The Essayes or Counsels CIVILL and Morall of Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Francis Bacon --Baron Verulam and Viscoun DEGREES St Albans, but not Lord Bacon, as he is sometimes erroneously styled--was born at York House, Strand, the London mansion of his father, January 22, 1561. He was the younger son, by his second wife, of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal from 1558 till his death in 1579--a man of profound legal learning, unswerving devotion to principle, and statesmanlike sagacity. Both Camden and George Buchanan designate him, in common with Sir W. Cecil (Lord Burghley) as "twin pillars of the State." The second wife of the Lord Keeper and the mother of Francis was Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, who had been the tutor of Edward VI. To his instructions were largely due the culture and piety of the youthful sovereign. His daughters, Katherine, Mildred, and Anne, also trained by their parent, were celebrated as prodigies of learning even in an age when the glamour of Renaissance studies still tempted women to forsake the distaff for Demosthenes and their virginals for Virgil. The eldest was classed among the leading Latinists of her day; Mildred, the second, who married Lord Burghley, and, accordingly, was Bacon's aunt, was described by Ascham as the best female Greek scholar in England--Lady Jane Grey excepted; while Anne became celebrated in Court circles for her linguistic accomnlishments and her skill in theology. Not only . did she correspond in Greek with Bishop Jewell and l) translate his Apologia from the Latin, but her rendering of the sermons of Bernard Ochino from the Italian has been praised by competent judges. These facts regarding Sir Nicholas and Lady Bacon are mentioned to show that, if heredity hold for aught, he was descended oi both sides from parents of more than a...