The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-04-02
FALLEN GREATNESS.
Lord Escons Touching Picture of His Own
Despair and Indebtedness.


In June, 1921. the diSgraced lord
chancellor retired Ia the stately hou~r,
now in ruin. i'll tiorhamburN park, OF
which he was the owner. He had plead
ed guilty to twenty-three chai ge~ nf
bribery. In one case he had received
from L SIitOr gold buttons worth EIo:
in Il third. Il diamond ring worth EjHn
or G6OO: in a fourth. Il suit of hangmg>
worth EGO. From some London apOth
ecaries lac accepted ambergris and
gold faster, and he took from certain
French merchants 1000. The defense
set up was that it was the custom NJ
that time to make such presents TO
judges. In nearly every case the pres
ents were made after the suits were de-
cided, and in many the presents were
received by Baeon's servants without
his knowledge. The chancellor him
self always adhered to this line of de-
fense. He wrote, on his fall, to his roy
al master:
This is my last suit shall make to
your ma jesty in this business, prostrat-
ing myself upon the mercy seat after ID
years service. wherein | have served
your majesty in my poor endeavors
with an entire heart, and, as presume
to say to your majesty, am still viz
gin in matters that concern your per-
son or crown, and now craving that,
after eight steps of honor, be not pre-
cipitated altogether"
And Bacon says again in another let
ter:
For the briberies and gifts, where
with | am charged. when the lock of
hearts shall be opened. hope | shall
not be found to have the troubled foun-
tain of a corrupt heart in a, dcpraved
habit of taking rewards to pervert JUS
tice, however | may be frail and par
take of the abuses of the time.
And he wrote to Buckingham, with
all the bOldness of innocence:
However, have acknowledged that
the sentence is just, and for reforma-
ton sake fit, have been a trusty and
honest and Christ-loving friend of yoIr
lordship. and thejustest chancellor that
hath been in the five changes since NY
fathers time"
Fined f40, 900, sent to the tower,
though for short time, and deprived
of the great seal, Bacon, exiled ut Cor
hamburg, has left record of his own
feelings in that solitude. He calls HIM
self, t0uchingly, old, weak, ruined, in
want, and very subject of pity" He
longs for York house in the Strand, OF
Gray's inn, where he might have COM
pany, physicians, conference with his
creditors and friends about his debts,
| and the necessities of his estate, and
helps for his studies and writings. Al
| ST. Adams he said he lived upon the
sword point of sharp air, endangered
| if l go abroad, dull if | stay within,
solitary and comfortless, without COM
pany. banished from all opportunities
to treat with any to do myself good and
! to help out my wrecks, and that which
| is one of my greatest griefs, my wife,
| that hath been no partaker OF my of
Tending. must be partaker of the mis-
cry of my restraint" But time grad
ually made GOrhambury less OF priS-
on. Bacon expressed the resolve to
study, mot to beceme an abbey lubber.
as the old proverb was, but 10 yield
some fruit of my private life" In the
green shades he studied and meditated
with his chaplain. DR. Romley.. his
| faithful secretary Mcantys, his wise
amanuensis Hobbs. and his loving
friend George Herbert. In October,
| 1925, the autumn before he died, he
wrote to q friend:
Good Mr.. Palmer, | thank God, by
means of the sweet air of the country,
| have obtained some degree of health
and would be glad in the solitary
time to hear little more from you o
how the world goes.
In his will he desired to be buried IL
| ST. Michaefs church, near ST Aiban>
| for, says the great philosopher: 'i!rr,
was ny mother buried, it is the pari~i
| church of my mansion house i'll Cor
hamburg and it is the only Christian
church within the walls of old Ecrul
am" In Il niche formed by brickeG
| up window on the north side OF tint
| church. which is built Of Roman tiles,
is marble statue of Lord Bacon, which
was erected bv his faithful secretary.
| Sir Thomas Meantys. who himself lies
beneath an almost plain stone at the
feet of his great Galnaliel The statue,
which represents Bacon seated in
'deep, yet tranquil thought, " was the
work of an Italian artist, and beneath
it is an inscription from the pen of Sir
| Henry Wotton, the Giplomatist, wit,
and poet '.Sic sedcbal' ESQ he sat J
saith the epitaph. Bacon is leaning
back i'll square-backed elbow chair.
his head resting on his hand. He
wears long. stately, furred robe and
voluninOus trunk hose; a laced ruh,
sash garter, and shoes adorned with
large ribbon roses. His ,apacious
brow is partly hidden by u iOw-crown-
ed. broad-brimncd hat. So sat the
mighty Verulam.-Hott.e .eitoitt H,Or,tS.