Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

118 FEANCIS BACON
the title of " Mr. Bacon in Praise of his Soveraigne." It bears
many points of resemblance to Cranmer's speech in the last
scene of Henrg VIII., 1 and is ostensibly a praise of Queen Elizabeth.
Covertly it is a praise of Bacon's sovereign lady, the
Crowned Truth. The editor of the Conference observes, as so
many others have done, that there is in the style of this piece a
and rhetorical cadence, traceable in Bacon's
certain affectation
otber compositions of this kind, and agreeable to the taste of
the time. He does not, however, follow other critics in saying
that tbis courtly affectation was Bacon's style, or tbat the
fact of his having written such a piece is sufficient to disprove
him the author of other compositions written more naturally
and easily. On the contrary, be describes this stilted language as
so alien to his individual taste and natural manner, tbat there
is no single feature by wbich his own style is more specially distinguished,
wherever he speaks in his own person, wbether formally
or familiarly, whether in the way of narrative, argument,
or oration, than the total absence of it.
The truth is that the style of Francis Bacon was the best
method, whatever that might be, for conveying to men's minds the
knowledge or ideas which he was desirous of imparting. There
should, he says, be " a diversity of methods according to the
subject or matter which is handled. " This part of knowledge of
method in writing he considers to have been so weakly inquired
into as, in fact, to be deficient. He explains that there must be,
in this " method of tradition, " first the invention or idea of that
which is to be imparted ; next, judgment upon the thing thought
or imagined, and lastly, delivery, or imparting of the tbougbt or
idea. Then he shows that knowledge is not only for present use,
but also for its own advancement and increase. With regard
especially to present use, he points out that there are times and
seasons for knowledges, as for other things.
How to begin, to
insinuate knowledge, and how to refrain from seeming to attempt
to teach? " It is an inquiry of great wisdom, what kinds of wits
l Further on we shall have occasion to show how in many of Bacon's poems,
sonnets, etc., where "the Queen" is praised, the allusion is ambiguous, referring
chiefly, though covertly, to Bacon's Sovereign Mistress, Truth.