PREFACE CONTENTS. THE STAGE ON WHICH BACON PLAYED HIS PART. Heroes and demigods The poetical and heroic aspect of Elizabethan History The universality of Shakspere's and Bacon's age and genius Bacon's opportune appearance on the stage of history - The second birth of civilization-The great struggle for liberty - Bacon a bad guide, the ruler of the King The insidious and dangerous character of his public services Bacon's mother, Lady Ann Her family connections His father, Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper His political and judicial life - His duties in Queen Elizabeth's first parliament His speech on the opening of its session Robert Devereux's birth and parentage - His rise as the favourite of royalty - Anthony Bacon's political connection with the Catholics Parsons' libel (?) on the Cecils-Bacon's answer to it The contrast of its testimony of Cecil, with a posthumous portrait by the same author Raleigh's expedition Bacon in debt and danger Proposes reform of the law in parliament-His speech Persecution of the Catholics Mr. Oliver St. John's speech The Queen interferes to stop the debate Francis Bacon's public opposition to the Cecils and the Court Its offence to Majesty - His apology to Burleigh and recantation The Recorder of Chelmsford's bold apology for a similar offence Fast and loose with his kinsmen The Essex tie of affinity - The first quarrel with Coke - The respective claims of these great rivals to the honour of posterity - Coke, the greatest and most enlightened lawyer of his age - - More "a father than a friend to him" in Anthony's words The aptitude of a great reviewer in creating facts The difficulties besetting it The facts inconveniently opposed Character of the hero impossible - Its consistency with facts, and inconsistency with new history - A new and original inquirer prepared to turn the world inside The glorious fame of Lord Coke Mr. Dixon's conscientious abnegation of self His willingness to go great lengths-His critical admirers' injustice 119 Praise of Mr. Hepworth Dixon continued. Probable grief of disinterested friends at insufficient praise The causes-The Queen's prejudices-His own selfishness From the circumstance that Polonius' advice to his son is copied from and improved |