FRANCIS BACOK. 13 



but for pithiness tlio first essay in the first edition ("Of Studios ") 

 cannot bo surpassed. 



The greater part of this essay has become proverbial. " Studies 

 serve for pastimes, for ornaments, and for abilities. . . . Craftie 

 men contemnc them, simple men admire them, vs^ise men use 

 them." " lleade not to contradict, nor to believe, but to waigh 

 and consider. Some bookes are to bee tasted, others to bee 

 swallowed, and some few to bee chewed and disgested." "Reading 

 maketh a full man, conference a readye man, and writing an exacte 

 man." "Histories make men wise, poets wittie ; the mathe- 

 matickes subtle, naturall phylosophie deepe ; morall grave, logicke 

 and rhetoricke able to contend." 



Amongst the books to be " chewed and disgested," these * Essays ' 

 will certainly always claim a prominent place. 



The Irish rebellion under Tyrone next engages Bacon's atten- 

 tion. Shakespeare makes Richard the Second say : 



' ' Now for our Irish wars ! 

 "We must supplant these rough, rug-headed kernes, 

 Wliich live like venom where no venom else, 

 But they, have privilege to live ! " 



In 1599 an army of twenty -thousand is raised to quell the 

 rebellion, and Essex claims to lead it. But Bacon's remedy is 

 the spade, not the sword. He would clear the forests, drain the 

 bogs, lay out new roads, build new towns and ports ; he would 

 have permanently resident in the country all the highest in 

 authority there, civil and military ; and he strenuously urges the 

 Earl of Essex to abandon the entei'j:)rise, on which, for his own 

 glory, and that only, he is intent. But to no purpose. Essex goes 

 and fails, disobeys his instructions, makes a traitorous truce with 

 the rebel chief, leaves the remnant of his army without a leader, 

 and, against the express command of the Queen, returns to London 

 with his chief officers and staff. He is taken into custody as a 

 traitor, but Bacon intercedes for him with the Queen and he is 

 liberated. In another year (Feb. , 1601), finding that he is not restored 

 to favour, under pretence that his life is threatened, he attempts to 

 raise the city against the Queen, and fails. Having played his 

 stake and lost, nothing can save him from the block. His prosecu- 

 tion is entrusted to Coke and Bacon. Coke wrangles with him on 

 immaterial points and leaves his junior to bidng home to him the 

 charge of treason. Before his death he confesses more against his 

 confederates than could otherwise have been proved, and four 

 of them, including two of his greatest friends, share his end. 

 With a few notable exceptions, all historians of this event have 



