex</i> did +use me so kindly both by letters and messages, and +other great tokens of his inward favours to me, that +although I had no meaning, but to settle in my mind +my chiefest desire and dependance upon the Lord +<i>Burleigh</i>, as one that I reputed to be both the best able, +and therewithall the most willing to worke my advancement +with the Queene, yet I know not how, the Earle, +who fought by all devices to divert her love and liking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +both from the Father and the Son (but from the Sonne +in speciall) to withdraw my affection from the one and +the other, and to winne mee altogether to depend upon +himselfe, did so often take occasion to entertaine the +Queene with some prodigall speeches of my sufficiency +for a Secretary, which were ever accompanied with +words of disgrace against the present Lord Treasurer, +as neither she her selfe, of whose favour before I was +thoroughly assured, took any great pleasure to preferre +me the sooner, (for she hated his ambition, and would +give little countenance to any of his followers) and both +the Lord <i>Burleigh</i> and his Sonne waxed jealous of my +courses, as if under hand I had beene induced by the +cunning and kindnesse of the Earle of <i>Essex</i>, to oppose +my selfe against their dealings. And though in very +truth they had no solid ground at all of the least +alteration in my disposition towards either of them +both, (for I did greatly respect their persons and places, +with a settled resolution to doe them any service, as +also in my heart I detested to be held of any faction +whatsoever) yet the now Lord Treasurer, upon occasion +of some talke, that I have since had with him, of the +Earle and his actions, hath freely confessed of his +owne accord unto me, that his daily provocations were +so bitter and sharpe against him, and his comparisons +so odious, when he put us in a ballance, as he thought +thereupon he had very great reason to use his +best meanes, to put any man out of hope of raising +his fortune, whom the Earle with such violence, to +his extreame prejudice, had endeavoured to dignifie. +And this, as he affirmed, was all the motive he had to +set himselfe against me, in whatsoever might redound to +the bettering of my estate, or increasing of my credit +and countenance with the Queene. When I hae +thoroughly now bethought me, first in the Earle, of the +slender hold-fast that he had in the favour of the Queene, +of an endlesse opposition of the cheifest of our States<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>men +like still to waite upon him, of his perillous, and +feeble, and uncertain advice, as well in his owne, as in all +the causes of his friends: and when moreover for my selfe +I had fully considered how very untowardly these two +Counsellours were affected unto me, (upon whom before +in cogitation I had framed all the fabrique of my future +prosperity) how ill it did concurre with my naturall disposition, +to become, or to be counted either a stickler or +partaker in any publique faction, how well I was able, +by God's good blessing, to live of my selfe, if I could be +content with a competent livelyhood; how short time +of further life I was then to expect by the common +course of nature: when I had, I say, in this manner +represented to my thoughts my particular estate, +together with the Earles, I resolved thereupon to possesse +my soule in peace all the residue of my daies, to +take my full farewell of State imployments, to satisfie +my mind with that mediocrity of worldly living that I +had of my owne, and so to retire me from the Court, +which was the epilogue and end of all my actions and +endeavours of any important note, till I came to the age +of fifty-three."</p></div> + +<p>The experience of Bodley and Bacon appears to have +been identical. It certainly materially strengthens the +case of those who contend that Bacon's conduct to +Essex was not deserving of censure on the ground of +ingratitude for favours received from him.</p> + +<p>The words which Robert Cecil addressed to Bodley, +namely, that "he had very great reason to use his best +meanes, to put any man out of hope of raising his +fortune whom the Earle with such violence, to his +extreame prejudice had endeavoured to dignifie," would +with equal force have been applied to Bacon's case. +The drift of Bodley's account of the matter points to +his feeling that Essex's conduct had not been of a +disinterested character, and suggests that he felt the +Earle had been making a tool of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>The effect of this was that Bodley adopted the course +which Bacon threatened to adopt when refused the +office of Attorney-General, solicited for him by Essex—he +took a farewell of State employments and retired +from the Court to devote himself to the service of his +"Reverend Mother, the University of Oxford," and to +the advancement of her good. To this end he became +a collector of books, whereas Bacon would have become +"some sorry book-maker or a true pioner in +that mine of truth which Anaxagoras said lay so deep."</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> +<h4>ROBERT BANKS AND SON, RACQUET COURT, FLEET STREET.</h4> +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 636px;"> +<img src="images/fig_vi.jpg" width="636" height="792" alt="Figure VI." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure VI.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 636px;"> +<img src="images/fig_vii.jpg" width="636" height="792" alt="Figure VII." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure VII.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 608px;"> +<img src="images/fig_viii.jpg" width="608" height="168" alt="Figure VIII." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure VIII.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 780px;"> +<img src="images/fig_ix.jpg" width="780" height="184" alt="Figure IX." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure IX.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xx.jpg" width="420" height="68" alt="Figure XX." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XX.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 1084px;"> +<span class="caption">THE XXXVIII. BOOKE.</span> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="1084" height="712" alt="THE XXXVIII. BOOKE." title="" /> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 776px;"> +<img src="images/fig_x.jpg" width="776" height="232" alt="Figure X." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure X.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 736px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xv.jpg" width="736" height="216" alt="Figure XV." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XV.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 588px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xi.jpg" width="588" height="168" alt="Figure XI." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XI.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 820px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xii.jpg" width="820" height="184" alt="Figure XII." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XII.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 720px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xxi.jpg" width="720" height="1160" alt="Figure XXI." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XXI.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 760px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xvi.jpg" width="760" height="176" alt="Figure XVI." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XVI.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 844px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xvii.jpg" width="844" height="164" alt="Figure XVII." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XVII.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 960px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xviii.jpg" width="960" height="200" alt="Figure XVIII." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XVIII.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 764px;"> +<img src="images/fig_xix.jpg" width="764" height="188" alt="Figure XIX." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Figure XIX.</i></span> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Attention is drawn to one of the inaccuracies in "An Introduction +to Mathematics," by A. W. Whithead, Sc.D., F.R.S., published +in the Home University Library of Modern Knowledge. +The author says: "Macaulay in his essay on Bacon contrasts the +certainty of mathematics with the uncertainty of philosophy, and +by way of a rhetorical example he says, 'There has been no +re-action against Taylor's theorem.' He could not have chosen +a worse example. For, without having made an examination of +English text-books on mathematics contemporary with the publication +of this essay, the assumption is a fairly safe one that +Taylor's theorem was enunciated and proved wrongly in every +one of them."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> There are copies of this work bearing date 1626, the year in +which Bacon died.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The concluding paragraph of the Epistle to the Reader is as +follows: "It's easily imaginable how unconcerned I am as to the +fate of this Book either in the History, or the Observations, since +I have been so faithful in the first, that it is not my own, but the +Historians; and so careful in the second that they are not mine, +but the Histories."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> "Life and Letters," Vol. VII., page 552.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Lloyd states that this occurred when he was seven years of +age.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> "The Lives of Statesmen and Favourites of Elizabeth."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Dr. Whitgift was a man of strong moral rectitude, yet in +1593 he became one of its sponsors on the publication of "Venus +and Adonis."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> It was to Sir Amias that the custody of Mary Queen of Scots +was committed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> In the "Gesta Grayorum" one of the articles which the +Knights of the Helmet were required to vow to keep, each +kissing his helmet as he took his vow, was "Item—every Knight +of this Order shall endeavour to add conference and experiment +to reading; and therefore shall not only read and peruse 'Guizo,' +'The French Academy,' 'Galiatto the Courtier,' 'Plutarch,' 'The +Arcadia,' and the Neoterical writers from time to time," etc. +The "Gesta Grayorum," which was written in 1594, was not +published until 1687. The manuscript was probably incorrectly +read as to the titles of the books. "Galiatto," apparently, should +be "Galateo," described in a letter of Gabriel Harvey as "The +Italian Archbishop brave Galateo." The "Courtier" is the +Italian work by Castiglione which was Englished by Sir Thomas +Hoby. "Guizo" should be "Guazzo." Stefano Guazzo's "Civil +Conversation"—four books—was Englished by G. Pettie and +Young.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> "Hit" is used by Chaucer as the past participle of "Hide." +The name thus yields a suggestive anagram, "Bacohit."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> 1618 Edition, page 712.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> In addition to this and to the "Gesta Grayorum" (1692) I have +only been able to find two references to "The French Academy" +in the works of English writers. +</p><p> +J. Payne Collier, in his "Poetical Decameron," Vol. II., page +271, draws attention to the epistle "to the Christian reader" prefixed +to the second part, and suggests that the initials T.B. which +occur at the end of the dedicatory epistle stand for Thomas +Beard, the author of "Theatre of God's Judgments." Collier +does not appear to have read "The French Academy." Dibdin, +in "Notes on More's Utopia," says, "But I entreat the reader to +examine (if he be fortunate enough to possess the book) "The +French Academy of Primaudaye," a work written in a style of +peculiarly impressive eloquence, and which, not very improbably, +was the foundation of Derham's and Paley's "Natural +Theology."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> "It being now forty years as I remember, since I composed +a juvenile work on this subject which with great confidence and +a magnificent title I named "The greatest birth of Time."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_14" id="Footnote_15_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> The block was used on page 626 of the 1594 quarto edition +of William Camden's "Britannia," published in London by +George Bishop, who was the publisher of the 1586, 1589, and +1594 editions of "The French Academy." There is a marginal +note at the foot of the imprint of the block commencing "R. +Bacons." Francis Bacon is known to have assisted Camden in +the preparation of this work. The manuscript bears evidence +of the fact in his handwriting.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_15" id="Footnote_16_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> One copy of this edition bears the date 1628.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_16" id="Footnote_17_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Probably Owen Felltham, author of "Felltham's Resolves."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_17" id="Footnote_18_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Sir Thomas Smith (1512-1577) was Secretary of State under +Edward VI. and Elizabeth—a good scholar and philosopher. He, +when Greek lecturer and orator at Cambridge, with John Cheke, +introduced, in spite of strong opposition, the correct way of +speaking Greek, restoring the pronunciation of the ancients.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_18" id="Footnote_19_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> State Paper Office; French Correspondence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_19" id="Footnote_20_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Spedding prints this in small type, being doubtful as to the +authorship.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_20" id="Footnote_21_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> That is, never held a brief.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_21" id="Footnote_22_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> I am indebted to Mr. Harold Hardy for this interesting information. +There is an entry in the State Papers, 1608, Jan. 31: +Grant at the suit of Sir Francis Bacon to Sir William Cooke, Sir +John Constable, and three others, of the King's reversion of the +estates in Herts above referred to. Sir Nicholas, to whom it had +descended from the Lord Keeper, conveyed the remainder to +Queen Elizabeth her heirs and successors "with the condition +that if he paid £100 the grant should be void, which was +apparently done to prevent the said Sir Francis to dispose of +the same land which otherwise by law he might have done." +When Lady Anne conveyed the Markes estate to Francis it was +subject to a similar condition, namely, that the grant was to be +null and void on Lady Ann paying ten shillings to Francis. This +condition made it impossible for Francis to dispose of his interest +in the estate, hence Anthony's request in the letter above referred +to. It is obvious that his relatives considered that Francis was +not to be trusted with property which he could turn into money. +There was evidently some heavy strain on his resources which +caused him to convert everything he could into cash.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_23" id="Footnote_24_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_23"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> "Story of Lord Bacon's Life." Hepworth Dixon, p. 28.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_24" id="Footnote_25_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_24"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> The two letters of 16th September, 1580, and that of 15th +October, 1580, are taken from copies in the Lansdowne collection. +That of the 6th May, 1586, is in the same collection, +and is an original in Bacon's handwriting. The letter of +25th August, 1585, is also in his handwriting, and is in the +State Papers, Domestic. The letter without date, written to +Burghley presumably in 1591, is from the supplement to the +"Resuscitatio," 1657.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_25" id="Footnote_26_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_25"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> "Life and Letters," Vol. I. p. 57.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_26" id="Footnote_27_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_26"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> This was Sir Christopher Hatton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_27" id="Footnote_28_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_27"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> "Life and Letters," Vol I. p. 59.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_28" id="Footnote_29_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_28"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Cott. MSS. Tit. CX. 93.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_29" id="Footnote_30_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_29"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> "Life and Letters," Vol. I., p. 110.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_30" id="Footnote_31_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_30"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> "Life and Letters," Vol. I., page 16.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_31" id="Footnote_32_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_31"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> There is a copy bearing date 1626.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_32" id="Footnote_33_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_32"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> "John Dee," by Charlotte Fell Smith, 1909. Constable and +Co., Ltd.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_33" id="Footnote_34_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_33"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> See page 31.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_34" id="Footnote_35_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_34"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> "Of the Advancement of Learning," 1640, page 312.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_35" id="Footnote_36_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_35"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> "Of the Advancement of Learning," 1640, pages 115, 116.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_36" id="Footnote_37_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_36"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> 33 is the numerical value of the name "Bacon." The stop +preceding it denotes cypher.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_37" id="Footnote_38_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_37"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Vautrollier was a scholar and printer who came to England +from Paris or Roan about the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, and +first commenced business in Blackfriars. In 1584 he printed +<i>Jordanus Brunus</i>, for which he was compelled to fly. In the next +year he was in Edinburgh, where, by his help, Scottish printing +was greatly improved. Eventually his pardon was procured by +powerful friends, amongst whom was Thomas Randolph. In +1588 Richard Field, who was apprenticed to Vautrollier, married +Jakin, his daughter, and on his death in 1589 succeeded to the +business.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_38" id="Footnote_39_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_38"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Harl. MSS., 537, pp. 26 and 71; additional MSS., 4,263, p. +144; Harl. MSS., 6,401; Harl. MSS., 6,854, p. 203; Cambridge +Univ. Lib., Mm. V. 5; Cotton MSS., Tit., Chap. VII., p. 50 b; +Harl. MSS., 859, p. 40; Cotton MSS., Jul., F. VI., p. 158.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_39" id="Footnote_40_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_39"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> See page 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_40" id="Footnote_41_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_40"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> See pages 70, 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_41" id="Footnote_42_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_41"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> See Appendix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_42" id="Footnote_43_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_42"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> +</p><div class="poem"><p class="noin"> +If you, O Mildred, will take care to send back to me him whom I desire,<br /> +You will be my good, my more than good, my only sister;<br /> +But if, unfortunately, by doing nothing you keep him back and send him across the sea,<br /> +You will be bad, more than bad, nay no sister at all of mine.<br /> +If he comes to Cornwall, peace and all joys be with you,<br /> +But if he goes by sea to Sicily I declare war. Farewell.<br /> +</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_43" id="Footnote_45_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_43"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> +One note on this book contains an interesting historical fact +hitherto unknown. On page 279 the text states: "Among the +Conspirators was Nicholo Fedini whom they employed as Chauncellor, +he persuaded with a hope more certaine, revealed to Piero, +all the practice argreed by his enemies, and delivered him a note +of all their names." Bacon has made the following note in the +margin: "Ex (<i>i.e.</i>, Essex) did the like in England which he burnt +at Shirfr Smiths house in fenchurch Street."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_44" id="Footnote_46_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_44"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> "A Life of Shakespeare," 1589, 2nd Edition, p. 308.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_45" id="Footnote_47_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_45"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Plates Nos. VI. to XXI. will be found after the Appendix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_46" id="Footnote_48_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_46"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> In the "Advancement of Learning" Bacon says that Demosthenes +went so far in regard to the great force that the entrance +and access into a cause had to make a good impression that he +kept in readiness a stock of prefaces.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_47" id="Footnote_49_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_47"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Bernard Quaritch, 1905.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_48" id="Footnote_50_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_48"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> See page 105.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_49" id="Footnote_51_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_49"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Sonnet No. 2.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_50" id="Footnote_52_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_50"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> <i>'Tis thee myselfe</i>, Sonnet 62.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_51" id="Footnote_53_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_51"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> See Rawley's Introduction to "Manes Verulamiana."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_52" id="Footnote_54_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_52"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> The expression "sugr'd Sonnets" refers to verses which were +written with coloured ink to which sugar had been added. When +dry the writing shone brightly.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_53" id="Footnote_55_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_53"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Edwin A. Abbot, in his work, "Francis Bacon," p. 447, +writes, "Bacon's style (as a writer) varied almost as much as his +handwriting."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_54" id="Footnote_56_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_54"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> "Advancement of Learning," II. "De Augment. Scient.," +VII. 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_55" id="Footnote_57_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_55"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> "Advancement of Learning," II. For the whole passage compare +"De Augment. Scient.," VII. 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_56" id="Footnote_58_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_56"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> A Translation by Spedding, "Works," Vol. IV., p. 23.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_57" id="Footnote_59_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_57"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> The knowledge touching the affections and perturbations +which are the diseases of the mind.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_58" id="Footnote_60_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_58"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Tabulæ inveniendi.</p></div> + + +<p> </p> +<div class="notebox"> +<h4>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h4> + +<p>1. Long "s" has been modernized.</p> + +<p>2. Images have been moved from the middle of a paragraph to the closest +paragraph break.</p> + +<p>3. Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the end of the text in +this HTML version.</p> + +<p>4. The following misprints have been corrected:<br /> + "obain" corrected to "obtain" (page 27)<br /> + "Shakespere" corrected to "Shakespeare" (page 39)<br /> + "Bodly" corrected to "Bodley" (page 85)<br /> + "Shakepeare's" corrected to "Shakespeare's" (page 107)<br /> + "commenceed" corrected to "commenced" (page 108)<br /> + "Prœcepta" corrected to "Pręcepta" (page 135)<br /> + "deficiences" corrected to "deficiencies" (page 191)<br /> + "numercial" corrected to "numerical" (footnote 35)<br /> +</p> + +<p>5. Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies in +spelling, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been retained.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of Francis Bacon, by William T. 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