Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

136 FRANCIS BACON
evident that the published records of his work are not by any
means adequate. With his tremendous energy and powers, the
scanty iuformation couceruiug him assures us that at this time
lie was either travelling or most busy upon his secret and unacknowledged
works. Iu 1596-7 he wrote the Colours of Good
and Evil, and the Meditat tones Sacra, for which preparations
are found amongst the Promus notes ; a speech in Parliament
against enclosures, and a general statement that he continued
his scientific studies, are all that is recorded as to his labours at
that time. No doubt, however, that, amongst other matters, he
was preparing tbe first edition of his essays, which were published
in the following year (with a dedication " to Mr. Anthony
Bacon, his deare brother, you that are next myself''). Money
troubles still continued, which may be explained in the same
manner as before. All his money, and Anthony's as well, was
going in the expense of publishing, in getting up plays, and in
other enterprises connected with his great schemes.
In a letter of October 15, 1597, written to the Earl of Shrewsbury
from Gray's Inn, Francis Bacon requests the loan of a
horse and armour for some public show. In another letter to
Lord Mountjoy, he says that " it is now his manner and rule to
keep state in contemplative matters." Clearly much trouble
was taken to obscure his history and his private proceedings
about this period.
In letters to Sir Tobie Matthew, 1 with dates and other particulars
mysteriously obliterated or garbled, Bacou, whilst alluding
by name to several of his acknowledged works, which Sir Tobie
had been reading and criticising, speaks (without naming them)
of his " other works, " "works of his recreation." Elsewhere
he refers to other works, but does not specify them. They are
l Sir Tobie Matthew, son of the Bishop of Durham, afterwards Archbishop
of York, was an early friend of Bacon, and one whom he calls his "kind inquisitor,"
since he was in the habit of sending his works for Matthew's perusal
and criticism. A collection of his letters (London, 1660) is extant. These
letters are without dates. Tobie Matthew appears to have purposely obliterated
or disguised names and particulars. If the " headings were inserted by himself,
he had either forgotten the dates or intended to confuse and conceal
them." (Spedding, Letters and Life, iv. 132.)