Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

PREFACE.

Three of the most interesting, and, in some respects, most influential writers of earlier English prose, were Johnson, Addison and Bacon. The last is having his revival in America through his Essays, which are being adopted as a text-book in English literature in many of our Colleges and High Schools.

A comparatively recent life of Bacon attracted the writer's attention in one of these nurseries of American citizenship, and he was impressed with the hero-worship prominent in every paragraph, - how admiration of the philosopher's intellect made the biographer blind to the man's frailty, how every comment seemed to be a compromise with, or apology for, just such individual and official corruption as is now awakening the American mind to a just appreciation of public and private honesty and integrity.

Impressed with the idea that there is room for a sketch of this great type of official bribe-takers, the writer has exhibited this extraordinary man climbing to the Wool-sack and descending to the prison-cell, through

the channels of unsatisfied ambition and greed for wealth, while giving to the world principles of philosophy and morality which conferred immortality alike upon his fame and his infamy.

In this estimate of Bacon's character, his actions are tested by his own rules of right, and his conduct is subjected to the touchstone of his own code of morality.

The selections contained in this volume are intended to illustrate the truth of his sentiments and the beauty of their expression.

WASHINGTON, June 1, 1883.

B. G. L.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

FROM THE BIRTH OF BACON TO THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH.

The tribute paid to Bacon by succeeding ages; his life as
instructive as his pen; object of this sketch to outline him in his
two rôles of place-hunter and truth-seeker; contemporary history
essential to acquaintance with the individual; his political, reli-
gious and intellectual surroundings glanced at; Queen Elizabeth,
her embarrassments and policy; the literature of the period;
Bacon's mother one of the "learned ladies;" Bacon's father;
Bacon born January 22d, A. D. 1560; his precocity; early educa-
tion; enters the University of Cambridge, aged thirteen; univer-
sity education unprogressive; Bacon's opinion of the teachers
and methods at the universities; contrast between home sur-
roundings and college life; in his sixteenth year accompanies
Sir Amias Paulet, English ambassador, to Paris; possible bad
influence of Elizabethan diplomacy on his youthful nature; his
residence abroad and its results; summoned home by the sudden
death of his father; confronted by poverty; seeks office, and
failing, enters upon the study of the law; state of religious
feeling; Bacon seeks a short path to the bar; how he regarded
the profession of the law; Burghley's rebuke; full admission
to the bar, A. D. 1586; sits in the parliament, 1586; is a
speaker in debate on execution of sentence against Queen
of Scots; Martin Marprelate, Bacon enters the controversial
contest; his pen employed by the Queen; rewarded for his
services by gift of a place in reversion; intimacy with Earl
of Essex; new parliament, February 19, 1592; Bacon as a
reformer, and speech on law reform; his "patriotic" but unfor-
tunate speech against granting three subsidies to the Queen;

[ocr errors]

-

Elizabeth's anger at his course; what inspired this speech; the
"three-pound men "Dulcis tractus pari jugo;" he contem-
plates retirement, but is restrained by Essex; he is financially
embarrassed; his contradictory impulses; he fastens his eye on
the Attorney-Generalship; writes to Burghley's sons, Sir Thomas
and Sir Robert Cecil; letter to the Queen, disavowing the press-
ing of his suit on the Queen; Essex supports him, but is con-
fronted by Bacon's anti-subsidy speech; Sir Edward Coke is made
Attorney-General, notwithstanding the "uttermost credit, friend-
ship and authority" of Essex; Bacon turns to the Solicitor-
Generalship, and is supported by Essex; he tells Essex to
disparage competitors for the position; the Queen sends him on
a mission; he borrows from Anthony Bacon to pay his travelling
expenses; is taken ill; returns, taking "A. M." on the way, from
Cambridge; Essex acquaints Elizabeth with Bacon's threat of
retirement if he does not receive promotion; the Queen's anger;
Bacon's interview with Sir Robert Cecil; they part "in kindness,
secundum exterius;" Essex presses Bacon's suit in vain; Fleming
made Solicitor-General, A. D. 1596; Bacon's dejection and retire-
ment to the villa of Essex; the Earl's sympathy; gives Bacon an
estate worth £1,800; publication of essays, "Colors of Good and
Evil," "Meditationes Sacræ;" Essex's successful expedition
against the Spaniards and Cadiz; Bacon's letter of advice to the
young Earl; its moral tone, or, rather, immoral tone; Queen's
opinion of his legal ability: "excellent gift of speech, but in law
she rather thought he could show to the uttermost than that he
was deep; " vindicates his legal ability by writing his "Maxims"
and "Use of the Common Law;" proposes to relieve financial
embarrassments by marriage of convenience; Lady Hatton — her
character; letter to Essex, asking his backing; good advice to
the Earl; Coke runs off with Lady Hatton; seven matrimonial
objections to Coke; Lady Hatton's married life; parliament of
1597; Bacon an active member; votes for large subsidies; Essex's
return from unsuccessful naval adventure; Raleigh second in com-
mand; his success; Essex's injustice; Queen displeased; Essex
sulks, is forgiven and restored to favor; is adviser to the Queen
during Cecil's absence; Bacon's letter to Essex touching Irish
affairs; Bacon arrested for debt; spunging-house; presents the
Queen with an embroidered petticoat; coolness between Essex and

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »