Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

"
AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 57
mental and moral constitution, in part it was a habit deliberately
adopted, as one among many means by which a man may make his
way in the world . . . that he must 'avoid repulse.' " (Abbott,
Life of Bacon, p. 2L. Compare the passage quoted before on
Bacon as " no flatterer " from the same author's introduction to
the Essays.)
His patient, conciliating, pliable
admirable.
nature praised as excellent and,
11
A man most sweet in his conversation and ways; an enemy
to no man. " (Sir Tobie Matthew's character of Bacon.)
" He was no dashing man, . . . but ever a countenancer and
fosterer of other men's parts. ... He contemned no man's
observations, but would light his candle at every man's torch.
(Dr. Rawley's character of Bacon.)
" Retiring, nervous, sensitive, unconventional, modest, " etc.
(Spedding, L. L. vii. 567-8.)
" The habit of self-assertion was not at his command. . . .
When a man who is naturally modest attempts to put on the air
of audacity, he only makes himself offensive. The pliancy or
submissive attitude toward his official superiors ... is generally
blamed in him as an unworthy condescension, . . . but I am not
so sure that he would have acknowledged it as a fault. As the
world was in Bacon's time, and as it still is, if you want a man
to help you in your work, you must beware of affronting him,
and must show him the respect to which he thinks himself
entitled." (26.368-9.)
His faith in his own cause, his self-confidence, and his sanguine,
hopeful spirit, blamed as arrogance and pride.
" To an application to his uncle, Lord Burleigh, to entitle him
to come within bars, "" he received a churlish answer; the old
Lord taking the opportunity to read Francis a sharp lecture
on his arrogancy and ' '
overweening. " (Campbell, 15; and
Macaulay, 301.)
Campbell, throughout his " Life of Bacon, " clings to the " evil
opinion of them that do misaffect " Bacon, and treats his natural