, 1861-03-21
Coke and Bacon.

and political history OF Two OF the most gltteu anu
celebrated men Of the Elizabethan age Of English
literature-Sir Edward Coke and Sir Francis Ba-
con: the former distinguished lawyer and judge
the latter Lord Keeper, Lord High Chancellor,
and an eminent philosopher. They entered upon
their high career together during the happy and
glorious reign Of England's greatest Queen, Eliza
beth, contemporary with Raleigh, Drake, Hooker,
| Spenser, Sydney, johnson, Beaumont, Fletcher
and Shakespeare" Men whom fame has eternized
in her long and lasting SCROLL"
! Coke, born in 1919, was twelve years Bacons
senior but the latter so early displayed promise
| Of his future talents that the Queen was accus-
toned to call him her young lord kceper"
Nicholas Bacon, his father, being keeper of the
Great Seal during the first twenty years of her
reign; and while only sixteen years Of age his
mastery intellect was 80 uniolded that he began
to dissent from the Aristotclian philosophy, which
had held almost undiSputed supremacy for eighteen
centuries. Having studied at Trinity College,
Cambridge, three years. he left that university
with profound contempt Tor the course of study
there pursued, framing in his own mind, even at
this early age, his plans for remodeling and i'm
proving the Peripatetic philosophy then taught in
most Of the schools Of Europe
The course Of study and the plan of life marked
out by the youthful philosopher, were Incompatible
with the study of any Of the learned professions
particularly law. Indeed he had taken an aver
sion to it but his father soon dying and he look
ing to his relations, Bureigh and the Cecils for
patronage and protection only to bc disappointed,
he finally decided upon the legal profession for the
pecuniary aid and the prelCrmcnt it would afford
him.
After visiting France, in company with Sir
Amius Paulet, the Queeu's Minister to that Court,
and spending some time in Paris. he returned from
the continent and studied law at Grays lnn So
rapid was his progress that at the age of twenty
six he became bencher Of his Inn, and at twenty
eight one of the Queens counSelors.
Coke pursued his studies, also. at Trinity Col
lege, Cambridge and at the Inner Temple. lie
was very studious and, excluding himself almost
wholly from society, he bent all his energies early
and late to his work. lie pleaded his first case at
the agu OF twrnty-sevcn, and rs a E,adcr Of Ly-
On's lnn h. sOOnHcguired great reputation. When
Coke quilted the university, Elizabeth was on the
throny. lis alma mater had conferred on him
no degree. Neither literature nor science had any
attractions for him. The law was suited to his
tastes, and to il he resolved to devote his life
From tire o'clock in the morning till nine at
night the bari student was engaged in his study.
law, pOli;cs and mun, y-making he regarded as
the only parSu Is worthy Of sensible men; and
when tired nature sank into the arms Of the " re-
stOrer," or when fancy by day led him into dream
land, Z" his dreams were all Oi fame, and of that
oily for the sterling recOmpense il affords"
In 1882, the better to accomplish his desires, he
MARI cd lady possessing great wealth, beauty and
accomplishments. The vast fortune she brought
him was far dcarer to him than her noble virtues
and finely cultivated mind. Hisincrcasng practice
also yieldcd him great gain. Wealth flowed to him
like :" vast river Of unlailing source" Fortune
continued pr1pitiOus until be found himself in
possession Of manor upon manor. At the age Of
thirty three his power and influence caused crowned
heads and lords Of the realm to evincc uneasinesS
at his rapid rise and advancement
In 1885 he was elected Recorder to Coventry;
Of Norwich the year following; and in 1892, Of
the City Of London. The same year the Bench
ers chose him Reader in the Inner Temple; and
by the influence OF Lord Burleigh, the excellent
Prime Minister, he was made Solicitor General to
the Queen, by virtue of which Office he was Speaker
Of the House Of Commons. Even at this eleva-
ton his ObsequiOusness to bis royal mistress was
in keeping with his character through life. Says
his biOgrapher-" Nothing exceeds his abject SER
Witty while in the sunshine save bis fixed malignity
when dismissed to the shade"
When, in 1894, the Office Of Attorney General
became vacant, the rivalry between Coke and Ba-
con began. Both desired aud eagerly strOve for
the position. Bacon, now in his thirty-third year,
although mature enough in intellect and legal
science was not considered mature enough IN years.
and Coke was the successful candidate. This con-
test planted deeply in each breast feeling of
bitter envy, Of hatred to the other, which ranked
there during their whole political career. Coke
the fortunate but ungenerOus rival being appointed
to the Office of Attorney General left vacant that
Of Solicitor General, which he had the privilege
of filling but to such an extent did he permit
mean political animosity 10 lead him, that he de-
clined Bacon for this Office giving it to Hobart.
This was ineEcusabe in Coke, and Bacon, sharply
feeling the insult, determined to have revenge
Coke had little or no generosity in his composition
Charity never softened his Obdurate heart; love
seldom found resting place in his bosom. lie
was arrogant and cruel alike TO the unfortunate,
innocent and guilty; and the reader OF English
history will fluid not untrequent instances Of his
pcrversiOn Of criminal law.
The trial Of the unfortunate and gallant Es-
sex" affords striking instance of the brutality Of
Coke and of the ingTatitude and pcriidOusnCSS Of
Bacon. The Earl Of Essex had been one Of Queen
Elizabeth's most active and efficient Oilcers-cOun-
sclor, master Of the ordinance. and Earl Marshal
of England. He was gifted, brave, generous to a
| fault and lon,lly beloved by the Queen aud the
English people, He had faults, but Elizabeth
and her advisers had greater ones. and were an
swerable for many Of his. He was accused,
brought before the privy council and examined,
by order Of the Queen. Hume says" The Attor-
ney General Coke opened the cause against him,
and treated him with the cruelty and insOlence
which that great lawyer usually exercised against
the uniortuntc--and Bacon closed the charge
with displaying the undutilnl expressions contained
in solre letters written by the Earl Essex had
often done Bacon great lavors. lie was ever a
true friend TO him. Even while in difficulty him
SELF aer his unsuccessful attempt to qucll the n
belliOn Of Tyrone. in ireland, he extended help
ing hand 10 his friend Bacon.
The latter, who reccivcd no preierncnt IN the
law ami little or no protection irom his powerful
and wealthy relations Burlcigh and Cecil. had re-
pcatedy found in the noble Essex a friend in
neci !" one who appreciated his great gcnius and
used his beSt endeAyOrs TO procure Zoe him-,As W