All his life he had thought more of his duty than his fortune; setting an example of unwearied alacrity in all willing service, of moderation in personal claims and pretensions, of cheerful submission under personal disappointments; doing with his heart whatever his hand found to do, without consideration of reward. It must have been a bitter hour, when he looked round him and saw that all this was to go for nothing, or worse than nothing; that for his best virtues he could never more either ask or expect credit with the world, but must expect on the contrary that they would be turned to his prejudice, each virtue being laid to the account of the vice which it most resembled. The fatal word 'corruption' was written indelibly against his name, and he knew that all his actions would be interpreted by the world accordingly, that is, in the worst sense; willing service would pass for servile officiousness; honourable desire of station and power, for mercenary and selfish ambition; professions of honesty and disinterestedness, for hypocritical affectation; his ways would be pointed at as examples to be shunned, not followed; his words and judgments as to be suspected, not believed. Corruptio optimi pessima. He knew the nature of popular judgment too well to look for any better issue. That along with his reputation he had lost the means of living was a serious aggravation. For he had spent his income so freely that he had laid by nothing and was far in debt: and the vocation to which he was now called was one by which money could not be made, yet which could not be pursued successfully without. Leisure and peace of mind are indispensable conditions of successful study: and they cannot be enjoyed by a man who is in continual trouble for means to quiet his creditors and pay his weekly bills. Hopes however and encouragements were not altogether wanting, and about the call itself there could be no doubt. It was to contribute what he could to the realization of the sacred vision of his early youth; which had attended him through all his fortunes; in which he had lost neither faith nor interest; the accomplishment of which he held to be merely a matter of time, and its importance beyond all measure or calculation. It was to prophesy and prepare the way for the coming of the Kingdom of Man. All his life he had been wishing to be free to devote himself to this work, though the time had never come when some other service did not put in a claim which seemed at the moment to be more urgent. Being now, though not honourably, yet effectually discharged from other demands upon his activity, the first aspirations of returning health pointed to this; as we see in the few words addressed the next day to Gondomar, in acknowledgment of a letter expressing 1621.] LETTERS TO GONDOMAR AND MATTHEW. 285 regret that he had so little power to repay him in his adversity for the kindnesses which he had received from him in his prosperity; and offering, if he thought it would do any good, to engage the King of Spain to intercede with the King of England on his behalf:1 an offer which could only be gratefully and handsomely declined. TO THE COUNT GONDOMAR, AMBASSADOR FROM THE COUrt of SPAIN.2 Illustrissime Domine Legate, Amorem illustrissimæ Dominationis tuæ erga me, ejusque et fervorem et candorem, tam in prosperis rebus quam in adversis æquabili tenore constantem perspexi. Quo nomine tibi meritas et debitas gratias ago. Me verò jam vocat et ætas, et fortuna, atque etiam Genius meus, cui adhuc satis morosé satisfeci, ut excedens è theatro rerum civilium literis me dedam, et ipsos actores instruam, et posteritati serviam. Id mihi fortasse honori erit, et degam tanquam in atriis vitæ melioris. Deus illustrissimam Dominationem tuam incolumem servet et prosperam. Servus tuus, 6 Junii, 1621. FR. ST. ALBAN. In the same spirit, and I suppose about the same time, he wrote to Toby Matthew, whose constant affection through all varieties of both their fortunes cannot but be thought greatly to the honour of both. What Matthew felt when he heard of the impeachment, and the issue of it, may be imagined by those who know his opinion of Bacon's character, as set forth only three years before for the information of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in the dedicatory letter. prefixed to an Italian translation of the Essays and Wisdom of the Ancients. In which after some account of his career and position, and a description of his intellectual powers, vigorously and justly 1 Stephens's second collection, p. 517. The letter (printed from the original) is dated "Londres a 14 de Junio, 1621." The 14th, according to Gondomar's reckoning (who always used the new style), would be the 4th according to Bacon's, who always used the old. 2 Gibson Papers, vol. viii. f. 168. Fair copy. No fly-leaf. Indorsed "Lo. St. Alb.'s answ. to C. Gondomar's letter." Your Excellency's love towards me I have found ever warm and sincere alike in prosperity and adversity. For which I give you due thanks. But for myself, my age, my fortune, yea my Genius, to which I have hitherto done but scant justice, calls me now to retire from the stage of civil action and betake myself to letters, and to the instruction of the actors themselves, and the service of Posterity. In this it may be I shall find honour, and I shall pass my days as it were in the entrance halls of a better life. May God keep your illustrious Lordship safe and prosperous.-Your servant, F. Sr. A. drawn, he goes on to say that the praise is not confined to the qualities of his intellect, but applies as well to those which are rather of the heart, the will, and the moral virtue; being a man most sweet in his conversation and ways, grave in his judgments, invariable in his fortunes, splendid in his expenses; a friend unalterable to his friends; an enemy to no man: a most hearty and indefatigable servant to the King, and a most earnest lover of the Public,—having all the thoughts of that large heart of his set upon adorning the age in which he lives, and benefiting as far as possible the whole human race. "And I can truly say," he adds, " (having had the honour to know him for many years as well when he was in his lesser fortunes as now that he stands at the top and in the full flower of his greatness) that I never yet saw any trace in him of a vindictive mind, whatever injury were done him, nor ever heard him utter a word to any man's disadvantage which seemed to proceed from personal feeling against the man, but only (and that too very seldom) from judgment made of him in cold blood. It is not his greatness that I admire, but his virtue : it is not the favours I have received from him (infinite though they be) that have thus enthralled and enchained my heart, but his whole life and character; which are such that, if he were of an inferior condition I could not honour him the less, and if he were my enemy I should not the less love and endeavour to serve him." Matthew never had an opportunity of showing how he would have felt towards Bacon as an enemy, but he gave ample proof that the loss of greatness made no difference. His regard for him could hardly be greater than it had been before, and it certainly suffered no diminution. What words he wrote to him on hearing of the impeachment and the issue of it we do not know, but we may infer their tenor from the reply. What we have of it is probably only an extract, and is stripped as usual of all personal allusions and other particulars which might help to fix the exact date. But I think it suits this time better than any other. Matthew was still abroad, waiting impatiently for leave to return to England, which Digby was endeavouring to obtain for him. Sir, [TO MR. MATTHEW.2] I have been too long a debtor to you for a letter, and espe 1 Saggi Morali del Signore Francesco Bacono, cavagliero Inglese, gran cancelliero d' Inghilterra. In Londra, 1618. 2 Matthew's collection, p. 69. Entitled "A letter of Sir Francis Bacon to a servant of his, in expression of great acknowledgment and kindness." 1621.] LETTER OF THANKS TO THE PRINCE. 287 cially for such a letter, the words whereof were delivered by your hand, as if it had been in old gold. For it was not possible for entire affection to be more generously and effectually expressed. I can but return thanks to you; or rather indeed such an answer as may better be of thoughts than words. As for that which may concern myself, I hope God hath ordained me some small time, whereby I may redeem the loss of much. Your company was ever of contentment to me, and your absence of grief: but now it is of grief upon grief. I beseech you therefore make haste hither, where you shall meet with as good a welcome as your own heart can wish. There was one other person to whom Bacon owed a letter of acknowledgment. The Prince had done what he could, though it was not much, first to induce the Lords to accept his submission and spare the sentence altogether, afterwards to move for an enquiry into the precedents of similar proceedings that they might be guided by them, and finally to mitigate the severity of the sentence which they proceeded in the absence of precedents to pronounce. The next letter expresses Bacon's sense of obligation for these favours. TO THE PRINCE OF WALES.1 It may please your Highness, When I call to mind, how infinitely I am bound to your Highness, that stretched forth your arm to save me from a scntence; that took hold of me to keep me from being plunged deep in a sentence; that hath kept me alive in your gracious. memory and mention since the sentence; pitying me as (I hope) I deserve, and valuing me far above that I can deserve; I find my words almost as barren as my fortunes, to express unto your Highness the thankfulness I owe. Therefore I can but resort to prayers to Almighty God to clothe you with his most rich and precious blessings, and likewise joyfully to meditate upon those he hath conferred upon you already; in that he hath made you to the King your father a principal part of his safety, contentment and continuance in yourself so judicious, accomplished, and graceful in all your doings, with more virtues in the buds (which are the sweetest) than have been known in a young Prince, of long 1 Stephen's second collection, p. 145. From the Register. time; with the realm so well beloved, so much honoured, as it is men's daily observation how nearly you approach to his Majesty's perfections; how every day you exceed yourself; how, compared with other Princes which God hath ordained to be young at this time, you shine amongst them; they rather setting off your religious, moral, and natural excellencies, than matching them, though you be but a second person. These and such like meditations I feed upon, since I can yield your Highness no other retribution. And for myself, I hope by the assistance of God above (of whose grace and favour I have had extraordinary signs and effects during my afflictions) to lead such a life in the last acts thereof, as whether his Majesty employ me, or whether I live to myself, I shall make the world say that I was not unworthy such a patron. I am much beholding to your Highness's worthy servant Sir John Vaughan, the sweet air and loving usage of whose house hath already much revived my languishing spirits; I beseech your Highness, thank him for me. God ever preserve and prosper your Highness. Your Highness's most humble, and most bounden servant, 7 June, 1621.1 FR. ST. ALBAN. 3. To live to serve the King in one way or another was Bacon's professed desire and hope: but the first service which the King proposed to him contrasted strangely with the position in which he now stood. The man who had only escaped being hunted down as the aider and abettor of the most grievous monopolies, by being convicted of a higher crime,—namely corruption in one of the highest seats of judicature, was called upon for advice as to the reformation of the Courts of Justice and the relieving of the grievances of the people. His answer to the call, which he has himself preserved, is not dated, but must have been written during this interval, while he was still allowed as a special favour to linger within the forbidden precinct 1 In Stephens's copy the date is printed "1 June, 1621; an impossible date, Bacon being then in the Tower. But in Stephens's catalogue (Add. MSS. 4259)Í find the following entry which gives the true date-"7 June, 1621-(beginning) 'When I call to mind'-(subject) Thanks for his favours and a character of his person-(to whom addressed) The Prince." |