vf;/ 



2 J. HOPKXN'SO:^' ANNIVEESAEY ADDRESS : 



impossible, to compare their meiits, l:)ut Siiatespeare took no part 

 in. tlie stirring events of the time, while Bacon would have been 

 for ever known to fame as a statesman and a lawyer if not a single 

 literary or philosophical work had issued from his pen. In his life, 

 therefore, we ought to feel the greatest interest. " One man only 

 set aside," Hep worth Dixon says, " our interest in Bacon's fame is 

 greater than in that of any Englishman who ever lived. We 

 cannot hide his light ; we cannot cast him out. For good, if it 

 be good, for evil, if it must be evil, his brain has passed into our 

 brain, his soul into our souls. We are part of him ; he is part of 

 us ; inseparable as the salt the sea. His life has become our law." 



To us, and to all in Hertfordshire, the life of Francis Bacon has 

 a paramount interest. It must be known to all that although our 

 great philosopher was born in London, he spent part of his time 

 and wrote several of his works in our county, at Gorhambury near 

 St. Albans. It may be questioned whether the titles which he 

 doubtless chose for himself — " Verulam " when he was created a 

 Baron, and "St. Alban " when the higher rank of Viscount was 

 conferred upon him — evinced his attachment to the neighbourhood, 

 but there can be no doubt that this is shown in his desire to be 

 buried in St. Michael's Church. We know very little of his con- 

 nection with Gorhambury, however, beyond the bai'e facts that he 

 occasionally went there for a rest from the busy turmoil of London 

 society, which ever had an irresistible attraction for him, and that 

 he there spent some few of the last years of his life in ceaseless 

 literary labour. 



It is not an easy matter to picture to ourselves the condition of 

 England in Bacon's time, but we cannot understand his career 

 unless we form some idea of it. To those in his position success in 

 life depended upon winning favour at the Court, and retaining it, 

 a more difficult matter, for although Elizabeth equally appreci- 

 ated bravery, learning, and accomplishments, she was imperious 

 and exacting, and when her favour had been won, skilful diplomacy 

 was required to maintain it against rivals. Thus Spenser says : 



' ' Full little knowest thou, that hast not tride, 

 What hell it is in suing long to bide : 

 To lose good days, that might be better spent, 

 To waste long nights in pensive discontent ; 

 To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow, 

 To feed on hope, to pine with feare and sorrow ; 

 To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares ; 

 To eate thy heart through comfortless dispaires : 

 To fawne, to crouche, to waite, to ride, to ronne, 

 To spend, to give, to want, to be undonue." 



