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of the Stuart kings。
And yet while the man is made to appear in such hideous colors； his
philosophy is exalted to the highest pinnacle of praise； as the
greatest boon which any philosopher ever rendered to the world； and
the chief cause of all subsequent progress in scientific discovery。
And thus in brilliant rhetoric we have a painting of a man whose
life was in striking contrast with his teachings；a Judas
Iscariot； uttering divine philosophy； a Seneca； accumulating
millions as the tool of Nero； a fallen angel； pointing with rapture
to the realms of eternal light。 We have the most startling
contradiction in all history；glory in debasement； and debasement
in glory； the most selfish and worldly man in England； the 〃meanest
of mankind；〃 conferring on the race one of the greatest blessings
it ever received；not accidentally； not in repentance and shame；
but in exalted and persistent labors； amid public cares and
physical infirmities； from youth to advanced old age； living in the
highest regions of thought； studious and patient all his days； even
when neglected and unrewarded for the transcendent services he
rendered； not as a philosopher merely； but as a man of affairs and
as a responsible officer of the Crown。 Has there ever been； before
or since； such an anomaly in human history；so infamous in action；
so glorious in thought； such a contradiction between life and
teachings；so that many are found to utter indignant protests
against such a representation of humanity； justly feeling that such
a portrait； however much it may be admired for its brilliant
colors； and however difficult to be proved false； is nevertheless
an insult to the human understanding？ The heart of the world will
not accept the strange and singular belief that so bad a man could
confer so great a boon； especially when he seemed bent on bestowing
it during his whole life； amid the most harassing duties。 If it
accepts the boon； it will strive to do justice to the benefactor；
as he himself appealed to future ages； and if it cannot deny the
charges which have been arrayed against him；especially if it
cannot exculpate him；it will soar beyond technical proofs to take
into consideration the circumstances of the times； the temptations
of a corrupt age； and the splendid traits which can with equal
authority be adduced to set off against the mistakes and faults
which proceeded from inadvertence and weakness rather than a
debased moral sense；even as the defects and weaknesses of Cicero
are lost sight of in the acknowledged virtues of his ordinary life；
and the honest and noble services he rendered to his country and
mankind。
Bacon was a favored man； he belonged to the upper ranks of society。
His father； Sir Nicholas Bacon； was a great lawyer； and reached the
highest dignities； being Lord Keeper of the Great Seal。 His
mother's sister was the wife of William Cecil； the great Lord
Burleigh； the most able and influential of Queen Elizabeth's
ministers。 Francis Bacon was the youngest son of the Lord Keeper；
and was born in London； Jan。 22； 1561。 He had a sickly and feeble
constitution； but intellectually was a youthful prodigy； and at
nine years of age； by his gravity and knowledge； attracted the
admiring attention of the Queen； who called him her young Lord
Keeper。 At the age of ten we find him stealing away from his
companions to discover the cause of a singular echo in the brick
conduit near his father's house in the Strand。 At twelve he
entered the University of Cambridge； at fifteen he quitted it；
already disgusted with its pedantries and sophistries； at sixteen
he rebelled against the authority of Aristotle； and took up his
residence at Gray's Inn； the same year； 1576； he was sent to Paris
in the suite of Sir Amias Paulet； ambassador to the court of
France； and delighted the salons of the capital by his wit and
profound inquiries； at nineteen he returned to England； having won
golden opinions from the doctors of the French Sanhedrim； who saw
in him a second Daniel； and in 1582 he was admitted as a barrister
of Gray's Inn； and the following year composed an essay on the
Instauration of Philosophy。 Thus； at an age when young men now
leave the university； he had attacked the existing systems of
science and philosophy； proudly taking in all science and knowledge
for his realm。
About this time his father died； without leaving him； a younger
son； a competence。 Nor would his great relatives give him an
office or sinecure by which he might be supported while he sought
truth； and he was forced to plod at the law； which he never liked；
resisting the blandishments and follies by which he was surrounded；
and at intervals； when other young men of his age and rank were
seeking pleasure； he was studying Nature； science； history；
philosophy； poetry；everything； even the whole domain of truth；
and with such success that his varied attainments were rather a
hindrance to an appreciation of his merits as a lawyer and his
preferment in his profession。
In 1586 he entered parliament； sitting for Taunton； and also became
a bencher at Gray's Inn； so that at twenty…six he was in full
practice in the courts of Westminster； also a politician； speaking
on almost every question of importance which agitated the House of
Commons for twenty years； distinguished for eloquence as well as
learning； and for a manly independence which did not entirely
please the Queen； from whom all honors came。
In 1591； at the age of thirty…one； he formed the acquaintance of
Essex； about his own age； who； as the favorite of the Queen； was
regarded as the most influential man in the country。 The
acquaintance ripened into friendship； and to the solicitation of
this powerful patron； who urged the Queen to give Bacon a high
office； she is said to have replied： 〃He has indeed great wit and
much learning； but in law； my lord； he is not deeply read；〃 an
opinion perhaps put into her head by his rival Coke； who did indeed
know law but scarcely anything else； or by that class of old…
fashioned functionaries who could not conceive how a man could
master more than one thing。 We should however remember that Bacon
had not reached the age when great offices were usually conferred
in the professions； and that his efforts to be made solicitor…
general at the age of thirty…one； and even earlier； would now seem
unreasonable and importunate； whatever might be his attainments。
Disappointed in not receiving high office； he meditated a retreat
to Cambridge； but his friend Essex gave him a villa in Twickenham；
which he soon mortgaged； for he was in debt all his life； although
in receipt of sums which would have supported him in comfort and
dignity were it not for his habits of extravagance；the greatest
flaw in his character； and which was the indirect cause of his
disgrace and fall。 He was even arrested for debt when he enjoyed a
lucrative practice at the courts。 But nothing prevented him from
pursuing his literary and scientific studies； amid great
distractions；for he was both a leader at the bar and a leader of
the House of Commons； and if he did not receive the rewards to
which he felt entitled； he was always consulted by Elizabeth in
great legal difficulties。
It was not until the Queen died； and Bacon was forty…seven years
old； that he became solicitor…general （1607）； in the fourth year of
the reign of James； one year after his marriage with Alice Barnham；
an alderman s daughter； 〃a handsome maiden；〃 and 〃to his liking。〃
Besides this office； which brought him L1000 a year； he about this
time had a windfall as clerk of the Star Chamber； which added L2000
to his income； at that time from all sources about L4500 a year；a
very large sum for those times； and making him really a rich man。
Six years afterward he was made attorney…general； and in the year
1617 he was made Lord Keeper； and the following year he was raised
to the highest position in the realm； next to that of Archbishop of
Canterbury； as Lord Chancellor； at the age of fifty…seven； and soon
after was created Lord Verulam。 That is his title； but the world
persists in calling him Lord Bacon。 In 1620； two years after the
execution of Sir Walter Raleigh； which Bacon advised； he was in the
zenith of his fortunes and fame； having been lately created
Viscount St。 Albans； and having published the 〃Novum Organum；〃 the
first instalment of the 〃Instauratio Magna；〃 at which he had been
working the best part of his life；some thirty years；〃A New
Logic； to judge or invent by induction； and thereby to make
philosophy and science both more true and more active。〃
Then began to gather the storms which were to wreck his fortunes。
The nation now was clamorous for reform； and Coke； the enemy of
Bacon； who was then the leader of the Reform party in the House of
Commons； stimulated the movement。 The House began its scrutiny
with the administration of justice； an