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with the administration of justice； and Bacon could not stand
before it； for as the highest judge in England he was accused of
taking bribes before rendering decisions； and of many cases of
corruption so glaring that no defence was undertaken； and the House
of Lords had no alternative but to sentence him to the Tower and
fine him； to degrade him from his office； and banish him from the
precincts of the court；a fall so great； and the impression of it
on the civilized world so tremendous； that the case of a judge
accepting bribes has rarely since been known。
Bacon was imprisoned but a few days； his ruinous fine of L40；000
was remitted； and he was even soon after received at court； but he
never again held office。 He was hopelessly disgraced； he was a
ruined man； and he bitterly felt the humiliation； and acknowledged
the justice of his punishment。 He had now no further object in
life than to pursue his studies； and live comfortably in his
retirement； and do what he could for future ages。
But before we consider his immortal legacy to the world； let us
take one more view of the man； in order that we may do him justice；
and remove some of the cruel charges against him as 〃the meanest of
mankind。〃
It must be borne in mind that； from the beginning of his career
until his fall； only four or five serious charges have been made
against him；that he was extravagant in his mode of life； that he
was a sycophant and office…seeker； that he deserted his patron
Essex； that he tortured Peacham； a Puritan clergyman； when tried
for high…treason； that he himself was guilty of corruption as a
judge。
In regard to the first charge； it is unfortunately too true； he
lived beyond his means； and was in debt most of his life。 This
defect； as has been said； was the root of much evil； it destroyed
his independence； detracted from the dignity of his character；
created enemies； and led to a laxity of the moral sense which
prepared the way for corruption；thereby furnishing another
illustration of that fatal weakness which degrades any man when he
runs races with the rich； and indulges in a luxury and ostentation
which he cannot afford。 It was the curse of Cicero； of William
Pitt； and of Daniel Webster。 The first lesson which every public
man should learn； especially if honored with important trusts； is
to live within his income。 However inconvenient and galling； a
stringent economy is necessary。 But this defect is a very common
one； particularly when men are luxurious； or brought into
intercourse with the rich； or inclined to be hospitable and
generous； or have a great imagination and a sanguine temperament。
So that those who are most liable to fall into this folly have many
noble qualities to offset it； and it is not a stain which marks the
〃meanest of mankind。〃 Who would call Webster the meanest of
mankind because he had an absurd desire to live like an English
country gentleman？
In regard to sycophancy； a disgusting trait； I admit；we should
consider the age； when everybody cringed to sovereigns and their
favorites。 Bacon never made such an abject speech as Omer Talon；
the greatest lawyer in France； did to Louis XIII。； in the
Parliament of Paris。 Three hundred years ago everybody bowed down
to exalted rank： witness the obsequious language which all authors
addressed to patrons in the dedication of their books。 How small
the chance of any man rising in the world； who did not court favors
from those who had favors to bestow！ Is that the meanest or the
most uncommon thing in this world？ If so； how ignominious are all
politicians who flatter the people and solicit their votes？ Is it
not natural to be obsequious to those who have offices to bestow？
This trait is not commendable； but is it the meanest thing we see？
In regard to Essex； nobody can approve of the ingratitude which
Bacon showed to his noble patron。 But； on the other hand； remember
the good advice which Bacon ever gave him； and his constant efforts
to keep him out of scrapes。 How often did he excuse him to his
royal mistress； at the risk of incurring her displeasure？ And when
Essex was guilty of a thousand times worse crime than ever Bacon
committed；even high…treason； in a time of tumult and
insurrection；and it became Bacon's task as prosecuting officer of
the Crown to bring this great culprit to justice； was he required
by a former friendship to sacrifice his duty and his allegiance to
his sovereign； to screen a man who had perverted the affection of
the noblest woman who ever wore a crown； and came near involving
his country in a civil war？ Grant that Essex had bestowed favors；
and was an accomplished and interesting man；was Bacon to ignore
his official duties？ He may have been too harsh in his procedure；
but in that age all criminal proceedings were harsh and
inexorable；there was but little mercy shown to culprits；
especially to traitors。 If Elizabeth could bring herself； out of
respect to her wounded honor and slighted kindness and the dignity
of the realm and the majesty of the law； to surrender into the
hands of justice one whom she so tenderly loved and magnificently
rewarded； even when the sacrifice cost her both peace and life；
snapped the last cord which bound her to this world；may we not
forgive Bacon for the part he played？ Does this fidelity to an
official and professional duty； even if he were harsh； make him
〃the meanest of mankind〃？
In regard to Peacham； it is true he was tortured； according to the
practice of that cruel age； but Bacon had no hand in the issuing of
the warrant against him for high…treason； although in accordance
with custom he； as prosecuting officer of the Crown； examined
Peacham under torture before his trial。 The parson was convicted；
but the sentence of death was not executed upon him； and he died in
jail。
And in regard to corruption；the sin which cast Bacon from his
high estate； though fortunately he did not fall like Lucifer； never
to rise again；may not the verdict of the poet and the historian
be rather exaggerated？ Nobody has ever attempted to acquit Bacon
for taking bribes。 Nobody has ever excused him。 He did commit a
crime； but in palliation it might be said that he never decided
against justice； and that it was customary for great public
functionaries to accept presents。 Had he taken them after he had
rendered judgment instead of before； he might have been acquitted；
for out of the seven thousand cases which he decided as Lord…
Chancellor； not one of them has been reversed： so that he said of
himself； 〃I was the justest judge that England has had for fifty
years； and I suffered the justest sentence that had been inflicted
for two hundred years。〃 He did not excuse himself。 His
ingenuousness of confession astonished everybody； and moved the
hearts of his judges。 It was his misfortune to be in debt； he had
pressing creditors； and in two cases he accepted presents before
the decision was made； but was brave enough to decide against those
who bribed him；hinc illae lacrymae。 A modern corrupt official
generally covers his tracks； and many a modern judge has been
bribed to decide against justice； and has escaped ignominy； even in
a country which claims the greatest purity and the loftiest moral
standard。 We admit that Bacon was a sinner； but was he a sinner
above all others who cast stones at Jerusalem？
In reference to these admitted defects and crimes； I only wish to
show that even these do not make him 〃the meanest of mankind。〃
What crimes have sullied many of those benefactors whom all ages
will admire and honor； and whom； in spite of their defects； we call
good men；not bad men to be forgiven for their services； but
excellent and righteous on the whole！ See Abraham telling lies to
the King of Egypt； and Jacob robbing his brother of his birthright；
and David murdering his bravest soldier to screen himself from
adultery； and Solomon selling himself to false idols to please the
wicked women who ensnared him； and Peter denying his Master； and
Marcus Aurelius persecuting the Christians； and Constantine putting
to death his own son； and Theodosius slaughtering the citizens of
Thessalonica； and Isabella establishing the Inquisition； and Sir
Mathew Hale burning witches； and Cromwell stealing a sceptre； and
Calvin murdering Servetus； and Queen Elizabeth lying and cheating
and swearing in the midst of her patriotic labors for her country
and civilization。 Even the sun passes through eclipses。 Have the
spots upon the career of Bacon hidden the brightness of his general
beneficence？ Is he the meanest of men because he had great faults？
When we speak of mean men； it is those whose general character is
contemptible。
Now； see Bacon pursuing his honorable career amid rebuffs and
enmities and jealousies； toiling in Herculean tasks without
complaint； and waiting his time； always accessible； affable；
gen