INTRODUCTION. 7 



sketch of his conception of a New Organon that should 

 lead man to more fruitful knowledge, in a little Latin 

 tract, which he called &quot; Temporis Partus Maximus &quot; 

 (&quot; The Greatest Birth of Time&quot;). 



In November, 1584, Bacon took his seat in the House 

 of Commons as member for Melcombe Regis, in Dor 

 setshire. In October, 1586, he sat for Taunton. He 

 was member afterwards for Liverpool; and he was 

 one of those who petitioned for the speedy execution 

 of Mary Queen of Scots. In October, 1589, he ob 

 tained the reversion of the office of Clerk of the 

 Council in the Star Chamber, which was worth 1,600 

 or 2,000 a year ; but for the succession to this office 

 he had to wait until 1608. It had not yet fallen to 

 him when he wrote his &quot; Two Books of the Advance 

 ment of Learning.&quot; In the Parliament that met in 

 February, 1593, Bacon sat as member for Middlesex. 

 He raised difficulties of procedure in the way of the 

 grant of a treble subsidy, by just objection to the joining 

 of the Lords with the Commons in a money grant, and 

 a desire to extend the time allowed for payment from 

 three years to six; it was, in fact, extended to four 

 years. The Queen was offended. Francis Bacon and 

 his brother Antony had attached themselves to the 

 young Earl of Essex, who was their friend and patron. 

 The office of Attorney- General became vacant. Essex 

 asked the Queen to appoint Francis Bacon. The 

 Queen gave the office to Sir Edward Coke, who was 

 already Solicitor- General, and by nine years Bacon s 

 senior. The office of Solicitor- General thus became 

 vacant, and that was sought for Francis Bacon. The 



