Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

102 FEANCIS BACON
older than Francis, and the hrothers were deeply attached to
each other. They never address or speak of each other but in
words of devoted affection— " My deerest brother," " Antonie
my comforte. " As they went together to Cambridge, so probably
they left at the same time, but even of this we are not
sure. What next befell Anthony is unknown to his biographers,
and there is a strange obscurity and mystery about the life of
this young man, who, nevertheless, is described by Dr. Rawley as
" a gentleman of as high a wit, though not of such profound
learning, as his brother." That he was a generous, unselfish,
and admiring brother, who thought no sacrifice great which
could be made for the benefit of Francis, and for the forwarding
of his enterprises, we know, and there is abundant proof of the
affection and reverence which he had for his younger and more
gifted brother. The mystery connected with Anthony appears
to be consequent upon his having acted as the propagandist on
the continent of Francis Bacon's secret society and new philosophy.
He conducted an enormous correspondence with
people of all kinds who could be useful to the cause for which
the brothers were laboring. He seems to have received and
answered the large proportion of letters connected with the
business part of the society; he collected and forwarded to
Francis all important books and intelligence which could be of
use, and devoted to his service not only his life, but all his
worldly wealth, which we see mysteriously melting away, but
which, no doubt, went, like that of Francis, into the common
fund which was destined, as one of the correspondents expresses
it, to " keep alight this fire " so recently kindled.
Sixteen folio volumes of Anthony Bacon's letters lie, almost
unknown, in the library at Lambeth Palace. These leave no
loophole for doubt as to his real mission and purpose in living
abroad. We hope to return to them by and by, in a chapter
devoted to these letters alone. For the present they are only
mentioned to indicate the source of much of our information
as to Anthony's life and aims.
Neither of the brothers was strong in health. Anthony,
especially, soon became a martyr to gout and other ailments