him in the knowledge of the Liberal Arts between whom there was a great Dearness of Affection, they Two being the fole Male Iffue of a fecond Venter. Being return'd from France, he was to refolve upon a Courfe of Life; therefore he apply'd himself to the Study and Profeffion of the Common-Law, in which he attain'd to great Excellency in a fhort Time; tho' (to ufe his own Words) he made that Knowledge but as an Acceffary, not as his principal Study. He publifh'd, at the very beginning, feveral Tractates upon that Subject, wherein, tho' fome great Mafters of the Law outwent him, perhaps, in Bulk and Number of Cafes, yet in Weight, and in the Knowledge of the Grounds and Myfteries of the Law, he was exceeded by none. Before he was out of his Freshmanship in the Law, he was fworn of the Queen's Council Learned Extraordinary; a Grace (as I have been told) fcarce ever indulg'd to any before. He feated himfelf for the Convenience of his Studies, and Practice, amongst the Ho. nourable Society of Greyes-Inn; of which House he admitted himfelf a Member, where he erected that elegant Pile, or Structure, com monly known by the Name of, The Lord Bacon's Lodgings, which he inhabited by Turns the moft Part of his Life, (fome few Years only excepted) unto his dying Day: In which Society he carried himself with fuch B 3 fuch Sweetness, Pleafantry, and Generofity of Spirit, that he was much revered and loved by the Seniors, and young Gentlemen of the House. But notwithstanding that he ftuck to the Profeffion of the Law, for his Livelihood, and Subfiftence, yet, in his Heart and Affection, he was carried more to Political Arts, and Places of State; for which, if Her Royal Majefty had then pleas'd, he was fingularly Qualified. In his younger Years, he join'd himself with thofe that ftudied the Service and Fortunes of that noble, but unfortunate Worthy, the Earl of Effex, whom he ferv'd, to the utmost of his Power, as a private, and moft faithful Counsellor ; and indeavour'd to inftil into him fafe and ho. nourable Advice, till, in the end, the Earl heark'ning to the Counfels of certain rafh and violent Perfons, hurried himself into Ruin. His Birth, and ingenuous Qualifications, gave him, above others of his Profeffion, an eafy and free Access to Court, and confequently to the Queen's Prefence; who vouchfafed to difcourfe him in private, and with great Familiarity, (whenever it was convenient) not only about Matters of his Profeffion, and Law-Bufinefs, but also about the arduous Affairs of the State of the Kingdom; in whofe Answers, from Time to Time, fhe was hugely fatisfy'd. Nevertheless, tho' fhe cheared 16 cheared him much with the Bounty of her Countenance, yet he never cheared him with the Bounty of her Hand, having never confer'd upon him any Office, whether of Honour or Profit, fave only one dry Reversion of the Regifter's-Office in the Star-Chamber, worth about 1600l. per Annum; for which he waited, in expectation, either fully, or near twenty Years; of which Office his Lordfhip, in Queen Elizabeth's Time, pleasantly faid, That it was like another Man's Ground ying upon bis Houfe, which might mend his Profpect, but did not fill his Barn. Nevertheless, in the Reign of King James, he at laft enjoy'd it, and manag'd it by a Deputy. But this could not be any ways imputed to a Difaffection, or Averfenefs in the Queen towards him, but to the Arts and Emulation of a certain Peer at that Time in great Favour with the Queen, who labour'd by all means to deprefs and keep him down, left, if he had risen to any Pitch, his own Glory might have been obfcured by him. But tho he flood long at a Stay, in the Days of his Miftrefs, Queen Elizabeth, yet after the change of Administration, and coming in of his new Mafter, King James, he made a hafty Progrefs; by whom he was remarkably advanc'd into Places of Truft, Honour, and Profit. I have feen a Letter in his Lordship's own Hand to King James, wherein he acknowledges, That he was that B 4 Mafter THE LIFE Of the Honourable AUTHOR Written in Latin by his Lordship's Chaplaing Dr. WILLIAM RAWLEY, and thus Tranflated. F RANCIS BACON, the Glory of January, in the Year of our Lord, 1560. His Father was that famous Counfellor to VOL. IL Queen |