Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

144 FBANCIS BACON
he had no esteem, whom, iudeed, be disliked too much to be
willing to owe even a seeming and pretended obligation.
Tbe offering was well chosen for this purpose, although, as
Spedding allows, it was " so costly (considering how little be
owed to Rochester, and how superficial their intercourse had
been), and at tbe same time so peculiar, tbat it requires explanation."
i "While all tbe world were making presents— one of
plate, anotber of furniture, a third of horses, a fourth of gold—
he chose amasque, for which an accident supplied bim with an excellent
opportunity.
When tbe united efforts of the four inns of
court failed to produce the required entertainment, Bacon offered,
on the part of Gray's Inn, to supply tbe place of it by a
masque of their own.
The letter, in Bacon's own hand, which was at first supposed
to be addressed to Burghley, but which, upon close examination,
Spedding believed to be written to Somerset, acquires a new
value and significance from the latter circumstance, giving fresh
evidence botb as to tbe tone of Bacon's intercourse with the
favourite, and as to the style in which be did tbiskind of tbing.
" Tbe fly-leaf being gone, tbe address is lost, and the docket
does not supply it; there is no date." (Just as we should expect
when tbe record has anything to connect Bacon with plays or
masques.) " Tbe catalogue assumes that it is addressed to Lord
Burghley, " and tbis erroneous assumption adds one more little
obstruction to tbe discovery or recognition of the letter, wbicb
is a single leaf, and contains only the following words
" It may please your good L.:
" I am sorry the masque from the four Inns of Court faileth;
wherein I conceive there is no other ground of that event but
impossibility. Nevertheless, because it faileth out that at this
time Gray's Inn is well furnished of gallant young gentlemen,
occasion
your L. may be pleased to know tbat, rather than tbis
shall pass without some demonstration of affection from the
four Inns of Court, there are a dozen gentlemen that, out of
the honour which they bear to your Lordship and my Lord
Chamberlain (to whom at their last masque they were so
bounden), will be ready to furnish a masque; wishing it were in
l Let. and Life, iv. 392.