St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-23
FALLEN GREATNESS.
Lord Bacon's Touching Picture of HIS O'cH
Despair and Wrrtchedness.


Household Words.-In June 1921, the dis
graced Lord Chancellor retired to the stately
house, now in ruin, in Gorhambury park, Of
which he was the owner. He had pleaded
guilty to twenty-three charges OF bribery. In
one case he had received from sutton gold
buttons worth ESQ; in third, a diamond
ring worth $500 orR600; in fourth, suit oil
hangings worth el60. From sumo London
apothecaries be accepted ambergris and
gold faster, aud lie took from certain French
merchants 81 900. The defense set up was
that it was the custom at that time to make
such presents TO judges. In nearly every
case the presents were made after the suits
were decided, and in many the presents were
received by Bacon's servants without bis
knowledge. The chancellor himself always
adhered TO this line OF defense. He wrote,
on his fall, to his royal MASTER
ssThis Is my last suit shall make TO your
majesty in this business, prostrating myself
upon the mercy seat after fifteen years SER
vice, wherein have served your majesty In
nv moor eudeavors with an entire heart, and,
as | presume to say To your majesty, am still
a virgin in matters that concern your person
or crown, and now craving that, after eight
steps OF honor, / be not precipltated
altogether"
And Bacon says again In another letter:
''For the briberies and gifts, wherewith
| am charged, when the lock OF hearts shall be
opened, hope ! shall not be found to
| have the troubled fountain Of corrupt heart
| in depraved habit Of taking rewards to per-
vert Justice, however NAV be frail and par
take of the abuses of. the time"
And he wrote to Buckingham, with all the
bcldness Of iunoceDce:
ssHowever, l have acknowledged that the
sentence Is Just, and for reformation sake nit,
have been a trusiy and honest aud Christ
loving friend of you lrordship, and the JUS
test chancellor that hath been In the live
changes since my fathers time"
Fined $40, 600, sent TO the tower, though
but for u short time, aud deprived OF th'
great seal, Bacon, exiled at GoThsmoury, ma:
left q record of his own feelings in that soil
tude. He calls himself, touehingly, "old
weak. ruined, in want. and very subject OF
pity" He long for York house In th'
Strand. or Grayis inn, where he might hav'
company, physicians, conference with hi
creditors and friends about his debts, an'
the necessities OF bis estate, aud helps for hi
studies and writings. At st. Adams he said
he lived upon the sword point Of sbarl
air. endangered II go abroad, dull II sta.
within. solitary and eomfortless, withou
company, bauished from all opportunities :
treat with ary to DO myselfsood and to bel
out NV wrecks, and that which Is one OF m
greatest griefs. nv wife, that hath been ~
partaker OF my offending, must be partake
Of the misery Of my restraint" But tim
gradually made Gorhambury less Of a prison
Bacon expressed the resolve to study, INC
: to become an abbey lubber, as the oil
proyerb was, but TO yield some fruit OF N
r private lifen In the green shades be stud
\ led and medtaied with his chaplain, Dr.
Romlev, his faithful secretary Meantys, hi
wise smsnurnsis Hobbs, and bis lovin!
: friend George Herbert In October, 1875
: the autumn before he died, he wrote TO
i friend:
j, GOOD Mr.. Palmer. I thank God, b
: means 0f the sweet air Of the country, hav
2 obtained some degree Of health, and woul
4 be glad in the SOLITARY time TO hear q lit
D from you hOw the world goes"
) In his will be desired 70 be buried In 81
9 Nichaeps church. near 81. Adams, for, SAY
n the great philosopher: There was my moth'
c buried. Il IS the parish church Of my mansio
J. house In Gorhambury, and IL Is the on
{ Christian church within the walls OF ol
Nerulan." In biCDc iOfme " OfaCHe'
I'D window on the north side OF the eburci
which Is huiit Of Roman tiles, Is mart
ststue OF Lord Bacon, which vas erected
bis faithful secretary. Sir Thomas Meauty
who himself lies beneath an almost plsi
!. stone a; the feet Of his great Gsmaliel- II
statne. which represents Bacon seated
s.deep, yet tranquil thought" ~as the vol
= Of An ItsIian artist, and beneath 10 Is an IN
& seriptiOu from the pen Of Sir Henry WOttor
70 the dipsomatist, wit, aud poet Isle sedi
RI bst'i $50 De sst'i) saith theepitaph- BscE
a il leaning back in square-barked eIbc
a chair, bis head resting on bis hand
wear. a long, stately, furred robe aud volur
fnous truuk hose; laced ruff. sash CARTE
and shoes adorned with large ribpon ross
dis eapaciO1s hros is partly hides By To-
crowned, 5ruz6-brinned hat 80 sat =
y mighty Verulami