FEANCIS BACON. 33 



Toby Matthew, in 1621, after an intimacy of about twenty years, 

 says : " It is not his greatness that I admire, but his virtue : it is 

 not the favours I have received from him (infinite though they be) 

 that have thus enthralled and enchained my heart, but his whole 

 life and character." Ben Jonson says that in the days of his 

 adversity he "could never condole in a word or syllable to him — 

 as knowing that no accident could do hann to virtue, but rather 

 serve to make it manifest." Peter Boiincr wishes "that a statue in 

 honour of him may be erected in his country, as a memorable 

 example to all of virtue, kindness, peacefulness, and patience." 

 And Dr. Rawley says that he was religious, free from malice, no 

 revenger of injuries, no heaver of men out of their places ; that he 

 was a good master to his servants, and rewarded their long atten- 

 dance with good places freely {i.e. gratis, as in his Latin translation, 

 an unusual thing in those days) ; and that " Amongst the Honour- 

 able Society of Gray's Inn, of which he was a member, he carried 

 himself with such sweetness, comity, and generosity, that he was 

 much revered and beloved." Lastly, his faithful secretary, Sir 

 Thomas Meautys, not only devoted his life to his service, but on 

 his death erected to his memory that beautiful monument in St. 

 Michael's Church which has attracted to St. Albans scientific men 

 from all parts of the world, who have gazed upon it with 

 admiration — admiration not only of its excellence as a work of 

 art, but also of the man whom it so faithfully portrays. 



The inscription on this monument, by Sir Henry Wotton, runs 

 thus: 



FEANCISCVS BACON BAEO DE VERULA. Si;i ALB^i VICm^s 



SEV NOTIORIBVS TITVLIS. 



SCIENTIARVM LVMEN. FACVNDIiE LEX. 



SIC SEDEBAT: 



QVI POSTQVAM OMNIA NATVEALIS SAPIENTI^ 



ET CIVILIS ARCANA EVOLVISSET, 



NATVR^ DECRETVM EXPLEVIT. 



COMPOSITA SOLVANTVR. 



ANO: DNI : MDCXXVI. 



-SlTATs LXVI. 



Tanti Viri 



Mem: 



Thomas Meavtys 



svperstitis cvltor 



Def\'ncti Admirator 



H. p. 



VOL. VII. PART I. 



