DR. RAWLEY'S LIFE OF LORD BACON.

Knowledge of the manhood of Bacon wonderfully illustrates the drift and method of his Essays, and vice versa. We fortunately possess an early and most authoritative account of him in the following Life by his first and last Chaplain,' the Rev. WILLIAM RAWLEY, D.D., which first appeared in his Resusci tatio, 1657. fol., was revised in the reprint of it of 1661, and is for the most part, the best testimony attainable (viz., that of a credible Eye and Ear witness), expressed with great strength and clearness.

We must therefore accert it, so far as it goes; for Dr. Rawley omits all allusion to Bacon's failings and fall, and touches but lightly upon the more active political and judicial parts of his career. All which parts, however, must be added to the account here given of him, if we would comprehend the enduring and fertile activity of his great powers. It is well also to dwell on such a bright side of Bacon's character as is here presented to us: in order to do him justice: for the character here given is the general tenour of his long life; even after dishonour a particular transactions had been incurred, though not always detected and punished. The general character preceded, coexisted, and survived each dishonour; and so Bacon is in a measure, the Solomon of modern times, endowed with wonderful powers, but still succumbing to the temptations that most easily beset his temperament.

Dr. Rawley's narrative, as first printed, is so disfigured with capital letters, and cut to shreds with commas, that, in this instance, we have modernised it. Before the Life, in the edition of 1661, he placed an Epistle to the Reader, which begins thus:-"Having been employed as an amanuensis or daily instrument to this honourable Author, and acquainted with his Lordship's conceits in the composing of his Works, for many years together, especially in his writing time, I conceived that no man could pretend a better interest or claim to the ordering of them, after his death, than myself. For which cause I have compiled in one, whatsoever bears the true stamp of his Lordship's excellent genius, and hath hitherto slept and been suppressed in this present volume; not leaving anything to a future hand which I found to be of moment and communicable to the public, save only some few Latin works, which, by God's favour and suffrance, shall soon after

follow.

It is true that for some of the Pieces herein contained, as his Lordship did not aim at the publication of them but at the preservation only, and prohibiting them from perishing, so as to leave them reposed in some private Shrine or Library.

The Epistle thus concludes: "As for this present collection, I doubt not but that it will verify itself in the several parcels thereof, and manifest to all understanding and unpartial readers who is the Author of it: by that spirit of perspicuity, and aptness, and conciseness, which runs through the whole work, and is ever an annex of his Lordship's pen.

There is required now; and I have been moved by many, both from foreign nations and at home, who have in price, and been admirers of this honourable Author's conceits and apprehensions; that some memorials might be added concerning his Lordship's life. Wherein I have been more willing than suficient to satisfy their requests, and to that end have endeavoured to contribute not my talent, but my mite, in the next following discourse. Though to give the true value to his Lordship's worth, there were more need of another Homer to be the trumpet of Achilles' vertues.'

THE LIFE OF THE HONOURABLE AUTHOR.

FRANCIS BAGLearning, of in York House or York Place, in

RANCIS BACON, the Glory of his Age and Nation, the Adorr.er

the Strand; on the 22d day of January in the year of our Lord, 1560. His father was that famous Councillor to Queen Elizabeth, the second Prop of the Kingdom in his time; Sir NICHOLAS BACON Knight, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England: a Lord of known prudence, sufficiency, moderation, and integrity. His mother was Anne, one of the daughters of Sir ANTHONY Cook, unto whom the erudition of King Edward the Sixth had been committed: a choice Lady and eminent for piety, virtue, and learning; being exquisitely skilled, for a woman, in the Greek and Latin tongues. These being the parents, you may easily imagine what the issue was like to be; having had whatsoever Nature or Breeding could put into him.

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 presages of that deep and universal Apprehension which was manifest in him afterward: and caused him to be taken notice of by several persons of Worth and Place, and especially by the Queen; who (as I have been informed), delighted much, then, 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 'The young Lord Keeper. Being asked by the Queen 'How old he was?' He answered with much discretion, being then but a boy, "That he was two years younger than Her Majesty's happy Reign.' With which answer the Queen was much taken. At the ordinary years of ripeness for the University, or rather somewhat earlier; he was sent by his father to Trinity College in Cambridge, to be educated and bred under the tuition of Doctor JOHN WHITGIFT, then master of that 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. Whilst he was commorant in the University, about 16 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.

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 Leger into France: by whom he was, after a while, held 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; having colected (as I have heard of knowing persons) a considerable sum of money, which he had separated, with intention to have made a competent purchase of and for the livelihood of this his youngest son; (who was only unprovided for, and though he was the youngest in years, yet he was not the lowest in his father's affection): but the said purchase being unaccomplished at his father's death, there came no greater share to him, than his single part or portion of the money divisable amongst five brethren. By which means he lived in some straights and necessities in his younger years. For as for that pleasant site and manor of Gorhambury, he came not to it, till many years after, by the death of his dearest brother, Mr. ANTHONY BACON; a gentleman equal to him in height of wit, though inferior to him in the endowments of learning and knowledge. Unto whom he was most nearly conjoined in affection: they two, being the sole male issue of a second venture.

Being returned from travel, he applied himself to the study of the Common Law, which he took upon him to be his profession. In which he obtained to great excellency though he made that (as himself said) but as an accessary and not as his principal study. He wrote several tractates upon that subject. Wherein, though some great masters in the Law did out, go him in bulk and particularities of cases, yet in the true science of the grounds and mysteries of the law he was exceeded by none. In this way, he was, after a while, sworn of the Queen's Counsell Learned, Extraordinary; a grace (if I err not) scarce known before. He seated himself, for the commodity of his studies and practise, amongst the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn; of which House he was a member: where he erected that elegant pile or structure, commonly known by the name of Lord Bacon's Lodgings, which he inhabited, by tnrns, the most part of his life (some few years only excepted) unto his dying day. In which House, he carried himself with such sweetness, comity, and generosity, that he was much revered and loved by the Readers and Gentlemen of the house.

Notwithstanding that he professed the law for his livelihood and subsistence: yet his heart and affections were more carried after the affairs and places of State; for which, if the Majesty Royal then had been pleased, he was most fit. In his younger years he studied the service and fortunes (as they call them) of that noble but unfortunate Earl, the Earl of Essex; unto whom he was, in a sort, a private and free counsellor, and gave him safe and honourable advice: till, in the end, the Earl inclined too much to the violent and precipitate counsel of others, his adherents and followers; which was his fate and ruin.

His birth and other capacities qualified him above others of his profession, to have ordinary accesses at court; and to come frequently into the Queen's eye: who would often grace him with private and free communication, not only about matters of his profession or business in law; but also about the arduous affairs of state. From whom she received, from time to time, great satisfaction. Nevertheless, though she cheered him much with the bounty of her countenance; yet she never cheered him with the bounty of her hand: having never conferred upon him any ordinary place or means of honour or profit, save only one dry reversion of the Register's Office in the Star Chamber, worth about £1600 per annum: for which he waited in expectation, either fully or nearly twenty years. Of which his Lordship would say, Queen Elizabeth's time, 'That it was, like another man's ground, buttalling upon his house; which might mend his prospect but it did not fill his barn. (Nevertheless in the time of King James it fell unto him.) Which might be imputed, not so much to Her Majesty's averseness or disaffection towards him: as to the arts and policy of a great statesman then, who laboured by all industrious and secret means to suppress and keep him down; lest if he had risen, he might have obscured his glory.

in

But though he stood long at a stay in the days of his mistress, Queen Elizabeth: yet, after the change and coming in of his new master King James, he made a great progress; by whom, he was much comforted in places of trust, honour, and revenue. I have seen a letter of his Lordship's to King James, wherein he makes acknowledgement: "That he was that master to him, that had raised and advanced him nine times; thrice in dignity, and six times in office." His offices (as I conceive) were, COUNSEL LEARNED EXTRAORDINARY [25th August 1604] to his Majesty, as he had been to Queen Elizabeth; KING'S SOLICITOR GENERAL [25th June 1607]; His Majesty's ATTORNEY-GENERAL [27th October 1613]; COUNSELLOR of State [i.e., Privy Councillor, 7th June 1616], being yet but Attorney; LORD KEEPER of the Great Seal of England [3d March 1617]; lastly, LORD CHANCELLOR [4th January 1619]; which two last places, though they be the same in authority and power; yet they differ in patent, height, and favour of the prince. Since whose time none of his successors until this present honourable Lord [Lord Clarendon] did ever bear the title of Lord Chancellor. His dignities were first [KNIGHT 23d July 1603]; then BARON of VERULAM [11th July 1618]; lastly, VISCOUNT SAINT ALBAN [28th January 1621]; besides other good

gifts and bounties of the hand, which His Majesty gave him; both out of the Broad Seal and out of the Alienation Office, to the value in both of £1800 per annum; which with his Manor of Gorhambury and other lands and possessions, near there unto adjoining, amounting to a third part more, he retained to his dying day.

Towards his rising years, not before, he entered into a married state; and took to wife ALICE, one of the daughters and co-heirs of BENEDICT BARNHAM Esquire, and Alderman of London: with whom he received a sufficiently ample and liberal portion in marriage. Children he had none; which though they be the means to perpetuate our names after our deaths; yet he had other issues to perpetuate his name: the issues of his brain. In which he was ever happy and admired, as Jupiter was in the production of Pallas. Neither did the want of children detract from his good usage of his consort during the intermarriage, whom he presented with much conjugal love and respect, with many rich gifts and endowments, besides a robe of honour which he invested her withal [i.e., he made her a Peeress], which she wore, until her dying day, being twenty years and more, after his death.

The last five years of his life being withdrawn from civil affairs and from an active life, he employed wholly in contemplation and studies. A thing, whereof his Lordship would often speak during his active life; as if he affected to die in the shadow, and not in the light; which also may be found in several passages of his works. In which time, he composed the greatest part of his books and writings, both in English and Latin. Which I will enumerate (as near as I can) in the just order, wherein they were written. The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh. Abecedarium Naturæ, or a Metaphysical piece, which is lost. Historia Ventorum, Historia vitæ et mortis; Historia densi et rari; not yet printed. Historia Gravis, et Levis, which is also lost. A Discourse of A War with Spain. A Dialogue touching An Holy War. The fable of the New Atlantis. A Preface to a Digest of the Laws of England. The beginning of the History of the Reign of King Henry the Eigth. De Augmentis Scientiarum; or The Advancement of Learning, put into Latin, with several enrichments and enlargements. Counsels Civil and Moral or his book of Essays, likewise enriched and enlarged. The conversion of certain Psalms into English verse. The translation into Latin; of the History of King Henry the Seventh, of the Counsels Civil and Moral, of the dialogue of The Holy War, of the fable of The New Atlantis; for the benefit of other nations. His revising of his book De Sapientiâ Veterum, Inquisitio de Magnete, Topica Inquisitionis de Luce et Lumine: both these not yet printed. Lastly, Sylva Sylvarum or the Natural History. These were the fruits and productions of his last five years. His Lordship also designed upon the motion and invitation of his late majesty [Charles I.] to have written The Reign of King Henry the Eigth; but that work perished in the designation merely. God not lending him life to proceed further upon it than only in one morning's work whereof there is extant an Ex Ungue Leonem, already printed in his Lordship's Miscellany Works.

There is a commemoration due as well to his abilities and virtues, as to the course of his life. Those abilities which commonly go single in other men, though of prime and observable parts; were all conjoined and met in him. Those are Sharpness of Wit, Memory, Judgment, and Elocution. For the former three, his books do abundantly speak them, which, with what sufficiency he wrote, let the world judge, but with what celerity he wrote them, I can best testify. But for the fourth, his Elocution, I will only set down, what I heard Sir Walter Raleigh once speak of him, by way of comparison (whose judgment may well be trusted). That the Earl of Salisbury was an excellent speaker but no good penman; that the Earl of Northampton (the Lord Henry Howard) was an excellent penman but no good speaker; but that Sir Francis Bacon was eminent in both.'

I have been induced to think; That if there were a beam of knowledge derived from God upon any man, in these modern times, it was upon him. For though he was a great reader of books, yet he had not his knowledge from books, but from some grounds or notions from within himself; which notwith

standing, he vented with great caution and circumspection. His book of Instauratio Magna (which, in his own account, was the chiefest of his works) was no slight imagination or fancy of his brain; but a settled and concocted notion: the production of many years' labour and travail. I myself have seen at the least twelve copies of the Instauration revised, year by year, one after another; and every year altered and amended in the frame thereof; till, at the last, it came to that model, in which it was committed to the press as many living creatures do lick their young ones till they bring them to their strength of limbs.

In the composing of his books he did rather drive at a masculine and clear expression than at any fineness or affectation of phrases; and would often ask if the meaning were expressed plainly enough. As being one that accounted words to be but subservient or ministerial to matter, and not the principal: and if his style were polite, it was because he could do no otherwise. Neither was he given to any light conceits, or descanting upon words: but did ever, purposely and industriously, avoid them. For he held such things to be but digressions or diversions from the scope intended, and to derogate from the weight and dignity of the style.

He was no plodder upon books: though he read much; and that, with great judgement, and rejection of impertinences incident to many authors. 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.

His meals were refections of the ear as well as of the stomack: like the Noctes Attica or Convivia Deipno Sophistarum, wherein a man might be refreshed in his mind and understanding no less than in his body. And I have known some of no mean parts, that have professed to make use of their note-books, when they have risen from his table. In which conversations and otherwise, he was no dashing man, as some men are; but ever a countenancer and fosterer of another man's parts. Neither was he one, that would appropriate the speech wholly to himself or delight to out-vie others, but leave a liberty to the co-assessors to take their turns. Wherein he would draw a man on, and allure him to speak upon such a subject as wherein he was peculiarly skilful and would delight to speak: and for himself he contemned no man's observations, but would light his torch at every man's candle.

His opinions and assertions were, for the most part, binding, and not contradicted by any rather like oracles than discourses. Which may be imputed, either to the well weighing of his sentence by the scales of truth and reason; or else to the reverence and estimation wherein he was commonly had, that no man would contest with him. So that there was no argumentation, or pro and con as they term it, at his table: or if there chanced to be any, it was carried with much submission and moderation.

I have often observed, and so have other men of great account, that if he had occasion to repeat another man's words after him, he had an use and faculty to dress them in better vestments and apparel than they had before: so that the author should find his own speech much amended and yet the substance of it still retained. As if it had been natural to him to use good forms; as Ovid spake of his faculty of versifying,

Et quod tentabam scribere, versus erat.

[And what I was attempting to write, became a verse.]

When his office called him, as he was of the King's Counsell Learned to charge any offenders, either in criminals or capitals: he was never of an insulting or domineering nature over them, but always tender-hearted and carrying himself decently towards the parties: (though it was his duty to charge them home) but yet as one that looked upon the example with the eye of severity, but upon the person with the eye of pity and compassion. And in Civil Business, as he was Councillor of State, he had the best way of advising: not engaging his master in any precipitate or grievous courses, but