THE ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY
OF FRANCIS BACON

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Lawrence H. Rice
1963

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thesis entitled

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presented by

Lawrence 8. Rice

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ABSTRACT
THE ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY OF FRANCIS BACON

BY LAWRENCE H. RICE

IN ITS LARGEST SENSE THIS STUDY IS DESIGNED TO CONTRIBUTE
TO A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY OF
FRANCIS BACON AND TO A CLEARER DEFINITION OF THE IDEOLOGY
WHICH LAY BEHIND HIS EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS MATTERS IN HIS
APOLOGIES FOR LEARNING. SPECIFICALLY THE WORK CONTAINS A

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF' THE BODY OF BACONIS REFLECTIONS ON

CHURCH AND STATE.
CHAPTER I IS CONCERNED WITH THE VEXING PROBLEM OF

FORMULATING A DEFINITION OF BACONIS FAITH, WITH A SURVEY

OF HIS COMMENTS ON DIVINITY, AND WITH A DESCRIPTION AND

CLASSIFICATION OF HIS RELIGlo-POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS. IN

CHAPTER II I HAVE DISCUSSED BACONIS IDEA OF THE STATE AGAINST

THE BACKGROUND-“IN PARTICULAR--OF RICHARD HOOKER'S LAWS OF
ECCLESIAST ICAL POLITY. CHAPTER III CONTAINS A DETAILED ANALY-

SIS OF BACON'S LENGTHIEST TRACT 0N RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES,

A TRACT WH ICH WAS HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO ARBITRATE THE DEBATE

BETWEEN THE PURITANS AND THE HIGH CHURCHMEN. CHAPTER IV IS

BUILT ARoUND A WORK WHICH Is BACONIS FULLEST TREATMENT OF

THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. ADDITIONALLY,

I HAVE |N0LUDED IN THIS CHAPTER THE BODY OF BACON'S OTHER

LAWRENCE H. RICE

OBSEZRVATICNS ON PURITANISM AND THE CHURCH WRITTEN DURING THE

I
REIGN OF JAMES I. IT IS IN THIS CHAPTER THAT I HAVE REVIEWED
THE IAAJOR SCHOLARSHIP ON BACONIS ECOLESIASTICAL POLITY. IN
CHAPTERS V AND VI I HAVE REVIEWED ALL OF BACON'S IMPORTANT

REFLECTIONS ON CATHOLICISM. THESE OBSERVATIONS RANGE ALL
THE WAY FROM AN ADVERTIZEMENT OF ENGLISH PROTESTANT PRos-
PERI‘rY TO LEGALISTIC COMMENTS ON JESUIT STATECRAFT. CHAP-
TER VII IS A DISCUSSION OF BACONIS IDEA OF RELIGIOUS WARs;
AND IN CHAPTER VIII, THE CONCLUSION, I HAVE REVIEWED THE

RELlelo-POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE NEW ATLANTIS.

 

 

I HAVE CHARACTERIZED BACON AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST
RATHER THAN A PHILOSOPHER 0F POLITICS AND HAVE ATTEMPTED TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT HIS GENERAL APPROVAL OF THE ANGLICAN THEORY
OF CHURCH AND STATE (AS ADVANCED BY WHITGIFT AND HOOKER)
ARISES FROM A THOROUGH DEDICATION TO THE IDEA OF A STRONG
MONARCHY AND NOT FROM ANY IDENTIFIABLE RELIGIOUS PREUUDICES.
IN THE MATTER OF RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIEs--EVER A PROBLEM OF
STATE IN HIS ERA--BACON CHARACTERIZES HIMSELF AS AN “INDIF-
FERENT" MAN AND CONSISTENTLY APPEALS TO PURITAN AND ANGLICAN
'ALIKE TO RELY UPON TEMPERANCE AND REASON TO SOLVE THEIR DIF-
FERENCES. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PROVE, HOWEVER, THAT IN SPITE
0F BACCHV'S ANNOUNCED INDIFFERENCE, HIS DEEPEST CONVICTIONS
ON CIVIL OBEDIENCE CONSISTENTLY LED HIM TO FIND THE ANGLICAN
WAY THE MORE REASONABLE.

‘N HIS REFLECTIONS ON CATHOLICISM BACON Is GUIDED BY

THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE CONSCIENCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN

IS NOT To BE FORCED UNLESS HIS CONVICTIONS INVOLVE A THREAT

LAWRENCE H. RICE

TO THE ESTABLISHED STATE. HE GIVES FREQUENT TESTIMONY TO THE
BENEVOLENCE OF HIS SOVEREIGNS IN THEIR TREATMENT OF THE CATHo-
LICS AND MAINTAINs--PARTICULARLY IN HIS OBSERVATIONS ON RELI-
GIOUS WARS AND THE OCCUPATION OF CONQUERED TERRITORIES~~THAT
THE FORCING OF CONSCIENCE IS NEITHER A HOLY ACT NOR A WISE.

IT WAS BACON'S CONVICTION THAT A CONQUERING NATION SHOULD
FIRST DEMONSTRATE THE MERITS OF ITS TEMPORAL LIFE AND THEN,

IN A TIME “NOT DEFINITE," CONFRONT THE PROBLEM OF RELIGIOUS
CONVERSION.

I HAVE MAINTAINED IN THIS STUDY THAT BACON'S "REASONABLE"
APPROACH TO RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES, HIS INDIFFERENCE TO 000-
‘TRINAL ISSUES, AND HIS RELUCTANCE TO FORCE CONSCIENCES ARISI
IFROM AN APPARENT INSENSITIVITY TO RELIGIQJS ZEAL AND FROM A
[JEEP DISTRUST FOR THE RELIGIOUS SENSIBILITY. IN HIS CONCEP-
‘rlON OF CHURCH AND STATE THE CHURCH IS AN ELUSIVE, UELINQUENT
BODY’SORELY IN NEED OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSEL BY THE CIVIL
GHDVERNMENT. IT HAS NO DYNAMIC OF ITS OWN, NO INHERENT QUALI-
‘rlES CAPABLE OF BEING CALLED UPON TO PURIFY ITS FORM AND
(DONTAIN ITS UNCIVIL PASSIONS. CHURCHMEN THEMSELVES ARE
EEITHER TOO RIGIDLY CONSERVATIVE OR TOO FANATICALLY REVOLu-

'rIONARY TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THE PEOPLE, THE "BEAST
WITIIIAANY HEADS," ARE ADRIFT SOMEWHERE IN THE LIMBO BETWEEN
INFLEn<IBLE FUNDAMENTALISM AND HYPNOTIC REVIVALISM. VAST CUL-
TURAL INASTE IS THE PRODUCT OF CENTURIES OF RELIGIOUS CONTRo-
VERS,.;5, AND THERE IS IMPLIED EVERYWHERE IN THESE OBSERVA-

TIONS THE DEVOUT HOPE THAT ONE DAY A RACE OF INDIFFERENT MEN

WILL GUIDE MANKIND TO A BETTER, A MORE ECONOMICAL, WAY OF LIFE.

LAWRENCE H. RICE

IN THE NEW ATLANTIS WE MAY OBSERVE THAT CHRISTIANITY COMES

 

TO A PEOPLE--ALMOST AS A WINDFALL--AFTER THEY HAVE FORMULATED

 

THE RULES FOR A MEANINGFUL AND NOBLE EXISTENCE; AND WE MAY
OBSERVE THAT THE TRUE MEDIATORS BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND
HEAVENLY KINGDOMS ARE NOT ZEALOUS MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL,

BU1‘ LEARNED SCIENTISTS OF THE COLLEGE OF SIX DAY§ WORK.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY

OF FRANCIS BACON
BY

LAWRENCE H. RICE

A THESIS

SUBMITTED TO
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF

DmTCR OF PHILOSOPHY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

I965

EC

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I WISH TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF MY GRADUATE COM-
MITTEE--PROFESSORS LAWRENCE BABB, ARNOLD jILLIAMS,
RUSSEL NYE AND A. J. M. SMITH--FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS THESIS AND FOR THEIR ENLIGHTENED
INSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF MY GRADUATE
STUDIES AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. HY SPECIAL
THANKS ARE DUE To PROFESSOR BABB, WITHOUT WHOSE CARE-
FUL DIRECTION AND KIND ENCOURAGEMENT I MIGHT WELL
HAVE PERISHED ON THE SHORE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II
CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I

II. BACONIS IDEA OF THE STATE . . . . . . . . . 25

III. THE RATIONALE OF RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES . 75

IV. THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION OF THE
CHURCH 0 O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O 0 O '0‘

V. ELIZABETH AND THE CATHOLICS . . . . . . . . I60
VI. JAMES AND THE CATHOLICS . . . . . . . . . . 2OI
VII. THE DIVINE IN ARMOR . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

VIII. THE NEW ATLANTIS: CONCLUSION . . . . . . . 268

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 295

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

THE CONTINUED INTEREST IN THE RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHIES
OF THE "NEH SCIENTISTs" OF THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH
CENTURIES Is LARGELY A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT SCIENCE, IN
SPITE OF THE ASSURANCES OF MANY OF THESE MEN, DID NOT TURN
OUT TO BE A HELPFUL HANDMAID To DIVINITY; ON THE CONTRARY,
THE METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS OF SCIENCE ULTIMATELY OFFERED
A CHALLENGE To FAITH wHICH ONLY A PERSON VERY LITTLE Ac-
QUAINTED NITH THE HISTORY OF WESTERN THOUGHT WOULD VENTURE
To SAY THEOLOGIANS MANAGED To MEET IITH ANY DEGREE OF SUC—
CESS. LEARNING TO MEASURE THE HEAVENS, LEARNING To COUNT
AND IEIGH THE ELEMENTS, LEARNING How FAST THINGS NOULD GO
AND HOI LONG THEY IOULD LAST, LEARNING NHERE THINGS HAD
COME FROM AND LEARNING TO PREDICT WHERE THEY NOULD PROBA-
BLY Go--ALL OF THESE DISCOVERIES DID NOT LEAD MEN BACK TO
GOD. ALTHOUGH HENRY ADAMS WAS FERHAFS TOO ENCHANTED NITH
HIS OIN DYNAMO, AND ALTHOUGH HIS VISION MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SOMEIHAT BLURRED BY THE STEAM HE GENERATED IN HIS OWN MIND,
HE HAS BASICALLY CORRECT IN HIS EVALUATION OF THE CONTRIau-
TION OF SCIENCE TO THE MODERN HORLD. IN CENTURIES OF PROD-
ING INTO GOD'S VISIBLE UNIVERSE SCIENTISTS HAD NOT MNVAGED

TO DISCOVER THE ALPHABET OF NATURE; QUITE TO THE CONTRART,

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THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT NATURE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE AN
ALPHABET, OR THAT PERHAPS IT HAD MANY ALPHABETS WRITTEN IN
MANY CACOPHONOUS TONGUES. THE DREAM OF UNITY, HHICH HAD
GIVEN SO MANY CHRISTIANS SO MUCH COMFORT, HAD BECOME THE
NIGHTMARE OF MULTIPLIOITY, THE CAUSE OF MOST OF OUR WOES.

I THINK IT Is CORRECT TO SAY THAT MODERN MEN WHO ARE
NOT CONVINCED THAT SCIENCE HAS BEEN AN UNMITIGATED BOON To
MANNIND LOOK BACK ON THE NEW PHILOSOPHY OF THE SIXTEENTH
AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES NITH A MOOD COMPOUNDED OF NOSTAL-
GIA, HONDER, AND SKEPTIOISM. PROFESSOR TILLICH, HHO HAS
BEEN CONDUCTING A HEROIO EFFORT To BRING CHRISTIAN ORDER
OUT OF CONTEMPORARY CHAOS, SPEAKS OF KEPLER, GALILEO, AND
NEITON IN TERMS NHIOH ARE ALMOST MELANCHOLY. THESE HERE
MEN, HE SAYS, HHO HERE LOOKING FOR THE LAHS OF NATURE SO
THAT THEY MIGHT DISCOVER THE GLORIOUS RATIONALITY OF THE
CREATOR HIMSELF. THEIR EFFORTS To REHABILITATE AND ORDER
NATURE IERE IN A VERY REAL SENSE ACTS OF FAITH. IT HAS NOT
UNTIL MEN LOST THIS ATTITUDE TONARD INVESTIGATION, SAYS

I

TILLICH, THAT SCIENCE BECAME A REAL THREAT TO FAITH. IN

HIS CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETIEEN SCIENCE

AND RELIGION IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND2 PROFESSOR KOCHER HAS

I. THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION (NEH YORK, HENRY HOLT & 00.,
I9327; TRANSLATED BY RICHARD NIEBUHR. MY REFERENCE IS
To THE MERIDIAN EDITION, FIFTH ED., I960, PP. h8-h9.

2. SCIENCE AND RELIGION I§_ELI2ABETHAN ENGLAND (SAN MARINO,

CgLIF., HUNTINGTON LIB., I953}. KOCHER'S STUDY GOES To
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DEVELOPED THE THESIS THAT SCIENCE AND OTHER FORMS OF LEARN-
ING HAD MANY MORE SYMPATHIZERS AND PATRONs--AMONG ALL
CLASSES OF THE LEARNED--IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH
CENTURIES THAN NE MIGHT EXPECT CONSIDERING THE DISTINCTLY
OTHER-HCRLDLY TEMPER OF THE TIMES. CATHOLICISM, HE SAYS,
CCMPETED VIGOROUSLY FOR THE TITLE OF THE CHAMPION CF LEARN-
ING AND CONSTANTLY CHARGED THE PROTESTANTS NITH ANTI-INTEL-
LECTUALISM;5 AMONG PROTESTANTS THEMSELVES LEARNING HAS BY
No MEANS THOUGHT UNHORTHY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. ALTHOUGH
LUTHER LARGELY IGNORED LEARNING AND ExPRESSED THE FEAR THAT
IT MIGHT TEACH PRIDE, CALVIN wENT so FAR As To SAY SCIEN-
TIFIC KNONLEDGE COULD HELP MEN TOHARD A BETTER UNDERSTAND-
ING CF GOD.h THOUGH IN CALVIN'S MIND MAN HAD ExPERIENCED
TOTAL MORAL DEPRAVITY, THE PRACTICAL INTELLECT, THE CAPAC-
ITY TO HORN IITH THE MATERIALS OF THE VISIBLE UNIVERSE, HAD
EXPERIENCED ONLY A "PARTIAL CORRUPTION."5 MOST ANGLICANS,
SAYS KOSHER, NELCOMED THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, THOUGH
THEY OF COURSE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO HARN AGAINST THE TRAPS
OF CARNAL PRIDE. THEIR POSITION, AS PRESENTED IN THE OFFI-
CIAL HOMILIES OF I569, HAS A FRANK ADMISSION OF THE NORTH
OF "OTHER SCIENCES," THOUGH SCRIPTURAL STUDY HAS "THE CHIEF,

AND Z?ASSED AL OTHER INCOMPARABLY."6 AMONG THE PURITANS,

3. IBID., P. 5. 5. IBID., P. IO.

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KOCHER CONTINUES, A FULL RANGE OF ATTITUDES CAN BE FOUND,
BUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THIS CLASS (PARTICULARLY
THE MERCHANTS) IN THE ACTUAL FRUITS OF DISCOVERY COMMITTED
MOST To THE NEH SCIENCE. KOCHERIS GENERAL CONCLUSION Is
THAT THE REALLY OUTSPOKEN CONDEMNATIONS OF INVESTIGATION
FOUND IN ELIzABETHAN ENGLAND, THOSE HHICH ASSERTED THAT

MAN COULD HAVE HIS HORLD EITHER HITH OR HITHOUT KNOHLEDGE--
BUT NOT HITH BOTH~~BELONGED To THE GENRE OF "SENSATIONAL
LITERATURE."7 To BE SURE, THE SCIENTISTS OF BACONIS ERA
HAD CALLED CERTAIN CHERISHED CONVICTIONS OF THE COSMOS IN
DOUBT. BUT DOUBT HAS NOTHING NEH To CHRISTIANITY, AND PER-
IMPS IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THE GENERAL RAPPORT
BETHEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION FOUND BY PROFESSOR KOCHER HAS
A RESULT OF NOTHING MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE FACT THAT
SCIENTISTS, AIDED BY A MOST LIMITED STOCK OF RELIABLE IN-
STRUMENTS, COULD STILL BE CALLED LUNATICS HHEN THEY REACHED
CONCLUSIONS HHICH CLASHED HITH ACCEPTED THEORIES OF THE
PHYSICAL UNIVERSE.

BUT IF DOUBT HAS NOT NEH TO CHRISTIANITY, NEITHER HAS
nus-HORLDLINESS AND THE VANITY OF HUMAN HISDOM. THE SOI-
nnISTS HAD THE MANY ADMONITIONS OF ST. PAUL TO HARN THEM
THAT GOD HOULD DESTROY THE HISDOM OF THE‘WISE; THEY HAD
LEARNED FROM PAUL THAT "THE HISDOM OF THIS HORLD IS FOOLISH-

NESS HITH GOOD FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE TAKETH THE RISE IN

70 IBIDOV, PC 21]..

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THEIR OHN CRAFTINESS."8 ADDITIONALLY, SATAN, HHO IN BACONIS
ERA HAS MUCH MORE THAN A RED-TAILED BOGEY MAN, STILL HAO-
HIS HANDS INMANY OF THE EARTHLY AFFAIRS OF MEN. IN MANY
MINDS A STUDY OF THE VISIBLE UNIVERSE HOULD LEAD ONE To THE
INGLORIOUS THRONE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST HIMSELF.9 WHAT THIS
HELTER OF ATTITUDES MEANT HAS THAT THE SCIENTIST HAS REA-
SONABLY FREE To GO ABOUT HIS BUSINESS BUT THAT HE CONSTANTLY
FOUND THE NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR HHAT HE HAS DOING. KOCHER
SAYS THAT THIS IS HHY HUNDREDS OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS HERE
PREFACED HITH ELABORATE APOLOGIES HHICH ASSERTED EMPHATI-
CALLY THAT THE ONLY REAL END OF MAN HAS To FIND MEANS To

SAVE HIS SOUL.‘O

BUT, HE SAYS, IT HAS THE GREAT CONSPIRACY

OF SILENCE HHICH TRULY CHARACTERIZED THE NEH PHILOSOPHERSI

ATTITUDE TOHARD SCIENCE AND RELIGION. WHEN THESE MEN COULD

FIND SCRIPTURAL HARRANT FOR THEIR METHODS, THEY USED SCRIP-I

TURE; HHEN THEY COULD NOT, THEY SIMPLY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING.H
IT IS THIS SILENCE HHICH HE HONDER ABOUT, FOR THE APOLo-

GIES ARE FREQUENTLY TOO FACILE TO BE CONVINCINO. THE SILEMfiZ

8. IGOR. I:I9.~

9. BASIL wILLEY, THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY BACKGROUND (NEH
YORK, DOUBLEDAY, I955), PP. 3 ~ED. PUBLISHED FIRST IN

I95h-

IO. SCIENCE AND RELIGION, PP. 2h-25.

 

II. lBID.

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LEADS US To HONDER IF THE ELIZABETHAN SCIENTISTS HERE REALLY
LOOKING FOR GOD IN NATURE, OR AT LEAST IF THEY HERE LOOKING
FOR GOD ALL OF THE TIME. IN OTHER HORDS HE HONDER IF THE
SCIENTIFIC TEMPER HAS NOT ALHAYS BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY HHAT IT
IS NOH AND IF THE KINGDOM OF MAN HAS NOT ALHAYS SEEN IN-
TENDED FOR MEN.

THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS HHICH MAKE A STUDY
M’BAOON'S RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY HORTHHHILE. ALTHOUGH BACON
IMS BEEN STRIPPED OF SOME OF THE TITLES HE ONCE POSSESSED,‘2
SUCH AS "THE FATHER OF INDUCTIVE REASONING,” TITLES HHICH NO
IMN COULD JUSTLY CLAIM, THERE IS No DOUBT THAT IT HAS HE HHO
TRULY GAVE SCIENCE ITS ADVERTIZEMENT IN THE SEVENTEENTH CEN-
TURY, HE HHO HROTE THE CENTURY'S APOLOGY FOR LEARNING. IT
'ASIOERTAINLY A PIOUS APOLOGY, FRAUGHT HITH CHRISTIAN CHAR-
ITY, HUMILITY, AND GOOD HILL. IN THE ELABORATE PREFATORY

NAOHINERY TO THE GREAT INSTAURATION BACON FILLED HIS PAGES

 

HITH PRAYERFUL HUMILITY, AND IMPLORED EACH MEMBER OF THE
TRINITY To AID HIM IN HIS LABOR TO GUIDE MEN FROM THE STILL
AND DARK NIGHT INTO THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF DAY. HE HAD NO HISH
TO MAKE MAN INTO SOMETHING SUPERIOR To THE FORM GOD HAD DIC-
TATED, ONLY THE DEVOUT HISH TO SEE THAT FORM REALIZED. MAN
HAD FALLEN, THERE HAS NO DOUBT OF THAT, BUT HE HAD GONE ON

FALLING AND BACON HANTED TO CHECK HIS PLUMMETING DECLINE.

BRIDGE UNIV. PRESS, I926L

 

I2. CF. 0. D. BROAD, THE PHILOSOPHY 25 FRANCIS BACON (CAM-

 

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MAN HAD A CLUTTERED MIND, AND BACON HANTED T0 SHEEP IT CLEAN
AND PLACE UPON IT THE TRUE IMPRINT OF GOD'S CREATION. BUT
HE HOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER THE MYSTERIES OF GOD, FOR
THAT HAS A LABOR OF DIVINITY, HITH HHOSE INSCRUTABLE TRUTHS
HE HAD NO INCLINATION To MEDDLE. IN I605, HHEN HE PUBLISHED
THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ADVANCEMENT 2: LEARNING, HIS INAUGURAL
ADDRESS To HIS PHILOSOPHICAL HORKS AND HIS MOST EXTENSIVE
TREATMENT OF THE PROBLEMS OF BEING LCHLY HISE, HE MADE HIS
POSITION ON THE LIMITATIONS OF LEARNING VERY CLEAR:

FOR THESE LIMITATIONS ARE THREE. THE FIRST,

THAT 15 32 NOT £2 PLACE OUR FELICITY i5 KNOH-

LEDGE, A§.!§,FORGET OUR MORTALITY. THE SEC-

OND, THAT EE'MAKE APPLICATION 25 OUR KNOH-

LEDBE‘IQ GIVE CURSELVES REPOSE AND CONTENT-

MENT, AND NOT DISTASTE 35 REPINING. THE

THIRD, THAT £5.22_NOT PRESUME 21 THE CON-

TEMPLATION QEDNATURE 12 ATTAIN'LQ THE
MYSTERIES 25, DC.

In KNEH ENOUGH ABOUT MEN TC ADMIT THAT A LITTLE LEARNING
HAS A DANGEROUS THING, SOMETHING To nINCLINE A MAN To
ATHEISM," BUT HE MAINTAINED THAT HE HAD SUPREME CONFIDENCE
ImRE LEARNING HOULD BRING THEM AROUND To FAITflolh

HAD BACON CONFINED HIMSELF To HIS PHILOSOPHICAL HORKS
ANO HAD HE LIVED A LIFE OF SCHOLARLY SECLUSION, ANYONE DE-

3IRINB TO PROVE THAT HE HAS NOT A RELIGIOUS MAN WOULD HAVE

B.I MY REFERENCES ARE To BACONIS WORKS, EDITED BY JAMES

SPEDDING, R. L. ELLIS, AND D. . EATH (LONDON, LONG-
MANS GREEN & 00., I857-I87h) IE VOLS. REFERRED TO
HEREAFTER AS WORKS. WORKS, III, 266.

In. IBID., P. 267.

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AN EXOEEDINGLY DIFFICULT THESIS To ESTABLISH. HE COULD SAY
THAT BACON HAS SHAMEFULLY ATTRACTED TO THE PHYSICAL UNI-
VERSE, HE COULD SAY THAT HE HAD TAUGHT MEN THE HABIT OF
DOUBT, AND HE COULD SAY THAT HIS DIVISION OF LEARNING INTO
HUMAN AND DIVINE CLOAKED A REAL RELIGIOUS SKEPTICISM; BUT
HE COULD NOT SUPPORT HIS PREMISES HITH ANYTHING MORE SUB-
STANTIAL THAN HIS OHN INTUITION. PERHAPS HE COULD GAIN
SOME SUPPORT FOR HIS CONCLUSION THAT BACON HAD MADE DOUBT
FASHIONABLE, BUT HE COULD NOT SAY THAT BACON HAD FAILED To
ADVERTIZE THE DANGERS OF DOUBTING THE NHDNG THINGS. THE
PROBLEM IS, HOHEVER, THAT BACON HAS ALSO A STATESMAN, A
LAHYER, A GOOD AND A BAD FRIEND, A LOVER OF FINE THINGS~~
INCLUDING ILL-GOTTEN GAINs--AND A COMPOSER OF ESSAYS CIVIL
AND MORAL HHOSE ADVICE BLAKE, THRASHING ABOUT IN HIS SOHBE!
AND SYMBOLIC HORLD, THOUGHT HELL SUITED FOR SATANIS KINGDOM
AND HHOSE ADVICE NO MAN CAN FIND PARTICULARLY MORAL. IF
THIS HERE NOT ENOUGH, LORD MACAULAY,'5 EVER ON THE PROHL
FOR EVIL, INFORMED THE NINETEENTH CENTURY IN THE MOST FAMOUS
ESSAY HRITTEN ON BACON THAT SIR FRANCIS, THOUGH A MIGHTY IN-
TELLECT, HAD PRECIOUS LITTLE MERIT AS A MAN. IT HAS JUST
NOT HONORABLE, SAID MACAULAY, FOR A MAN To HELP CONVIOT AN
I5. "LORD BACON," AN ESSAY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EDINBURGH

REVIEH,‘I857.' I HAVE USED THE TEXT'IN MACAULAYIS
LITERARY ESSAYS (OXFORD UNIV. PRESS, I923).

 

 

—-I

OLD FRIEND OF TREASON, AND IT HAS CERTAINLY NOT HONORABLE
FOR A MAN TO TAKE MONEY FROM LITTLE OLD LADIES HHO HAD SUITS
PENDING IN COURT. LYTTON STRACHEY,'6HRITING NEARLY A HUN-
DRED YEARS LATER, STIRRED BY THE HINT THAT BACON HAD PIERC—
ING AND CHILLING EYES, DECIDED TO CONVERT THE GREAT ADVO—
DATE OF LEARNING INTO THE LAST OF THE HALKING SERPENTS. SO
BACON'S CHARACTER HAS NOT GONE UNBLEMISHED.

THE UTILITARIANISM OF THE ESSAYS, FREQUENT SONG TO
MACHIAVELLI, A GENERAL DEVOTION To THIS LIFE, AN INABILITY
To RESIST HEALTH AND POSITION-uALL OF THESE FACTORS, AND
MANY MORE, LEAD US TO ASK IF BAGON'S TRIBUTES To FAITH
HERE NOT IN A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE INSINCERE, IF THEY HERE
NOT SIMPLY DESIGNED TO PACIFY THEOLOGIANS AND OTHERS HHO
MIGHT OBSTRUCT THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. I AM NOT PRE—
PARED TO SAY HOH FAR ONEIS CHARACTER NEED BE INVOLVED IN
HIS RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY, BUT CERTAINLY IN BACONIS ERA HCH
A MAN MANAGED TO LIVE HIS LIFE HAS THOUGHT FUNDAMENTAL To
HIS CONCEPTION OF GOD. PERHAPS THE PROBLEM OF BACONIS
SINCERITY~~HHAT HE REALLY BELIEVED--BELONGS PROPERLY To
THE DISCIPLINE 0F BIOGRAPHY, BUT THE TRUE MOTIVES BEHIND
HIS APOLOGY FOR LEARNING CAN NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM HIS
ACTUAL ATTITUDE TOHARO GOD AND FROM HIS OHN DUTY TO THE

CHURCH.

I6. ELIZABETH AND ESSEX (NEH YORK, HARCOURT, BRACE, & 00.,
I9285.

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THE BASIC OBJECT OF THIS STUDY, THOUGH THERE ARE OTHER
IMPORTANT OBJECTS TOO, IS TO BRING US NEARER TO AN UNDER-
STANDING OF BAOONIS RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY IN ORDER THAT HE
MIGHT MOVE A STEP CLOSER TO THE MOTIVES HHICH LED BACON TO
GIVE SACRED DIVINITY A UNIQUE IMMUNITY TO HIS PLAN FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING AND THE ALPHABETIZING OF NATURE.

AT FIRST GLANCE IT MIGHT APPEAR THAT A STUDY OF THE RELI-
GI0-POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IS AN AHKHARD APPROACH TO THIS
PROBLEM. IT Is EVEN AN AHKHARD APPROACH AT A SECOND GLANCE,
BUT IT Is ACTUALLY THE ONLY AVENUE OPEN. MACAULAY GOES DI-
RECTLY TO THE PROBLEM OF STUDYING BACON'S THEOLOGY HHEN HE
SAYS:

WHAT HE HAS AS A NATURAL PHILOSOPHER AND A
MORAL PHILOSOPHER, THAT HE HAS ALSO AS A THEOLO—
GIAN. HE HAS, HE ARE CONVINCED, A SINCERE BE-
LIEVER IN THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION. NOTHING CAN BE FOUND IN HIS WRITINGS,
OR IN ANY OTHER HRITINGS, MORE ELOOUENT AND PA-
THETIO THAN SOME PASSAGES HHICH HERE APPARENTLY
HRITTEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STRONG DEVOTIONAL
FEELING. HE LOVED TO DHELL ON THE POHER OF THE
CHRISTIAN RELIGION To EFFECT MUCH THAT THE AN-
CIENT PHILOSOPHERS COULD ONLY PROMISE. HE LOVED
TO CONSIDER THAT RELIGION AS THE BOND OF CHARITY,
THE CURB OF EVIL PASSIONS, THE CONSOLATION OF THE
HRETCHED, THE SUPPORT OF THE TIMID, THE HOPE OF
THE DYING. BUT CONTROVERSIES ON SPECULATIVE
POINTS OF THEOLOGY SEEM To HAVE ENGAGED SCARCELY
ANY PORTION OF HIS ATTENTION. . . . HE LIVED IN
AN AGE IN HHICH DISPUTES ON THE MOST SUBTLE POINTS
OF DIVINITY EXCITED AN INTENSE INTEREST THROUGHOUT
EUROPE, AND NOHHERE MORE THAN IN ENGLAND. HE HAS
PLACED IN THE VERY THICK OF THE CONFLICT.’ HE HAS
IN POHER AT THE TIME OF THE SYNOD OF DORT, AND
MUST FOR MONTHS HAVE BEEN DAILY DEAFENED HITH TALK
ABOUT ELECTION, REPROBATION, AND FINAL PERSEVERENCE.
YET HE DO NOT REMEMBER A LINE IN HIS HORKS FROM
HHICH IT CAN BE INFERRED THAT HE HAS EITHER A

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CALVINIST OR AN ARMINIAN. WHILE THE HORLD HAS RE-
SOUNOING HITH THE NOISE OF A DISPUTATIOUS PHILoso-
PHY AND A DISPUTATIOUS THEOLOGY, THE BACONIAN
SCHOOL, LIKE ALWORTHY SEATED BETHEEN SQUARE AND
THHACKUM, PRESERVED A CALM NEUTRALITY, HALF SCORN-
FUL, HALF BENEVOLENT, AND CONTENT HITH ADDING TO
THE SUM OF PRACTICAL GOOD, LEFT THE HAR OF HORDS
To THOSE HHO LIKED IT.'7
MACAULAY HAD FORGOTTEN A COMMENT ON ARMINIANISM,'88UT HE
HAD HRITTEN AN EXCELLENT BRIEF OF BACON'S THEOLOGY ANYHAY.
IN SO FAR AS DOCTRINE IS CONCERNED, ONE COULD READ THE
BODY OF BACONIS HORKS, CERTAINLY THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND
LITERARY PIECES, AND KNOH ONLY THAT BACON HAS SOME KIND
OF GENERALIzED 0R NEUTRALIZED CHRISTIAN APPARENTLY SATIS—
FIED HITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. AS HE SHALL SEE LATER,
HHEN HE VIEHED CONTEMPORARY DOCTRINAL CONTROVERSIES, HE
CONCEIVED OF HIMSELF AS AN IIINDIFFERENT" MAN, ONE HHO HOULD
RATHER AVOID THEOLOGICAL SGUABBLES IF POSSIBLE BUT ONE HHO
HOULD PLAY THE ROLE OF A MODERATOR IF THE NEED AROSE.
BACONIS HORKS HHICH CAN BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE A RELI-
GIOUS CAST ARE OF FOUR GENERAL TYPES: THE RELIGIOUS EXER-
CISES, THE APOLOGIES FOR LEARNING, DISCUSSIONS OF SUBJECTS

DECIDEDLY RELIGIOUS IN CHARACTER (FATE, THE FALL, PROVI-

DENCE, ETC.), AND THE RELIGlo-POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS. THE

I7. “LORD BACON," PP. 389-90.

I8. IN THE ES$AY "0F VICISSITUDE" BACON SAYS, "FOR AS FOR
SPECULATIVE HERESIES, (SUCH AS HERE IN ANGIENT TIMES
THE ARIANS, AND NOH THE ARMINIANS. . . .").

 

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I2

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES‘9INCLUDE A CONFESSION OF FAITH, TWELVE
RELIGIOUS MEDITATIONS, FOUR PRAYERS, AND THE TRANSLATION
OF SEVEN PSALMS INTO ENGLISH VERSE. THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT
ANY OF THESE EXERCISES WHICH SHEDS ANY PARTICULAR LIGHT ON
BACONIS FAITH. PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT
THEM Is THAT THEY HERE WRITTEN AT ALL. THE "CONFESSION"
(EIGHT PAGES) Is BASICALLY AN EXPANSION OF A FEW SECTIONS
OF THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, NOTABLY THE APOSTLESI CREED,
THE ATHANASIAN CREED, AND THE CATHECHISM. THE "MEDITATIONS"
(PUBLISHED IN I597) WERE PROBABLY WRITTEN TO THICKEN THE
FIRST EDITION OF THE ESSAYS, WITH WHICH THEY WERE PUBLISHED.
THERE Is NOTHING ESPECIALLY DISTINCTIVE ABOUT THESE WORKs;
DOOTRINALLY, THEY ARE INNOCUOUS, AND MOST OF THEM WERE
LATER EXPANDED IN OTHER WORKS: FOR EXAMPLE, "OF ATHEISM"
WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE "MEDITATIONS." OF THE FOUR
PRAYERS, ONLY THE ONE WRITTEN DIRECTLY AFTER BACONIS
FALL (I62I) Is OF ANY GENUINE INTEREST. IT IS A TOUCH-
ING APPEAL TO GOD TO COMFORT A MAN WHO HAS LOST ALMOST
EVERYTHING HE HOLDS DEAR, AND ITS MELANCHOLY TONE KEY-
NOTES MUCH OF BACONIS CORRESPONDENCE WRITTEN AFTER HIS
FALL.
I9. THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES ARE IN WORKS, VII, 2I5 FF.,
ALONG WITH SPEDDINGIS DISCUSSION. THE "RELIGIOUS
PARADOXES" LISTED AMONG THE EXERCISES WERE NOT,

SPEDDING LEARNED, WRITTEN BY BACON. SEE WORKS,
XIII, I28 FF. FOR HIS EXPLANATION.

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IT IS NOT KNOHN HHAT MOTIVATED BACON To TRANSLATE
(FROM LATIN) A FEW OF THE PSALMS, BUT SPEDDINGIS CONJEC-
TURE‘THAT HE NEEDED THE MONEY IS No DOUBT THE MOST SENSI-
GLE SUGGESTION. THESE TRANSLATIONS WERE FIRST PUBLISHED
HII62h AND HERE DEDICATED TO GEORGE HERBERT. THERE WAS
AT ONE TIME A MILD CONTROVERSY OVER THESE TRANSLATIONS
(CONCERNING HHY BACON MADE THEM) BUT THEY ARE OF INTEREST
OMJ'BEOAUSE THEY ENABLE US TO SEE BACON HORKING HITH VERSE.
HERE AND THERE IS A HAPPY LINE, BUT AS MARY STURT HAS SAID,
THESE PIECES ARE USEFUL PRIMARILY AS PROOF THAT BACON DID
NOT HRITE SHAKESPEAREIS PLAYS.20

BACONIS APOLOGIES FOR LEARNING CAN BE FOUND THROUGH-
OUT HIS PHILOSOPHICAL HORKS, BUT IT IS IN THE FIRST BOOK

cw THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING AND IN THE COMPLEX PREFATORY

 

 

MACHINERY TO THE GREAT INSTAURATION THAT ONE HILL FIND THE
FULLEST TREATMENT. I DO NOT WISH TO MINIMIZE THE VALUE OF
THESE APOLOGIES AS A KEY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BACON'S
OEEPEST CONVICTIONS ABOUT FAITH AND LEARNING, BUT AS I SAID
ABOVE, THE MOTIVES BEHIND BACONIS VINDICATION OF THE NEW
HHLOSOPHY CANNOT BE DISCOVERED BY RUBBING ONE APOLOGY
AGAINST ANOTHER. BACON TOOK GREAT DARE TO MAKE HIS VINDI-
CATIONS INTERNALLY IMPREGNABLE, AND MY OHN OPINION IS THAT

AN HONEST EVALUATION OF THE SINCERITY OF THESE NORK8“”IF

20. FRANCIS BACON (LONDON, KEGAN PAUL, I952), P. XV.

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THAT IS HHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR--CANNOT PROCEED BEYOND
BACONIS CAREFUL RETICENCE UNLESS HE APPROACH THEM FROM HIS
OTHER RELEVANT REFLECTIONS. ACTUALLY BACON DOES NOT AT-
TEMPT TO RECONCILE SCIENCE AM) RELIGION; RATHER, HE ASSERTS,
IN A HUNDRED DIFFERENT HAYS THAT THERE Is NO CONFLICT IN
THE FIRST PLACE. AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE FORCED TO TAKE HIS
VORD FOR THIS PROPOSITION OR TO WRITE OUR OWN APOLOGIES.
THE THIRD TYPE OF RELIGIOUS WRITINGS INCLUDES ALL OF
THOSE HORKS (PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY) HHICH ARE INEXTRI-
CABLY INVOLVED IN THE MATTERS OF FAITH. NOTABLE AMONG THESE
HORKS ARE BACONIS THEORY OF THE HEAVENS, HIS DISCUSSION OF
THE SOUL, OF DEATH, OF GOOD AND EVIL, OF THE HISTORY OF
THEOLOGY (HHAT HORK NEEDS TO BE DONE), OF THE SUFFICIENCY
OF THE SCRIPTURES, OF SUPERSTITION, HERESY, MIRACLES, PRo-
PHECIES, PROVIDENCE, THEFALL, HITCHCRAFT, ASTROLOGY, FOR-
TUNE, MUTABILITY, FECUNDITY, PLENITUDE, ORGINS, AND ATHEISM.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE To CHARACTERIZE THESE HORKS, FOR THEY AP-
PEAR IN MANY DIFFERENT GUISES AND ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANY
KINDS OF SCHOLARLY APPROACHES. BUT ONEHILL FIND--AND THIS
IS PRECISELY HHAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED--THAT BACON CONSID-
TENTLY AVOIDS ANY DISCUSSION HHICH TENDS TO TRESPASS ON THE
HNTED GROUNDS OF DIVINITY. WHEN HE APPROACHES THIS FOR-
BIDDEN AREA, HE HILL CUSTOMARILY SAY ". . . IF I PROCEED
TO TREAT [EUCHZ’I SHALL STEP OUT OF THE DARK OF HUMAN REA-

SON, AND ENTER THE SHIP OF THE CHURCH; WHICH IS ONLY ABLE

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BY DIVINE COMPASS TO RIGHTLY DIRECT ITSCOURSE."2' ORDI-
NARILY, HHEN BACON DISCUSSES THE MYSTERIES OF THEOLOGY, FOR
EXAMPLE HHEN HE TREATS PROPHECIES AND MIRACLES, HE Is AT-
TEMPTING TO SUGGEST MEASURES HHEREBY SUPERSTITION MAY BE
SEPARATED FROM CHRISTIAN TRUTH. THESE MEASURES ARE PURELY
EMPIRICAL; THAT IS, BACONIS ADVICE IS THAT MEN SHOULD STUDY
THE FACTS HHICH CAN BE OBTAINED ABOUT THESE PHENOMENA.

LIKE MOST MEN OF HIS AGE, HE HAS SOMEHHAT OVERHHELMED HITH
THE HONDER AND INCONSISTENCY OF NATURE, AND HE WAS FAR FROM
FREE OF THE CONVICTION THAT THERE WERE EVIL SPIRITS LOOSE
UPON THE EARTH. HE HAS HORKING TOWARD THE REJECTION OF
MUCH OF THE SUPERNATURAL, BUT HE STILL HESITATED To DENY

THE SUPERNATURAL ALTOGETHER. HIS HESITANCY CAN BE SEEN IN

 

A SHORT PASSAGE FROM BOOK II OF THE DE AUGMENTIS SCIENTIARUM:

NEITHER AM‘I 0F OPINION OF THIS HISTORY OF
MARVELS, THAT SUPERSTITIOUS NARRATIVES OF
SOROERIES, HITCHCRAFTS, CHARMS, DREAMS,
DIVINATIONS, AND THE LIKE, WHERE THERE IS AN
ASSURANCE AND CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE FACT,
SHOULD BE ALTOGETHER EXCLUDED. FOR IT IS
NOT KNOHN IN HHAT CASES, AND HOW FAR, EF-
FECTS ATTRIBUTED TO SUPERSTITION PARTNCPATE
OF NATURAL CAUSES. . . .

HE HAS ATTEMPTINC TO FIND RATIONAL EXPLANATIONS OF MANY As-
PEOTS OF THE SUPERNATURAL, BUT HE WAS RESERVING MANY OF HIS

OIN CONCLUSIONS UNTIL THE SCIENTIFIC TABULATION WAS COMPLETE.

2|. WORKS, v, II2._

22. WORKS, Iv, 296.

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AS WE SHALL NOTICE FROM TIME TO TIME IN THIS STUDY,
BACON COULD SPEAK OF PROVIDENCE IN TERMS HHICH HOULD SUG-
GEST THAT GOD HAD TAKEN AN APARTMENT IN LONDON AND HAD BEEN
DIRECTING THE AFFAIRS OF ENGLAND PERSONN.LY SINCE THE ACCES—
SION 0F ELIZABETH. MANY TIMES HE RECOGNIZES THE WORKINGS OF
PROVIDENCE, AS HE DOES FOR EXAMPLE IN HIS "CONFESSION":

THAT NOTHITHSTANDING GOD HATH RESTED AND'
CEASED FROM CREATING SINCE THE FIRST SABBATH,
YET NEVERTHELESS HE DOTH AOCOMPLISH AND FULFIL
HIS DIVINE HILL IN ALL THINGS GREAT AND SMALL,
SINGULAR AND GENERAL, As FULLY AND EXACTLY BY
PROVIDENCE, As HE COULD BY MIRACLE AND NEH
CREATION, THOUGH HIS HORKING BE NOT IMMEDIATE
AND DIRECT, BUT BY COMPASS; NOT VIOLATING NA-
TURE, HHICH Is HIS OHN LAH UPON THE CREATURE. 3

GOD CAN HORK I‘IMMEDIATE AND DIRECT" TOO HHEN BACON HISHES
TO DEFEND ENGLAND AGAINST THE SCOURGE OF CATHOLICISM, BUT
I THINK THAT HIS REMARKS ON PROVIDENCE ARE, PRIMARILY, RE-
FLEX ACTIONS. I FIND PROFESSOR BURY'S RELEVANT COMMENT
THOROUGHLY ACCEPTABLE:

. . . HE MUST REMEMBER THAT BY BACON, AS BY
MOST OF HIS ELIZABETHAN CONTEMPORARIES, THE DOC—
TRINE OF AN ACTIVE INTERVENING PROVIDENCE, THE
PROVIDENCE OF AUGUSTINE, WAS TAKEN AS A MATTER
OF COURSE, AND GOVERNED MORE OR LESS THEIR CON-
CEPTION OF THE HISTORY OF CIVILISATION. BUT, I
THINK, HE MAY SAY THAT BACON, WHILE HE FORMALLY
AOKgfiWLEDGED IT, DID NOT PRESS IT OR EMPHASISE
IT.

23. WORKS, VII, 22I.

2&4. THE IDEA 35 PROGRESS (NEW YORK, MACMILLAN 00., I952).
MY REFERENCE Is TO THE DOVER EDITION (NEW YORK, I955),

P. 59.

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AS A HATTER OF FACT BACON DID NOT PRESS OR EMPHASIZE
ANY OF THE ABSTRACT ISSUES wHIcH HAD OCCUPIED CHRISTIAN IN-
TELLEOTUALS FOR OENTURIES. HIS DISCUSSION OF THE SOUL IS
PERHAPS HIS MOST FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE OHASTITY OF
DIVINITY, BUT A MAJOR THESIS OF THIS SHORT ESSAY IS THAT
THE RATIONAL SOUL (THE BREATH OF LIFE) IS A UNIQUE GIFT
GIVEN NAN ALONE AND THAT ITS NYSTERIES OANNOT BE FATHONED
BT NORTALS.25 BACON'S REAGTIONARY vIEw OF THE HEAVENS~~
HIS REJECTION OF COPERNIOANISM AND HIS VERY INTERESTING
REOOIL UPON THE GEOOENTRIO UNIVERSEgéls IN NO NAY A PRO—
DUCT OF THEOLOGIOAL PREOONOEPTIONS. BAOON SINPLY THOUGHT
(DOPERNIOUS HAD MADE A GROSS ERROR IN cALOULATION. HIS OHN
DEVOUT HISH WAS THAT NEN IOULD PRETEND NOTHING HAD EVER
BEEN LEARNED ABOUT THE HEAVEus; THEN THEY COULD BEGIN THEIR
STUDIES OF THE STARS FREE FROM THE GURDENS OF PREJUDIOEO
IT IOULD BE POSSIBLE To Go ON MULTIPLYING EXAMPLES OF
THE NANY OUL-DE-SAOS ONE FINDS IN THIS THIRD DIVISION.OF
BACON'S RELIGIOUS NRITINGS, BUT NY POINT IS THAT THESE
25. SEE WORKS, Iv, 596-u0h FOR BACON'S DISOUSSION OF THE
SOUL. HE SUGSORIBED TO THE DUAL TmDRY OF THE SOUL AD-
VANCED BY TELESIUS. ANDERSON SAYS THAT BAOON COULD
NOT NAKE HIS SEPARATION OF THEOLOGY AND PHYSIOS OOH-

PLETE NITHOUT THE NOTION THAT THE SENSISLE SOUL IAS
"PURELY PHYSICAL.” THE PHILOSOPHY OF FRANOIS BAOON

(UNIV. OF cHIOAGO PRESS, I9h8), P. 738.

‘25. sEE ESPECIALLY, WORKS, v, SIT-2h.

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I8

TREATISES ARE NECESSARILY CAUTIOUS. AFTER ALL, THE WHOLE
STRUCTURE OF HIS APOLOGY FOR LEARNING WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED

IF IN HIS ONN'NORKS BACON HAD INCROACHED UPON THE DISCIPLINES
(H'SAORED DIVINITY. ADDITIONALLY, IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL NORKS,
WHICH NERE DESIGNED FOR INTERNATIONAL CONSUMPTION, IT HAS
NECESSARY THAT BACON AVOID ALL DISCUSSIONS 0F THEOLOGY OR
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS WHICH NIRHT IN ANY WAY ALIENATE HIS
AUDIENCE. To AVOID THIS VERY POSSIBILITY, NHEN HE TRANs-

LATED THE FIRST TWO BOOKS OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING

 

INTO LATIN AND ExPANDED THAT HORK, HE DELETED SECTIONS NHICH
IN THE ENGLISH VERSION WERE POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE TO THE
CATHOLICS.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE RELIGI0-POLITICAL NRITINGS. THEY
.c. _ . \
CAN BE FOUND IN ONE FORN OR ANOTHER I eEV\ERY'CORNER OF THE
. ,k

BACON CANON, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES ARE IN THE OCCA-

SIONAL NORNS.27 IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT BACON'S FIRST

27. IN THE sPEODING-ELLIs-HEATH EDITION, BACONIS NORKS ARE
SEPARATED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: THE PHILOSOPHICAL, THE
LITERARY, THE PROFESSIONAL, AND THE OCCASIONAL. THE
PHILOSOPHICAL HORKS INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE PIECES DE-
SIGNED TO AUGNENT THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING: THE
ADVANCEMENT ITSELF, THE NOVUN ORGANUN, ETC. THE
LITERARY IORKS ARE THOSE PIECES DESIGNED FOR ETERNITY
BUT NOT INCLUDED IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL FRANENORK PRO—
PER: FOR EXAMPLE, THE ESSAYS AND THE HISTORY OF HENRY
VII. THE PROFESSIONAL-fififif§--OF NHICfi-THEEE'TEE NOT
iTiY--ARE BAOOH'S FRAGMENTARY TREATISES ON LAN. THE
OCCASIONAL 'ORKS INCLUDE ALL OF BACONIS PERSONAL
LETTERS AND ALL OF THOSE IORKS HHICH NERE HRITTEN TO
NEET THE NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR SITUATION (USUALLY
POLITICAL). SOME OF THESE PIECES HERE PUBLISHED IN
BAOON'S LIFETINE, BUT MOST DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL AFTER

 

 

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LOVE HAS NOT LEARNING, BUT LIFE-éTHE EXCITING LIFE OF THE
ENGLISH COURT AND GOVERNMENT. HIS ATTRACTION TO THIS LIFE
VAS PART OF HIS HERITAGE._ HIS FATHER, NICHOLAS BACON
(I509-I579), HAS ELIZABETHIS LORD KEEPER, A PROFESSIONAL
STATESMAN AND CLOSE FRIEND OF WILLIAM cEclL, ELIZABETH'S
GREAT CCUNSELLOR. IT HAS SIR NICHOLAS, IN FACT, NHO NAS
GIVEN THE ANESOME TASK OF TELLING THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT
THAT THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG QUEEN HAD DECIDED THE ENGLISH GOD
‘IOULD AGAINBE PROTESTANT. LADY ANNE, BACONIS MOTHER, HAS
NO NONENTITY HERSELF. SHE HAS THE SISTER-IN-LAN OF CECIL,
A LADY OF MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS NHO TRANSLATEDJEWEL'S
AfOLOOIA ECCLESIAE ANGICANAE (I662) INTO ENGLISH~~AND THEN
IENT ON TO BECOME A RAVING PURITAN FANATIC.28 ALTHOUGH
BACON NAS CONSTANTLY FRUSTRATED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO PROCURE

A POSITION IN ELIZABETH'S GOVERNMENT, HE WAS NEVER FAR

HIS DEATH. IT HAS BACON'S HABIT To PRESERVE COPIES OF
HIS OCCASIONAL REMARKS (INCLUDING PERSONAL LETTERS)
UHICH HE THOUGHT PARTICULARLY VALUABLE. HIS ONN NORK
NAS SUPPLEMENTED BY DR. RANLEY, HIS CHAPLAIN, NHO,

AFTER BACON'S DEATH PUBLISHED MANY OF THESE HORKS.
sPEDDINGIS CNN EFFORTS NERE VALUABLE BEYOND COMPUTATION.

28. LADY BACONIS EKTANT LETTERS (SEE ESPECIALLY WORKS,VII|)
ARE TRULY REMARKABLE. APPARENTLY HHEN LADY ANNE DIED
(I6I0) SHE HAD LOST ALL CONTACT NITH REALITY, AND HE
SEE IN THESE LETTERS THAT THE NORLD NAS ALNAYS TOO MUCH
NITH HER. sHE HATED CATHOLICISM NITH A BOUNDLESS PAG-
SION AND CONSTANTLY FEARED THAT HER TNO SONS, ANTHONY
AND FRANCIS, HERE IN THE PATH OF THE DEVIL. BUT I
SUSPECT BAGON'S ATTITUDE TOHARO HIS MOTHER'S FAITH IS
COMPREHENDED IN A PHRASE HE USED IN DESCRIBING HENRY
VII'S RELATIONSHIP NITH HIS MOTHER: "HIS MOTHER HE
REVERENCED MUCH, HEARD LITTLE." WORKS, VI, 2hD.

-v

'urusausnnzss or N
IIHLIIIIENT FOR I'M:
HIIIHE UNTIL HE aAI
IIZEC TC THE OFFICE O
'EEIIITIJNAL POLITICS
EEZ'FJLITISAL TRACTS A
'15 HISTRITIONS D‘URIN
WIN,THEY IERE IRI

WAIIssITNER CUT c

Hum. SUT HIS Acvl

IIIIIISO

HIS INTIWTE

"I FIIILY BACKSROU NU,

'IILLIBLE COUNSELLDR o

HE SIGNIFICANCE

" 'UI DNDERSTAND I M; 0

*EHHD.

LIKE THE 0

till.
-E IND INCONCLUS I V

20

FROM THE BUSINESS OF NATIONAL LIFE. IN I58h HE TOOK A SEAT
IN PARLIAMENT FOR MALCOMBE REGIS IN DCRTSETSHIRE, AND FROM
THAT‘TIHE UNTIL HE GAINED THE PATRONAGE CF JAMES AND AD-
VANCED TO THE OFFICE OF LORD CHANCELLOR, HE HAS NEVER FAR
FROM NATIONAL POLITICS. SEVERAL OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT RELI-
Glo-PCLITICAL TRACTS ARE IN A VERY REAL SENSE PRODUCTS CF
Ins FRUSTRATICNS DURING THE REIGNS CF ELIZABETH AND JAMEs;
'HMT IS, THEY WERE HRITTEN AS SELF-ADVERTIzEMENTS wHEN
BACON HAS EITHER OUT OF FAVOR OR HHEN HE HAS SIMPLY BEING
IGNORED. BUT HIS ADVICE ALHAYS MANAGES TC TRANSCEND HIS
mnWVES. HIS INTIMATE ACCUAINTANCE NITH NATIONAL AFFAIRS,
INS FAMILY BACKGROUND, AND HIS INNATE SAGACITY MADE BACON

A VALUABLE CCUNSELLCR.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RELIelo-POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
TocwR UNDERSTANDING OF BACONIS FAITH NILL BE IMMEDIATELY
IWmCEIVED. LIKE THE OTHER wRITINGS THEY ARE DISTURBINGLY
sumoTE AND INCONCLUSIVE, DISTURBINGLY COLD AND OBJECTIVE,
mn'THEY CONTAIN REFLECTIONS NHICH BRING us AT LEAST TO THE
NHTKIRTS CF BAcON'S FAITH:THEY TELL US UHAT HE THOUGHT
AemH'PURITANISMAND CATHOLICISM AND GIVE US‘A FAIR INDICA-
Tum or HIS ATTITUDE TCNARD THE PROPER FUNCTICNING OF THE
Oman OF ENGLAND. THEY TELL US WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT RELI-
enms NARS, AND THEY GIVE US RELIABLE INFORMATION ON HIS AT-

T
ITUDE‘TOWARO THE CLERICAL TEMPERAMENT IN GENERAL.

u I

_

 

")i ,I

I...

, {,3 ATTEMPT 13 I
4‘ ‘ ‘ ;.::ES$F.L, an I 7‘
.5.I3ATI$FACTORY.

;:C.l: or SACCN' s R?
‘ .,I::TI-:I'UAJDR FEA
EICJI’TAINS A OETA
zusteIous coma:
Wm ATTEUPT m

“3 '13“ CHURCHMEN.
EEIcoI's FULLEST

3"?“ OF ENGLAND.

"“7“! THE BODY OF
IIETHE CHURCH 'RI‘I
"“‘Lmtous ITEU:

III: .-

IICEIIS

2I

NO ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE THESE WORKS CAN BE COMPLETELY
SUCCESSFUL, BUT I TRUST THAT MY ARRANGEMENT NILL BE REASON-
ABLY SATISFACTORY. IN CHAPTER II I HAVE DISCUSSED THE BACK-
GROUND OF BAOON'S RELIGIC-POLITICAL THOUGHT AND HAVE OUT-
LINED THE'MAJOR FEATURES OF HIS IDEA OF THE STATE. CHAPTER
III CONTAINS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF BACONIS LENGTHIEST TRACT
ON RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES, A TRACT NHIOH IS HIS FIRST IM-
PORTANT ATTEMPT TO ARBITRATE THE DEBATE BETNEEN THE PURITANS
AND HIGH CHURCHMEN. CHAPTER lv IS BUILT AROUND A NCRK NHICH
IS BAGON'S FULLEST TREATMENT CFTHE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE
CHURCH OF ENGLAND. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS
CHAPTER THE BODY OFBACONIS OTHER OBSERVATIONS ON PURITANISM
AND THE CHURCH NRITTEN DURING THE REIGN OF .JAMES. A FEN
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ARE INCLUDED ALSO, AND IT IS IN THIS
CHAPTER THAT I HAVE REVIEWED THE MAJOR SCHOLARSHIP ON
BACONIS ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY. IN CHAPTERS v AND VI I HAVE
REVIENED ALL OF BAGON'S IMPORTANT REFLECTIONS ON CATHOLICISM.
THESE HORKS RANGE ALL THE NAY FROM AN ADVERTIZEMENT CF ENG-
LISH PROTESTANT PROSPERITY TO LEGALISTIC COMMENTS ON JESUIT
STATECRAFT. CHAPTER VIII IS A DISCUSSION OF‘BACCNIS IDEA OF
RELIGIOUS NARS, AN IDEA NHICHNAS ONLY PARTIALLY FORMED BUT
ONE IHICH COULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED IN THIS STUDY. IN CHAPTER
VHI, THE CONCLUSION, I HAVE REVIENED THE RELIGIC-POLITICAL

s
TRUCTURE OF THE NEW ATLANTIS.

 

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ELEIHTICAL POL'
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IIIM smNIFICAN
uzuITE. HIS 'TRA
I'Ecwsz THEY c:
EYHREIRITTEN E
KHHITC THEIR NI
THHLTTHE CON 0!
IIICOI‘IDNPLAcE I,
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I‘C‘HSTRUE or u
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22

IT IS NECESSARY TO SAY IN THIS INTRODUCTION THAT BACON
DID NOT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE RELIGlo-Po-
LITICAL THOUGHT OF HIS DAY. THE MAJOR SCHOLARSHIP ON HIS
ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY STRESSES BACONIS MODERATION AND OB-
JECTIVITY AND LAUDS HIS PERCEPTIONS BUT DOES NOT CREDIT HIM
VITH ANY SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE DIALOGUE OF CHURCH
Amo STATE. HIS TRACTS HERE IN DEMAND LATER BY THE ROYALISTS
ImT BECAUSE THEY CONTAINED IDEAS THAT NERE NEN BUT BECAUSE
THEY‘WERE HRITTEN BY A GREAT MAN NHO NAS ALSO A GREAT NRITER.
REDUCED TO THEIR MAJOR PREMISES, BACONIS ARGUMENTS ARE Cus-
TONARILY.THE COMMONPLACES OF HIS DAY, BUT BACON HAD A NAY
IITH CCMMONPLACE NHICH FEN MEN HAVE POSSESSEO. WHAT HE
SAYS IS FREQUENTLY FAR LESS IMPORTANT THAN HON HE SAYS IT--
WHICH IS TRUE CF MANY CF BAOON'S NORKS~~AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED
TO PROVIDE A GENEROUS SAMPLING OF HIS OBSERVATIONS NITHOUT
BEING, I HOPE, BURDENSOMELY PHOTOGRAPHIC. BAOON'S MASTERY
OF THE DEVICES OFRELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA IS, I THINK, NELL

'ORTH OBSERVINB AT FIRST HAND.

 

;.'H HNERAL EAchP

:JEOUR PUR°OSES
DINIIDEI or THE S'
uruuor THE HAJCR .

{REF REVIEIED AND

('1

3YFTSTO JUSTIFY C
HNIHEExISTENOE A

FORA REUARKIBLE
NTIHULENT NATURE
ENHIIS ABLE T0 0

mun;
FURGES, PAR'

CHAPTER II
BAOON'S IDEA OF THE STATE
I. THE GENERAL BACKGROUND

FOR OUR PURPOSES THE MOST SATISFACTORY wAY TO APPROACH
BACONIS IDEA OF THE STATE IS TO SHON ITS RELATIONSHIP TO
CERTAIN OF THE MAJOR RELIGIO~POLITIOAL IDEAS MHICH RICHARD
HOOKER REVIENED AND EVOLVED IN HIS MAJESTIC Eili.25 ECCLE-
§jA8TIOAL POLICY, A IORK NHICH WAS THE CULMINATION OF MANY
ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY ON BOTH A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
LEVEL THE.ExISTENCE AND FORM OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.

FOR A REMARKADLE NUMBER OF YEARS, IF ONE REFLECTS ON
THE TURBULENT NATURE OF MANY REFORMED FAITHS, THE ENGLISH
CHURCH NAS ABLE TO DIRECT ITS ENERGIES PRIMARILY AGAINST
EXTERNAL FORCES, PARTICULARLY AGAINST MHAT IT CONSIDERED TO
BE THE SPIRITUAL ERRORS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ITSELF AND
AGAINST THE POLITICAL POLICIES OF INDIVIDUAL CATHOLIC STATES.
TO sPAIN IN PARTICULAR THE ENGLISHMAN COULD LOOK IITH A BRAND
(W RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION IHIOH RENT A LONG HAY TOUARD VINDI-

_ . g, . .
OATING HIS OHN REFORMATION. IN L662, MHEN ELIZABETHIS Es-
TADLISHMENT RECEIVED ITS FIRST FORMAL DEFENSE IN JENELIS
AEQLOGIA ECCLESIAE ANGLIOANAE, THE CHURCH COULD OBVIOUSLY

RELY HEAVILY UPON ANTI-CATHOLIC FEELING TO FORM ITS APOLOGETIC.

23

,m.INTcxic RJUE '1
:OIINL IN ENGLAND
£5.EINAND, HE SAI
'uIHaIAs ACT HARE:
1 I. i ‘ l)‘ HUHIIEI AND VERY s
m NIH, YEHCNIANS,
» HEHYHEICRLD EVER
‘..;I ”I“ g ;‘ T ‘- ‘

LIHEIDALD SEETH N

.T 1 , I .{ ESTHI IE NEITHER 1
I {IJ :- -| ' " ' '

=a£I2ISTER5."'
. - A. I. TFESUPREUE USN:

FHE-u'HERE ‘T HA:

I::-:; I
" ”Ea SPENDING,

l TRUST HE

A I GOTTEN THE;

, ‘1. 7'7 7' 'N ' '1» LOTS IN RC”-
’1

‘ . I .4 r YEARLY THE

’H C; C'Tl C I T -' w « ' DUCATS, BY

’ \ ‘ I; CAN 'E FOR:

T .:I I ~ Y-V-I ~I7J T '3 ‘ ‘ ' BROTHEL HOI

90TH FILTH

“HEN JOAN:

ARE HERSEI

-I
-—I

p

2LI

JENEL ATTACKED ROME HITH AN ABANDON WHICH SUGGESTED THAT
EVERY SOUL IN ENGLAND WAS UNITED BEHIND THE PROTESTANT ELIZA-
BETH. ENGLAND, HE SAID, WAS CONDUCTING A SENSIBLE REFORMA-
TION AND HAS NOT HARBORING FANATICS: "INDEED NE GRANT THAT
CERTAIN NEN AND VERY STRANGE SECTS, AS THE ANABAPTISTS,
IJBERTINES, MEMONIANS, AND ZUENCKFELDIANS, HAVE BEEN STIRR-
ING IN THE HORLD EVER SINCE THE GOSPEL DID FIRST SPRING.
BUT THE HORLD SEETH NON RIGHT NELL (THANKS BE GIVEN TO OUR
GOD) THAT HE NEITHER HAVE DRED NOR TAUGHT, NOR KEPT UP
THESE MONSTERS."'

THE SUPREME MONSTER, THE MONSTER WITH SEVEN HEADS, HAS
IIIROME--NHERE IT HAD ALwAYS BEEN, SPENING OUT ITS FILTH,
MURDERING, SPENDING, NHORING:

I TRUST HE Z?HE POPE, PIUS IV7'HATH NOT FOR-
GOTTEN THERE BE MANY THOUSANDS OF COMMON HAR-
LOTS IN ROME; AND THAT HIMSELF DOTH GATHER
YEARLY THE SAME HARLOTS UPON A THIRTY THOUSAND
DUCATS, BY THE WAY OF ANNUAL PENSION. NEITHER
CAN NE FORGET HON HIMSELF DOTH MAINTAIN OPENLY
BROTHEL HOUSES, AND BY A MOST FILTHY LUCRE
DOTH FILTHILY AND LEwDLY SERVE HIS OHN LUST.
wERE ALL THINGS THEN PURE AMI HOLY IN ROME,
HHEN JOANE A NOMAN, RATHER OF PERFECT AGE

THAN OF PERFECT LIFE, MAS POPE THERE, AND

BARE HERSELF AS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH; AND
AFTER THAT FOR Two wHOLE YEARS IN THAT HOLY
SEE SHE HAD PLAYED THE NAUGHTY PACK, AT LAST

'- MY REFERENCES ARE TO THE WORKS OF JOHN JEHEL, EDITED
FOR THE pARKER SOCIETT-EYW WRFTEAMBRIDGE UNIV.
PRESS, I8h8), VOL. III, 67. IT Is INTERESTING THAT
BAGON'S MOTHER, LADY ANNE, MADE THE ENGLISH TRANSLA-
TION OF THE APOLOGIA (IN I56h). IN THE PARKER SOCIETY
EDITION HER TRANSLATION Is ACCOMPANIED BY ARCHBISHOP
PARKER'S LETTER OF COMMENDATION.

 

-I

 

-I

GOING 'N PRC
SIEHT 0' “‘L
IN TRAvAIL 3
o ' ° . . .
THEY HAVi =_
can BRETHER'
AND S‘HCEQE;
GREAT “‘0 r'
ID'JLTERERS,
(I sAY N37
OR ONCE ‘TT
TERY, R‘5**
INCESTI ‘5:
PETER'S S'JC
LISHTLY A~C
THEY VIEFZE 5
RcuE, ADD '
hiss?2

TiSE HEATE: LI

SUAEDIPDN TO RA

‘..-,E DIST I PICTLY -"

IIICIPEIED HITH IT

Q

'9‘: CECE BEEN GRI-

"H”:-
w-bRCH OF CHRIST

2. IT WT FOLLOI TI

25

GOING IN PROCESSION ABOUT THE CITY, IN THE
SIGHT OF ALL THE CARDINALS AND BISHOPS, FELL
IN TRAVAIL OPENLY IN THE STREETs? . . . . .
O. O O. O O I O O. O O 0 0.0 O I 0 O DO
THEY HAVE PUT To DEATH INFINITE NUMBERS OF

OUR BRETHERN ONLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEvED TRULY
AND SINCERELY IN JESU CHRIST. BUT OF THAT
GREAT AND FOUL NUMBER OF HARLOTS, FORNICATORS,
ADULTERERS, HHAT ONE HAVE THEY AT ANY TIME

(I SAY NOT KILLED, GUT) EITHER EXCOMMUNICATE,
OR ONCE ATTACHED? WHY, VOLUPTUOUSNESS, ADUL-
TERY, RIBALDRY, wHOREDOM, MURDERING OF KIN,
INCEST, AND OTHER SIN, OUGHT CHRIST'S VICAR,
PETER'S SUCCESSOR, THE MOST HOLY FATHER, so
LIGHTLY AND SLIGHTLY BEAR THEM, AS THOUGH
THEY WERE NO SIN, AND THAT IN THE CITY OF
ROME, AND IN THAT PRINCIPAL TOWER OF HOLI-
NEss?2

THESE HEATED LINES SUGGEST THAT THE ENGLISHMAN COULD
BE CALLED UPON TO RALLY BEHIND VICIOUS ATTACKS ON ROME,
BUT THE DISTINCTLY POLITICAL ORIGIN OF HENRY'S REFORMA~
TION CARRIED WITH IT A QUESTION OF THE HIGHEST ORDER: IF
IT HAD ONCE BEEN GRANTED THAT THERE wAS AN IMPERFECTION IN
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST HHICH COULD BE PURGED BY LEGISLATION,
DID IT NOT FOLLON THAT OTHER IMPERFECTIONS MIGHT BE COR-
RECTED IN THE SAME MAY? WITHIN TEN YEARS AFTER THE APPEAR-

ANOE OF JENELIS APOLOGIA THE QUEEN AND HER CHURCHMEN HERE

 

oALLED UPON TO DEFEND THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT AGAINST THE CLAIMS OF THEIR OHN PROTESTANT COUNTRY-
“EN. IN JUNE OF I572 THERE APPEARED A! ADMONITION TO THE

PARLIAMENT, THE FIRST PRODUCT OF wHAT CAME To BE KNONN AS

2- IBID., III, 7l-72.

L-

-—T

'azmithIOh CONTFD"
MA MNBER or P~i|T*
EIINCRI or THE CH.
::=.,:IIIsTs, UADE MI E
FHURA VAST REFORM
IIerHE 0L0 CQUPLA
HWHIACONTnovERSY
sumo BY A IISH To
=Inst A PRESSYTEP
AN

'3? THE BEST EXA

'35ERETO BE "CALL

1 g 1 " '...TICALLY; THEY IER

”III-{Y IERE T0 SHA‘

337% A
H JETS-HISH RELIcs

II
T “w I AND I‘IHIT
”(+24% CARTIRI
I . n+8. ANS'ER' 3.
CE .T IHICH TH
SHCN CHE E
. T. I “T ”0 THE '10
RE I
N V0
y- .K
S than“ 00K, .

26

Trm ADMONITION CONTROVERSY.5 THE PAMPHLET, COMPOSED BY A
SMALL NUMBER OF PURITANS, MARKED AN IMPORTANT JUNCTURE IN
‘THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. THE ADMONITIONERS, THOUGH NOT
SEPARATISTS, MADE AN EMOTIONALAPPEAL TO PARLIAMENT TO
:SPONSOR A VAST REFORM IN CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE.
ALJ. OF THE OLD COMPLAINTS ABOUT VESTMENT (VOICED IN THE
VESTARIAN CONTROVERSY OF I560) HERE REVIEwED BUT WERE OVER-
SHADONED BY A WISH TO SEE THE EPISCOPACY ABOLISHED AND RE-
PLACED BY A PRESBYTERIAN GOVERNMENT FASHIONED ALONG THE
LINES OF THE BEST EKAMPLES OF CONTINENTAL CHURCHES. MINIs-
TERS HERE TO BE ”CALLED" BY GOD TO THEIR OFFICES, NOT ELECTED
POLITICALLY; THEY MERE TO BE PREACHERS, NOT “DUMB READERS,"
AND THEY HERE TO SHARE ECCLESIASTICAL EQUALITY. A NHOLE
HOST OF ROMISH RELICS WERE TO BE DISCARDED, AND TNENTY-TNO
chECTIONS TO THE PRAYER BOOK WERE TO BE CONSIDERED.u
3. D. J. MCGINN, THE ADMONJTIC§_CONTROVERSY (NEH JERSEY,
RUTGERS UNIV. PRESS, I9u97. THE MAJOR DOCUMENTS IN

THE CONTROVERSY, IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST ADMONITION
(THE ONE ABOVE), HERE IHE_SECOND ADMONITION 12_PARLIA-
MENT (LATE IN I572), WHITGIFT'S ANSWER TO THE ADMONI-
TION (I573), CARTMRIGHTIS REPLY TO WHITETFTTE ANSWER
(I57h), AND WHITOIFT'S MASSIVE DEFENSIVE OF HIS ANSWER
(I57h). CARTMRIGHT NROTE A REPLY TO wHITETFTTE'DEFENSE
2£_fll£'ANSIER, BUT WHITGIFT DID NOT ANSHER THIS REPLY,
A FACT NHICH THE PURITANS LIKED TO INTERPRET As A CON-
CESSION. oNE NONDERS, AFTER READING WHITGIFT'S DEFENSE
HHAT MORE THERE HAS TO SAY. '__—_——-

 

 

h. v. J. K. BROOK, WHITGIFT AND THE ENGLISH CHURCH (LONDON,
ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES PRESS, IEB7D, PP. 57-39.

[O

 

T-3IIAS CH?"
.ngSPDXEN Ccfi‘
-EF:HTAN FIEUR
IMMEQSTATIHS I
In) KIND OF PIC;
:IPCHE ESTABLIS
'TI;E5P£CTAEIL.IT
HVHTTO OBSERVE
:NAnIcN OF THE
TIZEJIIII’UMT‘.’ OF T
ANLEHSLATED BY

EMWVENT T0 PRE S:

NHTME THAT A “J

Am

DOCTOR /7
DECEIVETE
THIKKETH
CORDING T
GOVERNUE'_
'H'CH [5

FASHION

27

THOMAS CARTNRIGHT, NHO HAD ALREADY BEEN CENSURED FOR
HIS OUTSPOKEN CONDEMNATION OF CHURCH PRACTICES, SOON BECAME
THE PURITAN FIGURE-HEAD IN THE CONTROVERSY. WHEN HE HAD
FINISHED STATING HIS CASE--NITH ZEAL, FREQUENT SOURRILITY,
AND A KIND OF PIOUS EGOTISM HHICH ONE CANNOT REALLY FOR-
GIVE--THE ESTABLISHMENT HAS LEFT NITH LITTLE CLAIM TO CHRIS—
‘rIAN RESPECTABILITY. FOR OUR PURPOSES IT IS ESPECIALLY IM-
PORTANT TO OBSERVE THAT HE HAD SPOKEN VEHEMENTLY AGAINST
DOMINATION OF THE CHURCH BY THE STATE ON THE GROUNDS THAT
THE COMMUNITY OF THE INSPIRED COULD NOT HAVE ITS SPIRITUAL
LIFE LEGISLATED BY THE SEOULAR GOVERNMENT. FOR THE CIVIL
GOVERNMENT TO PRESCRIBE A FORM OF NORSHIP HAS EQUIVALENT TO
INSISTING THAT A MAN BUILD HIS HOUSE AROUND HIS DRAPES:

AND HERE COMETH To MY MIND THAT wHERENITH
THE HORLD Is NON DECEIVED, AND NHERENITH M.
DOCTOR 4315., WHITGIFT7‘GOETH ABOUT BOTH TO
DECEIVE HIMSELF AND CTHERS TOO, IN THAT HE
THINKETH THAT THE CHURCH MUST BE FRAMED AC—
CORDING TO THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THE CHURCH-
GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT,
HHICH IS AS MUCH TO SAY As IF A MAN SHOULD
FASHION HIS HOUSE ACCORDING TO HIS HANGINGS,
HHEN AS IN DEED IT IS CLEAN CONTRARY, THAT,
AS THE HANGINGS ARE MADE FIT FOR THE HOUSE,
SO THE COMMONNEALTH MUST BE MADE TO AGREE NITH
THE CHURCH, AND THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF HITH
HER GOVERNMENT. . . . OTHERNISE GOD IS MADE
TO GIVE PLACE TO MEN, HEAVEN TO EARTH. . .

5. QUOTED FROM THE WORKS 25 JOHN WHITGIFT, EDITED BY JOHN
AYRE FOR THE'PXREER“SOCIETY (CAMBRIDGE UNIV. PRESS,

I85I, I852, I85}, 5 VOLS.), III, I89. WITH THE Ex-
OEPTION OF ABOUT HALF OF THE THIRD VOLUME THIS EDI-

TION CONTAINS WHITGIFT'S DEFENSE OF HIS ANSIER. IN
HIS DEFENSE WHITGIFT PRESENTS THE TEXTS OF THE MAJOR

 

LRWFHET “‘5
JHHGE lH'CH
MUSHATE To ‘
HIE. T3 BE 1
7:4850YEQE‘

IffIyiSo IN 5

AG HVEAN [E
HHEN IN HIS
'HYEHVINTS
EJWTTPEIR s
‘HIHRCH, YE
TIAETEET OI
"EH EXPECT,
i“TIER? Hi I

GSHN TIHI‘

ZSESINCE

28

CMRTIRIGHT HAD GONE EVEN FURTHER THAN THIS, DEMOTING, IN
LJNGUABE HHICH ELIZABETH COULD NEVER TOLERATE, THE CIVIL
IMSISTRATE TO THE ROLE OF CUSTOOIAL SERVANT TO THE REFORMED
FAITH. 'TO BE SURE, HE HAD SAID, ONE OUGHT TO BE OBEDIENT
TOIuS SOVEREIGN, BUT THIS OBEDIENCE APPLIED ONLY TO SEOULAR
AFFAIRS. IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS THE CHURCH (HIS CHURCH) wAs
SUPREME: “BUT IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT CIVIL MAGISTRATES
MUST GOVERN [FHE CHURCH7'ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF GOD PRE-
SORIBED IN HIS WORD, AND THAT AS THEY ARE NOURISES SO BE
THEY SERVANTS UNTO THE CHURCH, AS THEY RULE THE CHURCH, TO
SUBMIT THEIR SCEPTRES, TO THRON DOWN THEIR CROWNS, BEFORE
THE CHURCH,-YEA, AS THE PROPHET SPEAKETH, TO ua< THE DUST
OF THE FEET OF THE CHURCH."6 HE HASTENED TO SAY, As NE
MIGHT ExPECT, THAT HE IMPLIED NO OVERTHRON oF THE GOVERN-
MENT, BUT HE HAD SAID MORE THAN ENOUGH ALREADY.
JOHN‘WHITGIFT, NHO HAD BEEN AN IMPORTANT VOICE AT CAM-
BRIDGE SINCE THE 1560's,7 HAS SELECTED TO DEFEND THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT, AND IT HAS HE NHO FIRST WROTE A COMPREHENSIVE DE-

FINITION OF THE ANGLIOAN VIA MEDIA DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO

DOCUMENTS OF THE CONTROVERSY, HITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO
THOSE HRITTEN BY CARTNRIGHT. MCGINN (SEE NOTE 3, PAGE

26) HAS MADE A CAREFUL STUDY OF WHITBIFT'S SCHOLARSHIP

AND MAINTAINS THAT THESE TExTS ARE REPRODUCED HITH AB-

SOLUTE FIDELITY.

6\ ‘WHITGIFTIS WORKS, III, I89.
7- BACON ATTENDED CAMBRIDGE I575-75, MATRICULATING HHEN

HE HAS TNELVE. HE OBVIOUSLY OBSERVED THESE DEBATES
AT FIRST HAND.

 

I . .Ism PLRITAN CH”:
‘ I LEITLY III THIS STUIZ
I r SJIETICULARLY RELE
. ‘I’ I » -. I‘IrEISI-OP or CANTE:
5-12)! or HOOKER, H
I:-:.I:EI=.STOOD THE-:I
ZFELIZASETH, ONE D
391*, I’ARTIGJIJRL'
SZIEHIIENT, IAs LAP
”*3 HIS MAJOR PRE
”‘CWRCH 0F CHRIS
II'I’ISIBLE FORMS, '

:IzaIPTISV‘I HAD TO

HF, N
IIIIIIAG THOSE As
III °PE<
I .c
I, RIGED BY 8

Th: "R
~JLU‘ENENT 0F

29

ANSHER PURITAN CHARGES. WE HILL ENCOUNTER HIS REMARKS FRE-
mmmTLY IN THIS STUDY, BUT HIS DEFENSE OF CHURCH-STATE UNITY
usPARTICULARLY RELEVANT AT THIS TIME. WHITGIFT (HE BECAME
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IN I585), THOUGH HE NON SEEN IN THE
SHADOH OF HOOKER, HAS NO MEAN APOLOGIST. HE HAS A SCHOLAR
HHO UNDERSTOOD THEOLOGY, BUT, MORE IMPORTANT TO THE REIGN
cWELIZABETH, ONE HHO UNDERSTOOD MEN. HIS DEFENSE OF THE
(flwROH, PARTICULARLY THAT SECTION HHICH DEALT HITH ITS
GOVERNMENT, HAS LARGELY RATIONALISTIC AND HEAVILY UTILITAR-
IAN. HIS MAJOR PREMISE HAS THAT THE INVISIBLE AND UNIVER-
SAL CHURCH OF CHRIST COULD MANIFEST ITSELF IN ANY NUMBER
(W'VISIBLE FORMS, HITH THE RESTRICTION THAT "ONE FAITH,

ONE BAPTISM“ HAD TO BE PRESERVED. HE LISTED CHURCH GOVERN-
IumT AMONG THOSE ASPECTS OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH HHICH HERE
NOT PRESCRIBED BY SCRIPTURE BUT HHICH HERE LEFT OPEN To

THE JUDGMENT OF INDIVIDUAL SOCIETIES. IN OTHER HORDS, A
NATION COULD CHOOSE THAT FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT HHICH
BEST SUITED ITS CIVIL STRUCTURE. BECAUSE ENGLAND HAS A
NONARCHY, THE EPISCOPACY HAS THE MOST REASONABLE COMPLE-
MENT TO ITS GOVERNMENT.

TO ANSHER CARTIRIGHT'S CHARGE THAT THE EPISCOPACY HAS
sIMPLY A LATTER-DAY MANIFESTATION OF CATHOLICISM, WHITGIFT
ASSURED HIS ADVERSARY THAT THE CHURCH MADE ABSOLUTELY NO
cLAIM TO INFALLIBILITY. HE HILLINGLY ADMITTED THAT MANY

ITEMS ON THE PURITAN PLATFORM HERE USED IN THE TIMES OF THE

*I

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§

30

APOSTLES AND THAT THEY HERE "CONVENIENTLY USED IN SUNDRY RE-
FORMEDCHURCHES AT THIS DAY."8 THE ENGLISH CHURCH, HE CON-
TINUED, HAS NOT INCLINED To CRITICIZE OTHER PROTESTANT
CHURCHES HHICH HAD ADOPTED DISCIPLINES AND GOVERNMENTS
"HOST FIT FOR THEIR ESTATES." BUT ENGLAND HAS ALSO AN

ESTATE, AND "IN THESE PERILOUS DAYS" ONE HAD TO REALIZE

THAT HE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF HOLLOH HEARTS
HITHIN THIS REALM, THAT DAILY GAPE FOR ALTERA-
TION OF RELIGION, AND MANY MIGHTY AND GREAT
ENEMIES ABROAD, BUSILY DEVISING AND HORKING

TO BRING THE SAME TO PASS, AND TO OVERTHROH
THE STATE BOTH OF RELIGION AND OF THIS REALM,--
HHETHER, SEEING HE HAVE A SETTLED ORDER IN
DOCTRINE AND GOVERNMENT RECEIVED AND CONFIRMED
BY LAH, IT MAY STAND HITH GODLY AND CHRISTIAN
HISDOM, HITH DISOBEDIENCE TO THE PRINCE AND
LAH AND HITH THE UNQUIETNESS OF THE CHURCH AND
OFFENCE OF MANY CONSCIENCES TO BRING SUCH A
GREAT ALTERATION AS THIS PLATFORM NEEDS BRING,
AND THAT FOR MATTERS ExTERNAL ONLY, AND HITH
SUCH EAGERNESS AND BITTERNESS, THAT THEY DE-
FACE AND DISCREDIT THE HHOLE STATE OF THIS
CHURCH, HITH ALL THE PREACHERS ECCLESIASTICAL
GOVERNORS OF THE SAME, AS REMAINING IN HOR-
RIBLE CORRUPTIONS AND ANTI-CHRISTIAN DEFORMI-
TIES, AND THEREBY FILL THE MOUTHS OF THE AD-
VERSARIES HITH GREATER MATTER OF OBLOQUY TO
DEFACE THE GOSPEL THAN EVER OF THEMSELVES

THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO DEVISE.

TAm CHURCH HAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE BECAUSE
THE STATE ALONE HAD THE JUDICIAL PCHER TO KEEP IHOLLOH
HEARTSn IN LINE. LEFT TO THEIR OHN DEVICES, THEY HOULD
DESTROY THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE NATION. THE QUEEN HAS
THE NATURAL HEAD OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE HERS HAS THE HIGHEST

8

. WHITGIFT'S WORKS, I, h-5. 9. [B|D.

 

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LEGAL OFFICE IN THE LAND, PROTECTING As IT DID THE HHOLE
IumY OF ENGLISH LAH. A REVERSION TO THE noLD LAH" HOULD
MAKE JUSTICE A TRAVESTY.

THIS Is THE so-CALLED ERASTIAN'OVIEH OF CHURCH AND
STATE, AND IT SERVED, IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, BOTH ELIZA-
BETH AND JAMES VERY HELL. IT IS AN EXTREMELY VERSATILE
POSITION BECAUSE IT ENABLES A GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN THAT
MEN MAY DO HHATEVER THEY HISH HITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL CON-
SCIENCES AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT BECOME MENACES TO THE STATE.
THE GOVERNMENT, IN OTHER HORDS, CAN JUSTIFY ITS RELIGIOUS
ACTIVITIES IN TERMS OF CIVIL OBEDIENCE. SUCH A THEORY HAS
OF COURSE SUBJECT TO MANY FORMS OF ABUSE. EXECUTED HITH
JUSTICE IT HAS THE MOST LIBERAL THEORY OF CHURCH AND STATE

ADVANOED IN SIXTEENTH’OENTURY ENGLAND, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDED

I0. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED CONSIDERABLE RELUCTANCE TO ACCEPT
"ERASTIANISM" AS'A DEFINITIVE TERM FOR THIS IDEA OF
CHURCH AND STATE, PARTICULARLY IN ITS APPLICATION TO
ENGLAND. F. J. SHIRLEY (RICHARD HOOKER AEBDCONTENPo-
RARY POLITICAL IDEAS LONDON, CHURCH HISTORICAL SOCI-
ETTT’I9D9; PP. I29-Sfl) REFERS TO SCHOLARS HHO HAVE
FELT THEY HAVE BETTER TERMS, SUCH AS "MARSILIANISM"
AND I'BYZANTIANISM." THE BASIC PROBLEM Is EASILY
ENOUGH STATED: MANY MEN AND MANY FORCES CONTRIBUTED
TO THE DEFINITION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE ENGLISH
SOVEREIGN. WHAT HE DID HITH HIS AUTHORITY, HHETHER
HE USED IT IN THE NAME OF GOD OR HIMSELF, HAS ORDI-
NARILY A MATTER OF PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS. FOR Ex-
AMPLE, HITHOUT THE BRUTE FORCE OF HENRY VIII THE
TEACHINGS OF MARSIGLIO AND OCKHAM MIGHT HAVE MEANT
LITTLE To ENGLAND IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. PER-
HAPS THE PAL“ SHOULD GO TO THE MAN HHO GENERATES
THE IDEA, BUT I AM NOT EQUIPPED TO ANSHER THAT QUEs-
TION.

 

 

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32

THEIHGH CHURCHMEN WITH VAST POWERS TO SUBDUE NONCONFORMITY
IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL UNITY.'|
THE BASIC LIMITATION OF WHITGIFT'S APOLOGY WAS THAT
IT DID NOT TRANSCEND WHAT MIGHT BE DESCRIBED AS A LOFTY
ECCLESIASTICAL ExPEDIENCY. IT WAS BASED, THAT IS, ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT ENGLISHMEN WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE
CHURCH, THOUGH ADMITTEDLY IMPERFECT, WAS AS GOOD AS IT
NEEDED TO BE. FOR MANY ENGLISHMEN THIS WAS A REASONABLE
POSITION, BUT THE MORE DEVOUT PURITANS WERE DISINCLINED
To SPONSOR IMPERFECTION, HOWEVER WELL IT HAPPENED TO WORK.
HOOKER'S TASK WAS, THEN, To COMPLETE WHITGIFT'S UNFIN-
ISHED BUSINESS. IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY, I THINK, TO

TRACE IN ANY DETAIL THE EVENTS WHICH LED UP TO THE COMPOSI-

TION OF' THE LAWS OF ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY,I2FOR THEY ALL

 

 

H. IN HIS LENGTHY STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS
TOLERATION IN ENGLAND, PROFESSOR JORDAN MAINTAINS
THAT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT TOOK
THE POSITION THAT IT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN LEGISLAT-
ING CONSCIENCE THAT RELIGIOUS TOLERATION COULD REALLY
GET UNDER WAY IN ENGLAND. HE MAINTAINS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE TOLERANT
THAN ANY SYSTEM WHICH THE PURITANS OR CATHOLICS MIGHT
HAVE ADVANCED. W. K. JORDAN, THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELI-
GIOUS TOLERATION IN ENGLAND (MASS.,’HARVARD UNTV._-__'

PRESS, I , I 6, h VOLS.). VOL. I, WHICH COVERS THE

PERIOD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION TO THE
DEATH OF ELIZABETH, IS BUILT AROUND THIS THEME.

'2. BOOKS l-IV WERE PUBLISHED IN 1595, AND BOOK V IN
I597. BOOK VI APPEARED FIRST IN I6u8, AND BOOK VIII
IN I65l. BOOK VII WAS NOT PUBLISHED UNTIL I662. I
HAVE USED THE DEFINITIVE EDITION, THE_WORKS OF
RICHARD HOOKER, ARRANGED BY JOHN KEBLE (OXFOEE,
CLARENDON PRESS, SEVENTH EDITION, I888, 5 VOLS.).
THIS EDITION CONTAINS THE REVISIONS OF R. w. CHURCH
AND F. PAGET, AND WALTON'S LIFE OF HOOKER.

 

 

 

352510 DIRECTLY raau
35m: ATTENTION 3F
:TMETEHPLE (“E “‘5
:zsnis IITH THE Pfil‘l
:RTHiEHT'So AHUHB'
=T=rzcuLARLT SUITED T!
ELTEJZABETH‘S COUNS'
mean Hll To IRITE
’F’Eauacu or ENGLAND

'H: TASK or suw.
THSEJEALING STRICTL'
WT or THE sons. 9
Nth ls NEVER CONTEI.‘
”“5”": IN THE My
:ZTIEIED ITS EVERY COI

azhli'TU A VAST ARRAY

 

 

 

53

DESCEND DIRECTLY FROM THE PRECEDING CONTROVERSIES. HOOKER
DREU THE ATTENTION or WHITGIFT AND BURGHLEY WHEN AS MASTER
mrTHE TEMPLE (HE HAS APPOINTED IN I585) HE ENGAGED IN DAILY
DEBATES IITH THE PURITAN WALTER TRAVERS, A GLIB DISCIPLE or
CARTIRIGHT'S. A HUMBLE AND RETICENT MAN, HOOKER WAS NOT
PARTICULARLY SUITED To COMPETE NITH THE DAZZLING TRAVERs,
BUT ELIZABETHIS COUNSELLORS RECOGNIZED HIS VALUE AND EN-
OOURAGED HIM To HRITE WHAT Is STILL THE BEST APOLOGY FOR
THE CHURCH or ENGLANO.'3

THE TASK OF SUMMARIZING HOOKER'S MAJOR THEMES, EVEN
THOSE DEALING STRICTLY HITH CHURCH AND STATE, IS A LABOR
IORTHY OF THE GODS. HOOKER'S Is A COSMIC MIND, THE KlND
WHICH IS NEVER OONTENT UNTIL IT HAS TRAOED AN IDEA TO ITs
ARGHETYPE IN THE MAKER'S OMNISCIENT INTELLECT AND THEN HAS
REYIEIEO ITS EVERY CONSEQUENCE To THE KINGDOM OF MAN. HIS
STYLE Is A SPLENOID COMPLEMENT TO HIS CONTENT: HE PLODs
BEHIND A VAST ARRAY OF OLAUSEs, LASHING THE LAGGAROS INTO
LINE, NEVER LETTING ONE STRAGGLE OFF INTO IRRELEVANCY.
YET, IF A PERSON Is PATIENT HE HILL PERCEIVE THAT HOOKER
'3 SPEAKING TO MORTAL MEN ABOUT THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF
LIVING IN A OIVILIZED SOCIETY.

THREE OF HOOKERIS INTERCONNECTED THEMES HILL CONCERN
'3. SHIRLEY, PP. 33-55. WALTONIS El:E_OF HOOKER WAS LONG

THE STANDARD BIOGRAPHY, BUT IT HAS BEEN SUPPLEMENTEO

BY 0. J. SISSONIS HORK, THE JUOIOIOUS MARRIAGE 25_M§,
HOOKER (CAMBRIDGE UNIV. FRESS, I9uD).

HMHTH a

,qTHEFOUNLATIDN

:ILCEOIEHCE, Ax
LRASHIN HIS CISI
-UMRACJITS FROM 1
QLEIASE IN WHICH
WHYIITHOUT THE FE
HHzIsI NATURAL F

IHIIIPRESUPPosrn

0-H,

JCUERTHAT THEY U
0TH TEMDC

LIN ALWAYS
OFFERED TH
THEY KNE'

O‘N COVH;;
JURY UNTo

BLT 37 ALL
'ITHSTOOD;
1" REASON

R'GHTI Aha
PROCEED Ih
AS EVERY u
E GREATLY
THAT STRIF
EXCEPT THE

3‘ ORDEREC
UPON.

 

51+

I15: THE FOUNDATION (OR PURPOSE) OF THE STATE, THE NATURE OF
c IVIL OBEDIENCE, AND THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE STATE.
AthHOUGH IN HIS DISCUSSION OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE
I4c>OKER ADMITS FROM TIME To TIME THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A
s<>LDEN AGE IN WHICH MEN GOVERNED THEMSELVES FREELY AND WILL-
IIGGLY WITHOUT THE FEAR OF A MAGISTRATE,'hHOOKER SEES THE
STATE AS A NATURAL PHENOMENON IN WHICH MEN, WHOSE CORRUP-
T'IcnIIs PRESUPPOSED, AGREE To SURRENDER PERSONAL LIBERTY
Iii ORDER THAT THEY MAY LIVE IN SECURITY AND SHARE THE OTHER
BENEFITS, BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL, OF THE OOMMUNAL LIFE:

MEN ALWAYS KNEW THAT WHEN FORCE AND INJURY WAS

OFFERED THEY MIGHT BE DEFENDERS OF THEMSELVEss

THEY KNEW THAT HOWSOEVER MEN MAY SEEK THEIR'

OWN COMMODITY, YET IF THIS HERE DONE WITH IN-

JURY UNTO OTHERS IT WAS NOT To BE SUFFERED,

BUT BY ALL MEN AND BY ALL GOOD MEANS To BE

NITHSTOOD; FINALLY THEY KNEW THAT No MAN NIGHT

IN REASON TAKE UPON HIM To DETERMINE HIS OWN

RIGHT, AND ACCORDING To HIS OWN DETERMINATION

PROCEED IN THE MAINTENANCE THEREOF, INASMUOH

As EVERY MAN IS TONAROS HIMSELF AND THEM WHOM

HE GREATLY AFFECTETH PARTIAL; AND THEREFORE

THAT STRIFES AND TROUBLES WOULD BE ENDLESS,

EXCEPT THEY GAVE THElR COMMON CONSENT ALL TO
BE ORDERED BY SOME WHOM THEY COULD AGREE

UPON. . . .'
HOWEVER, SAYS HOOKER, MEN ARE NOT OBLIGED To CONSENT To ONE

FMRTICULAR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, FOR ALTHOUGH "SOME KIND OF

REGIMENT THE LAW OF NATURE DOTH REQUIRE; YET THE KINDS

Ih. FOR EXAMPLE, SEE E, E, v, I, 2; VOL. II, 13-I6.

'50 E. E. " X, LL; VOL. '3 2,420

 

 

wDNIBEING "ANY; 5

Iv‘Ec-JISE AS A TI-INC

s:v::IIEIT HAS BEEN )-

. , 4 7.3.IIIIE SIORN 87 MT
- IIITCULIR INDIVIDUAL

WITION or HIS GOTE
NFIITHE COMMUNITY
ITIE aEED or TA: h,

‘CIISKLI‘ES TO BE ANY

T 1 . MINI?

Lus, To BE

"F‘- lI-Z'LE 00TH DEL If:

IEI'E, AND NOT IHEN A

I '5‘
T EHITH ORDERLY AG

Hm:
..D UPON A CONTRA

{t
thJEC
TTo ANNULHEW

":5!

Hon ARFIVED AT
”'58
‘ELF‘LIKING Is 0

U
ELITE'
”CE. IHIcH BEIN'

 

 

55

TIIEREOF BEING MANY, NATURE TIETH NOT To ANY ONE, BUT LEAVETH

 

TliE CHOICE As A THING ARBITRARY."|6 NONETHELESS, ONCE A
e<>VERNMENT HAS BEEN AGREED UPON, ALL MEN UNDER ITS JURISDIC-
T’ION ARE SWORN BY NATURE TC OBEY ITS LAWS, AND EVEN IF A
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL HAS NOT PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY IN THE

EECDRMATION OF HIS GOVERNMENT, HE IS BY VIRTUE OF HIS MEMBER“

 

SHIP IN THE COMMUNITY OBLIGATEO To UPHOLD ITS LAWS: "A LAW
Is THE DEED OF THE WHOLE BODY PCLITIC, WHEREOF IF YE JUDGE
Y<>URSELVES To BE ANY PART, THEN IS THE LAW EVEN YOUR DEED
Al.$0."'7 LAWS, To BE SURE, MAY BE APPEALED, BUT ONLY WHEN
"THE WHOLE DOTH DELIBERATE WHAT LAWS EACH PART SHALL OB-
SERVE, AND NOT WHEN A PART REFUSETH THE LAWS WHICH THE
‘WHCLE HATH ORDERLY AGREED UPON."'8 THE STATE, THEN, IS
FOUNDED UPON A CONTRACT, BUT IT IS NOT A CONTRACT WHICH IS
SUBJECT TO ANNULMENT BY THE CONTRACTEES. THIS TOO IS A
POSITION ARRIVED AT RATIONALLY, FOR SC nFULL OF WILFULNESS
AND SELF-LIKING IS OUR NATURE, THAT WITHOUT SOME DEFINITIVE
SENTENCE, WHICH BEING GIVEN MAY STAND, AND A NECESSITY OF

SILENCE ON BOTH SIDES AFTERNARO IMPOSED, SMALL HOPE THERE

I6. E. P. I, x, 5; VOL- I, 215.

I7. 5, P. “PREFACE," v, 2; VOL. I, IOU.

I8. IBID.

'51

~I

~I

‘ITIIIT STRIFES THUS
I.‘:ILI END."|9
ILIcIVIL OBEDI
III a: SILENCE." a
-::IER ELEVATES SUEI.

12’; or FAITH. ESTAE

3::1 IITHOAIZE, THAT

:I .
"3 IHE'LOOSE

MUCHRISTIAN SU:
I'D: I .
I. .OIII. 'HICH CAR

ms UNDER ANY Ln

I3] '
TELALLO'ED. ST

u".‘III'. :-
SH.D, “LET EV

I I

.II or p

56

L8 THAT STRIFES THUS FAR PROSECUTED WILL IN SHORT TIME
QUICKLY END 3'9
ALL CIVIL OBEDIENCE UNFOLDS NATURALLY FROM THIS "NECES—
SIrTY OF SILENCE." BUT IN HIS "SERMON ON CIVIL OBEDIENCE"20
I1<>OKER ELEVATES SUBMISSION TO ESTABLISHED LAW To A GENUINE
A<TT OF FAITH. ESTABLISHED LAWS "GOD HIMSELF DOTH IN SUCH
s<>RT AUTHORIZE, THAT TO DESPISE THEM IS To DESPISE IN THEM
HIM."2' THE I*LOOSE AND LICENTIOUS“ OPINION OF THE REFORMERS
‘TIWAT A CHRISTIAN SURRENDERS HIS PERSONAL LIBERTY AND LOSES
"THE SOUL WHICH cHRIST HATH REDEEMED UNTO HIMSELF" IF HE
l—IVES UNDER ANY LAW BUT THAT PRESCRIBED BY THE GOSPEL, MUST
Now BE ALLOWED.’ ST. PETER SAID, “BE YE SUBJECT," AND PAUL
ADMONISHED, "LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT; SUBJECT ALL UNTO,
SUCH POWERS AS ARE SET OVER US." SUBJECTION, THEN, Is THE
LAW OF 690, AND ONE BREAKS THE LAWOF GOD AT THE PERIL OF
HIS SOUL. THERE IS ANINSOLUBLE LINK BETWEEN THE RATIONAL-
ITY AND THE SPIRITUALITY OF CIVIL OBEDIENCE.

IN HIS DISCUSSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
'OHURCH AND THE STATE HOOKER CONSIDERS THREE INTERRELATED
SUBJECTS: THE GOAL OR AIM OF THE STATE, THE CONTRIBUTION
OF RELIGION TO A SOCIETY, AND THE METHODS WHEREBY CHURCH

AND STATE MAY WORK TOGETHER HARMONIOUSLY. THE NOBLEST AIM

I9. 5. E, I*PREFACE," VI, 5; VOL. I, I69.

20. THIS SERMON IS APPENDED TO BOOK VIII OF THE ECCLESI-
ASTICAL POLITY IN THE KEBLE EDITION, VOL. III.
. THE SERMON IS NOT COMPLETE.

2|. IBID., P. h56.

 

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—I

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arm STATE, IE LEM
E=HNAL LIFE: "LE

512A DIS-IT TO BE THE
RELICREGIUENT. . .
::::ETT IILL BE GODL'

“CHOICES TOIARD '

‘

IIHIIAYS BEFORE c.
SIRIHE, THE TRUE SPI
CARMEL? SUSOROINAT
:HHITIS SAID THAT
LL:HHEs; THAT IS,

HUEIITHE CHURCH.

In,hMT A CHURCH M

T3253-
..-IAI. CONCERNS . S

A
IIauT ALSO To L_,v

"51“le
.I LSLY IT
IS SA

I‘.
O'Hals
“TOGETHER.I23

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:SSUENC

 

 

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57

IOF ANY STATE, WE LEARN, Is THE CULTIVATION OF‘A SUBLIME
SI’IRITUAL LIFE: "WE AGREE THAT PURE AND UNSTAINED RELI-
GIION OUGHT TO BE THE HIGHEST OF ALL CARES APPERTAINING TO
PIJBLIO REGIMENT. . . ."22 THIS MEANS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL
SIOCIETY WILL BE GODLY IN THE DEGREE THAT IT DIRECTS ITS
MAJOR FORCES TOWARD SPIRITUAL ENDS. AT TIMES, FOR ExAMPLE
IIG THE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTIANITY BECAME THE OFFICIAL FAITH
or ROME, THE TRUE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF A NATION MAY BE ALMOST
COMPLETELY SUBORDINATED TO THE TEMPORAL. WHEN THIS IS THE
(EASE, IT Is SAID THAT THE COMMONWEALTH (THE SEOULAR STATE)
FI.OURISHEs; THAT IS, IT IS ACHIEVING ITS ENDS AT THE Ex-
I’ENSE OF THE CHURCH. IT Is ALSO POSSIBLE, ON THE OTHER
HAND, THAT A CHURCH MAY DOMINATE SOCIETY AT THE ExPENSE OF
TEMPORAL CONCERNS. SINCE MEN LIVE NOT ONLY TO LIVE FAITH-
FULLY BUT ALSO To LIVE WELL, WHEN CHURCH AND STATE WORK
HARMONIOUSLY IT IS SAID THAT I'THE CHURCH AND COMMONWEALTH
FLOURISH TOGETHER."23
RELIGION MAKES ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY IN MANY WAYS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS THE RELIGIOUS GOVERNOR WHO IS BEST FITTED
To PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF HIS OFFICE, FOR HE IS GUIDED BY

CONSCIENCE, IHOSE VOICE GIVES HIM THE ABILITY TO TRANSCEND

220 g. E. V, I, 2; VOL. II, IS—ILL.

25. g. E, VIII, I, 5; VOL. III, 337. THE "KINDS OF
FLOURISHING" IS A MAJOR THEME OF BOOK VIII.

M

 

MI

 

 

38

IIIS OWN ENDS. IN FACT, IIALL DUTIES ARE BY SO MUCH THE BET-
TER PERFORMED, BY HOW MUCH {THE MEN ARE MORE RELIGIOUS FROM
WHSOSE ABILITIES THE SAME PROCEEDonzh RELIGION AND JUSTICE
.AIRE so CLOSELY ALLIED THAT ONE CANNOT BE IMAGINED WHERE THE
crrHER IS NOT, SAYS HOOKER. RELIGION Is A NECESSARY TONIC
'r<> A VIRTUOUS AND JUST GOVERNMENT, AND THE MAN WHO EXECUTES
PIIS OFFICE "WITH UNQUENCHABLE AND UNCONSCIONABLE THIRST OF
GAIN“ ABANDONS THE CONFINES OF JUSTICE AND BECOMES ANOTHER
AACENT IN THE COMMON MISERY OF MANKIND.25
RELIGION IS ALSO THE CORNERSTONE OF FORTITUDE, WITHOUT
IlHICH MEN SUBMITTED To THE INEVITABLE ADVERSITIES OF LIFE
TARE NOT EQUIPPED TC ENDURE THEIR AFFLICTIONS. ADDITION-
ALLY, RELIGION IS A NECESSARY COMPLEMENT TO "ALL OTHER ORNA-
MENTS OF MIND"; WITHOUT IT, WHATEVER A MAN'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
HE REMAINS "BUT A SPECTACLE OF COMMISERATION." THOUGH RELI-
GION IS NOT NECESSARILY INVOLVED IN ALL OF MANIS ENDEAVORS
AND THOUGH IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BRING I'JOY AND GLADNESS," IT
STANDS READY TO CALM THE DISQUIETED MIND, TO TEACH "PATIENCE
AND SATISFACTION." FAITH MAY IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCE5--EVEN A
FALSE FAITH--SERVE A UTILITARIAN PURPOSE; FOR EXAMPLE, IT
NIGHT SPUR A MAN TO THE MORE EFFICIENT COMPLETION OF A SECULAR
TASK, BUT FAITH, USED SIMPLY AS A SPRINGBOARD TO TEMPORAL PRC-

FICIENCY, Is GROSSLY PERVERTEO.26

21].. ESE. V, I, 2; VOL. II, ILL.
25. IBID. 26. IBID., PP. I5-I6.

THK RELIGIOUS L

:gzI'EA'IES ALL FUNCT'

T , z I; I QHHE,AAD GENERAL
l! , , fiWTHECATHOLICS A
: A: =.:27ATI:IIS OF THE R;

'43nHHICS MAIIITA
1‘ . SJ’ECIENT To SALVAT
:.IIE AND MAINTAIA:
FIEII‘IAL NEEDS C-F A
mas ARE EQUALLY "F
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59

THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF A NATION, SAYS HOOKER, IDEALLY
PERMEATES ALL FUNCTIONS IN WHICH JUSTICE, FORTITUDE, TEM-
PEERANCE, AND GENERAL WELL-BEING ARE INVOLVED. HOWEVER,
B<>TH THE CATHOLICS AND THE PURITANS ERR IN THEIR INTER-
PTGETATIONS OF THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE NATIONAL LIFE.
'rIIE CATHOLICS MAINTAIN THAT THE SCRIPTURES ALONE ARE NOT
SIJFFICIENT TO SALVATION. THEIR CHURCH FILLS IN SCRIPTURAL
LACUNAE AND MAINTAINS THAT IT ALONE MAY DETERMINE THE
SI’IRITUAL NEEDS OF A SOCIETY. THE PURITANS, WHOSE DOC-
TFTINES ARE EQUALLY "REPUGNANT UNTO TRUTH," PROPOSE TO FUN-
IWEL THE UNALTERABLE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE INTO EVERY CONCEIV—
.ABLE.CORNER OF ExISTENCE. A MAN CANNOT SEND HIS BOY ON AN
ERRAND WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING THE HOLY .TaExT.27 BUT, SAYS
. .,

HOOKER, MAN'S EVERY ACT IS NOT DONE FOR SALVATION: "WE

MOVE, WE SLEEP, WE TAKE THE 0UP AT THE HAND OF OUR FRIEND,

A NUMBER OF THINGS WE CFTENTIMES DO, ONLY TO SATISFY SOME

NATURAL DEBIRE, WITHOUT PRESENT, EXPRESS, AND ACTUAL REFER-

,28

ENCE UNTO ANY COMMANDMENT OF GOD. WHEN THESE PURITAN

ZEALOTS ARE ALONE TOGETHER WITH THEIR BIBLES, "WHAT STRANGE
FANTASTICAL OPINION SOEVER AT ANY TIME (ENTERS? THEIR HEADS,

29

'nmIR USE [TS7'TO THINK THE SPIRIT TAUGHT IT THEM." IF

. II, VIII. 7; VOL-_l. 535-56:

279 E: f.
28. _I-_:_. E. II, II, I; VOL. I, 29I.

29. g. E. "PREFACE,“ VIII, 7; VOL. I, I85.

 

 

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. ';-:22 HEN COULD SE C
‘ , 1 HI EITHUSIASH "I
m 'IHEN THE “”335
1m. IT Is THE IILL
'j-TE? FANCY, THEIR 5
RICE SUFFERING THE
.I'I:Is P‘JT INTO PF
DARE: TO THEM THAT
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TI-Ises SLEMISHED I
7-H CAUSE, LEST H
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FROM THIS DIS
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3xHHICH MUST BE
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““0

.‘IE.
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Lo

THESE MEN COULD BE CONTENT TO REMAIN AT THEIR READING LAMPS,
TIIEIR ENTHUSIASM WOULD PERHAPS NOT BE A MATTER OF STATE,
BIIT "WHEN THE MINDS OF MEN ARE ONCE ERRONEOUSLY PERSUADED
'TIIAT IT Is THE WILL OF GOD TO HAVE THOSE THINGSDONE WHICH
'TIJEY FANCY, THEIR OPINIONS ARE As THORNS IN THEIR SIDES,
NEVER SUFFERING THEM TO TAKE REST TILL THEY HAVE THEIR SPEcu-
LMATIONS PUT INTOPRACTICEJ5O IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE OC-
cmRRED TO THEM THAT GOD MIGHT HAVE PERMITTED THOSE "WORTHY
VESSELS [f.E., THE SCRIPTURE§_7 OF HIS GLORY TO BE IN SOME
TIIINGS BLEMISHED WITH THE STAIN OF HUMAN FRAILTY, EVEN FOR
'THIS CAUSE, LEST HE SHOULD ESTEEM OF ANY MAN ABOVE THAT
WHICH BEHCVETH."5'
FROM THIS DISCUSSION WE SEE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BE-

TWEEN THE CHURCH AND STATE IS A VERY DELICATE MATTER AND

ONE WHICH MUST BE DETERMINED BY MEN INTIMATELY ACOUAINTED

WITH BOTH THE TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL ENDS OF A‘SOGIETYO

CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICERS MUST WORK TOGETHER FOR

THE COMMON GOOD, AND HOOKER GOES ON TO SUGGEST WHAT METH-

ODOLOGY MIGHT BE USED.

HOOKER'SMETAPHORICAL SYMBOL FOR THE IDEAL STATE IS THE

TRIANGLE§2 THE CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL DEPARTMENTS (SIDES

50. g, E} "PREFACE," VIII, I2; VOL. I, I89-9O.
3|. E. E. fl’PREFACE‘," IV, 8; VOL. ','I630

520 E0 E- VIII, I, 2; VOL. III, 5300

I-

37% TRIANGLE) A:
IMHSISOEVER TIIE T
HEHIHNAL UNITY.
iIWHESA DIVIDIA
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OF THE TRIANGLE) ARE BOTH FORMED FROM A COMMON BASE-LINE,
AND HCWSCEVER THE TRIANGLE IS TIPPED, THIS LINE PRESERVES
THE ORIGINAL UNITY. THERE Is AT No POINT ANYTHING WHICH
RESEMBLES A DIVICING LINE. THE OPPONENTS, ON THE OTHER
HAND, nHOLD THE NECESSITY OF PERSONAL SEPARATION, WHICH
CLEAN ExCLUDETH THE POWER OF ONE MAN'S DEALING IN BOTH

. . . .II53 _BUT IF IT IS GRANTED, As IT MUST BE BY REASON
AND FAITH, THAT SOMEONE INDEED DEALS WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS,
IN A MONARCHY IT OBTAINS THAT THE SOVEREIGN UNIFIES THE
WHOLE AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. IT IS UNREASONABLE, SAYS HOOKER,
TO ASSUME THAT THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE Is CONCERNED ONLY WITH
THE BODY OF THE STATE AND NOT WITH ITS SOUL, UNREASONABLE
TO ASSUME THAT HE IS AN AGENT OF THE TEMPORAL PEACE AND

NOT INVOLVED IN HIS SUBJECTSI IIETERNAL SAFETY." THIS IS

TO SPEAK AS IF "GOD HAD ORDAINED KINGS FOR NO OTHER END AND
PURPOSE BUT ONLY To FAT UP MEN LIKE HOGs, AND TO SEE THAT
THEY HAVE THEIR MAST."5h JUSTICE AND PEACE ARE POSSIBLE
ONLY WHEN THE ORDER OF A SOCIETY IS MAINTAINED, WHEN ALL
ESTATES ARE KEPT IN THEIR PROPER BALANCE; AND THIS ORDER Is
BEST PRESERVED WHEN THE KING, THE “COMMON PARENT," THE "IN-
DIFFERENT" AUTHORITY IN THE NATION, BEARS "THE CHIEFEST SWAY

IN THE MAKING OF LAWS WHICH ALL MUST BE ORDERED BY."55

55. IBID.
5LT. g. 3' VIII, III, 2; VoL. III, 363.
55. g. 3. VIII, VI, 8; VOL. III, hos.

 

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THE KING, HOWEVER, DOES NOT PRESUME IN HIS LEGAL OFFICE
10 BE THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, AS THE PAPISTS AND
REFORMERS SO FREQUENTLY ALLEGE. HIS STYLE IN NO WAY IMPLIES
THAT HE IS NExT UNDER GOD, BUT ONLY THAT HE Is THE LAST
COURT OF APPEAL IN THE VISIBLE CHURCH OF THE NATION.
CHRISTIS SUPREMACY IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH Is UNCONTESTED
BY THIS THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY. BUT IF THE KING IS NOT PER-
MITTED To BE THE LEGAL HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HIS AUTHORITY Is
CONSTANTLY SUBJECTED To APPROVAL BY THE ECCLESIASTICAL BODY.
THE CATHOLIC POSITION IS A CASE IN POINT: "WHAT THEY YIELD
THAT PRINCES DO, IT IS WITH GREAT EXCEPTION ALWAYS UNDER-
STOOD, IF THE BISHOP CF ROME GIVE LEAVE, IF HE INTERPOSE
NO PRCHIBITION: WHEREOF SOMEWHAT IS IN SHEW, IN TRUTH NOTH-
ING, WHICH THEY GRANT."56 THE PURITAN POSITION IS SIMPLY
ANOTHER VERSION OF PAPAL CONDITIONAL ALLEGIANCE, WITH THE
ADDITIONAL HAZARD THAT THE PURITANS HAVE As MANY FORMS OF
"CONDITIONS" AS THEY ARE CAPABLE OF FASHICNING IN THEIR
FANATICAL MINDS. BUT, SAYS HOOKER, ALLEGIANCE CANNOT BE
CONDITIONAL, FOR THE WHOLE CANNOT BE DIVIDED INTO I'TWO
SEVERAL IMPALED SOCIETIES."57

HOOKER, QUITE NATURALLY, AVOIDS ANY CLEAR DEFINITION
36. E. P. VIII, II, III; VoL. III, 55h. IN CHAPTER VI

T'HTNE DISCUSSED BACONTS INVOLVEMENT IN LEGAL CASES

DEALING HITH ASPECTS OF THIS THEORY OF CONDITIONAL
ALLEGIANCE.

37. E. 20 VIII, I, I4; VOL. III, 53h.

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OF THE PRECISE AUTHORITY OF THE KING, FOR ELIZABETH WAS IN
THE HABIT or DOING THAT HERSELF. HE RELIES, FOR THE MOST
PART, ON THE wEIGHT OF HIS ORIGINAL ARGUMENT THAT ORDER IS
NATURAL, REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND GODLY. HE DOES, HOWEVER,
SAY THAT A NATION Is HAPPIER WHEN ITS RULER OPERATES UNDER
LAH RATHER THAN ABOVE IT:

HAPPIER THAT PEOPLE HHOSE LAH IS THEIR KING IN

THE GREATEST THINGS, THAN THAT wHOSE KING Is

HIMSELF THEIR LAN. WHERE THE KING DOTH GUIDE

THE STATE, AND THE LAH THE KING, THAT COMMON-

HEALTH IS LIKE AN HARP OR MELODIOUS INSTRUMENT,

THE STRINGS HHEREOP ARE TUNED AND HANDLED ALL

BY ONE, FOLLOHING ASBLANS THE RULES AND CANONS

or MUSICAL SILENCE.5

IN ORDER To JUSTIFY THE PARTICIPATION or THE PARLIA-

MENT IN ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS, HOOKER USES THE SAME ARGU~
uENT HHICH SERVED HIM IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF ONE ASPECT or
REGAL AUTHORITY. THE PARLIAMENT, uTOGETHER HITH THE CON-
VOCATION ANNExED THEREUNTO" IS THE ESSENCE OF ENGLISH
GOVERNMENT, REPRESENTING As IT DOES THE "BODY OF THE WHOLE
REALM": "IT CONSISTETH OF THE KING, AND or ALL THAT HITHIN
THE LAND ARE SUBJECT UNTO HIM: FOR THEY ALL ARE THERE PRE-

SENT, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY SUCH AS THEY VOLUNTARILY HAVE

DERIVED THEIR VERY PERSONAL RIGHT UNTO."39 THE PARLIAMENT

580 E. E. VIII, II, I2; VOL. III, 5520
59. _I-_:_. 3. VIII, VI, 2; VOL. III, LI08.

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HITH NOTHING BUT ONLY LEATHER AND IIIOOL."I‘L0

THE NExT PROBLEM Is To JUSTIFY OBEDIENCE TO THE Es-
TABLISHED CHURCH-GOVERNMENT, A TASK WHICH HOOKER PERFORMS
HITH CONSIDERABLE DEXTERITYO AGAIN, AND ONE Is REMINDED
OF THE GREAT DR. JOHNSON, HE RELIES ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT
ANYTHING HHICH HAS BEEN HAS A SPECIAL RIGHT TO CONTINUE To
BE: "FOR THE PUBLIC APPROBATION GIVEN BY THE BODY OF THIS
HHOLE CHURCH UNTO THOSE THINGS HHICH ARE ESTABLISHED, DOTH
MAKE IT BUT PROBABLE THAT THEY ARE GOODC"uI BY "BUT PROB-
ABLEn HE MEANS, OF COURSE, "CERTAIN BEYOND THE POSSIBILITY
OF THE HILDEST SPECULATION," BUT HE PROCEEDS FAR BEYOND
THIS HAPPY PREMISE. CLERICAL RANK, HE AFFIRMS, IS THE
NATURAL COMPLEMENT To TEMPORAL RANK. A CHURCH, LIKE A
CIVIL GOVERNMENT, HAS A GREAT MANY FUNCTIONS, AND ALL CAN-
NOT BE HELL PERFORMED BY ALL MEN. IF EVERYONE HORKS “JOINTLY
AND EQUALLY" THESE NECESSARY ACTS CANNOT "IN ORDERLY SORT BE
ExECUTED.fl SOME MUST BE LEADERS AND OTHERS MUST BE FOLLOHERS:
uAGAIN, FORASMUCH AS HHERE THE CLERGY ARE ANY GREAT MULTITUDE,
ORDER DOTH NECESSARILY REQUIRE THAT BY DEGREES THEY BE DISTIN-
GUISHED; HE HOLD THAT THERE HAVE EVER BEEN AND EVER OUGHT To

BE IN SUCH CASE AT LEASTWISE TWO SORTS OF ECCLESIASTICAL

I40. IBID., P. 14.09.

hI. g, E, "PREFACE," VI, 6; VOL. 1, I70.

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PERSONS, THE ONE SUBOROINATE UNTO THE OTHERC"u2 THIS IS A
IPRINCIPLE, HE CONTINUES, HHICH Is FULLY SANOTIONED BY SCRIP-
'rURE AND ALL nECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS."

TO JUSTIFY THIS CLAIM FURTHER ON RATIONALISTIC GROUNDS,
FHDOKER TURNS TO THE VISIBLE FRUITS OF CHURCH UNITY, AS THEY
APPLY To THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AID To THE REFORMATION IN
GEENERAL. IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE ASSERTS, THE REFORMERS,
“#10 IN THE BEGINNING "HERE PITIED FOR THEIR ERRORS AND
FHRAISED FOR THEIR HUMILITY, ZEAL ANDDEVOTION," HAVE Now
COMMITTED THEMSELVES To A COMPLETE OVERTHROV OF ExISTING
GHIURCHES HHICH DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR PATTERN OF FAITH.
‘rHESE ZEALOTS HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE SET
IJPON EARTH "To ROOT OUT THE IDDLATROUS NATIONS, AND To
PLANT INSTEAD OF THEM A PEOPLE HHICH [FEA57 GOD. . . ."IJ'3
THEREFORE THEY HAVE LOST ANY CAPACITY THEY ONCE MIGHT HAVE
POSSESSED To SEE THE TRUE ENDS OF THEIR DESIGNS. lT STRAINS
THE IMAGINATION OF A SANE MANTO ENVISION NHERE THEIR MAR-

VELOUS MACHINE MIGHT COME To ITS LAST PLACE OF REST:
THE LETS AND IMPEDIMENTS OF HHICH PRACTICE THEIR
RESTLESS DESIRE AND STUDY TO REMOVE LEADETH THEM

EVERY DAY FORTH BY THE HAND INTO OTHER MORE DANG-
EROUS OPINIONS, SOMETIMES QUITE CONTRARY To THEIR
FIRST PRETENDED MEANINGS: so AS wHAT HILL GRON
OUT OF SUCH ERRORS AS GO MASKED UNDER THE CLOAK
OF DIVINE AUTHORITY, IMPOSSIBLE IT Is THAT EVER
THE HIT OF MAN SHOULS IMAGINE, TILL TIME HATH

I-J-Zo E. E. III, XI, 20; VOL. I, LII}.

15. g. _P_. "PREFACE," VIII, ll; VOL. I, :89.

“I

BROUGHT F
T I n
‘ IT BEPCVE
‘ ' . J I EVEN EEYJ

: f _ r J‘; . 'RcHMCH STANDS A
{ I 4. E i a 7 FREIHO ACCEPT IT

1 ¢ . HEINRITED THEIR
I . stucm AND SELF-I
T f i 3 . I EU THE CHuacI
~IHLIHAS APPOIN‘
"XIII MOSERATIC
GRIN AND FACTIC
}§,SAYS HOOKER,

IIHMLous DAYs.

BY THIS
I Y .. T ‘ ‘ :3 I ' OI. GREAT
'ANTED
E; I T I THEY ARE
AND HAS:
SERVE) I
IFTER TI
_ I 10 To ENT:
II T T ' Y EST
I IBLI
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. CHRI
S
1 . - I , NOT I.

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BROUGHT FORTH THE FRUITS OF THEM: FOR WHICH CAUSE
IT BEHOVETH WISDOM TO FEAR THE SEQUELS T EREOF,
EVEN BEYOND ALL APPARENT CAUSE OF FEAR.

'THE CHUROH STANDS AS A FORTRESS READY TO PROTECT NOT ONLY
114085 wHO ACCEPT ITS DISCIPLINE BUT ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THEIR BOUNDLESS DEDICATION TO ERROR, SUPER-
ST'ITION, AND SELF-EXPLOITATION.

BUT THE CHURCH HAS AN INTERNATIONAL FUNCTION TOO. GOD
IIIMSELF HAS APPOINTED THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TO SERVE As A
MCHDEL OF MODERATION TO HHICH OTHER CHURCHES, TORN BY DIS~
(HDNTENT AND FACTION, MAY TURN FOR GUIDANCE AND COMFORT.
'THIS, SAYS HOOKER, GOD HAS CONDESCENDED TO DO MANY TIMES
IN PERILOUS DAYS. HOOKER'S LANGUAGE IS VERY MOVING AT THIS
POINT, AND I QUOTE IT AT LENGTH:

BY THIS HEAN CHRISTENDOM FLAMING IN ALL PARTS
OF GREATEST IMPORTANCE AT ONCE, THEY ALL HAD
HANTED THAT COMFORT OF MUTUAL RELIEF, HHEREBY
THEY ARE Now FOR A TIME SUSTAINED (AND NOT THE
LEAST BY THIS OUR CHURCH HHICH THEY SO HUCH
IMPEACH) TILL HUTUAL COHBUSTIONS, BLOODSHEDS,
AND HASTES (BECAUSE No OTHER INDUCEMENT HILL
SERVE) MAY ENFORCE THEH THROUGH VERY FAINTNESS,
AFTER THE ExPERIENCE OF SO ENDLESS MISERIES,
To ENTER ON ALL SIDES AT THE LENGTH INTO SOME
SUCH CONSULTATION, AS MAY TEND To THE BEST RE-
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UHOLE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST. TO THE SINGULAR GOOD HHEREOF IT CAN-
NOT BUT SERVE As A PROFITABLE DIRECTION TO
TEACH MEN IHAT IS HOST LIKELY TO PROVE AVAIL-
ABLE, HHEN THEY SHALL QUIETLY CONSIDER THE
TRIAL THAT HATH BEEN THUS LONG HAD OF BOTH
KINDS OF REFORHATION; AS HELL THIS MODERATE
KIND HHICH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND HATH TAKEN,
As THAT OTHER MORE EXTREME AND RIGOROUS HHICH

Mk. 5, g, "PREFACE," VIII, I2; VOL. I, I90.

 

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CERTAI CHURCHES ELSEWHERE HAVE BETTER
LIKED.

(3N: CANNOT HELP NOTING IN THESE LINES THE MELANCHOLY
‘rONEs OF THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, AND THE EXHAUSTION.
TWSOUGH HOOKER BEBBED ALL OF THE QUESTIONS HHICH WHITGIFT
BEEGGED, AND THOUGH HE Too RELIED HEAVILY ON POLITICAL Ex-
PEDIENCY, HIS APOLOGY--FILLED wITH HIS owN PATIENCE AND
CIIARITY--MADE EVEN CUESTION-BEGGINC AND EXPEDIENOY LOOK
PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE.
IT CAN BE SEEN FROM THIS BRIEF SUMMARY THAT THERE
WERE THREE BASIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE RELATIONSHIP 3:-
‘erEN THE CHURCH AND STATE IN SIXTEENTH-CENTURY ENGLAND.
'THE PURITANS, TAKING THEIR EXAMPLES FROM THE "BEST RE-
FORMED CHURCHES," BELIEVED THAT THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM
OF GOD COULD BE DONE EFFECTIVELY ONLY IF THE CIVIL GOVERN-
MENT RELINQUISHED ITS CONTROL OVER THE ECCLESIASTICAL AF-
FAIRS OF THE NATION. .THE GOVERNMENT, TO BE SURE, COULD
BE CALLED UPON TO ASSIST CHURCHMEN IN KEEPING THE TRUE
CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ORDER, BUT IT COULD NOT PRESUME To
TELL THE SOCIETY OF THE INSPIRED HON TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSI-
NESS. THERE HAS NOT, OF COURSE, A_PURITAN POINT OF VIEN,
SINCE MANY ENGLISH REFORMERS HOULD CLEARLY HAVE BEEN SAT-
ISFIED TO SEE THE CHURCH GOVERNMENT REMAIN AS IT WAS IF

MORE FREEDO” COULD BE ALLOWED IN CHUROH CEREMONIES, BUT

I450 E. E. IV, XIV, 6; VOL. I, “86-87.

{HUN IDEOLOGY Li:
I I
IEJ-TT, OR AT MW FA
III. AQUICK ELAI‘ZE
LLM’E NEEDED T3 FE
Milk DDIN HIS SCEF
5235 BE REQJIRED T:
YiiaElNI-IS.
ETITGIFT'S AH;
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=YTE£PURITANS, IA
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PURITAN IDEOLOGY LED INEVITABLY TO THE CONCLUSIONS OF CART-
HRISHT, OR AT ANY RATE THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO ASSUME THAT IT
DID. A QUICK GLANCE TO THE NORTH OR ACROSS THE CHANNEL HAS
ALL ONE NEEDED TO REALIZE THAT ONCE A CIVIL MAGISTRATE HAD
THRONN DOIN HIS SCEPTER AT THE FEET OF THE CHURCH, HE COULD
SOON BE REQUIRED To SHUFFLE OFF WHAT REMAINED OF HIS REGAL
TRAPPINGS.

WHITGIFT'S ANSNER, THOUGH IT BEGGED THE QUESTION RAISED
BY THE PURITANS, HAS ADMIRABLY SUITED To THE TIME, AND IT
BECAME THE GOVERNMENT'S MOTTO FOR SEVERAL DECADES. THE
CHURCH, NOT CLAIMING INFALLIBILITY, WAS UNAVOIDABLY CON-
NECTED WITH THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT NEEDED THE
LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL AUTHORITY OF THE PARLIAMENT AND
cRONN TO PROTECT THE BODY OF THE PEOPLE FROM FANATICAL
NHIMSY. HISTORY, CERTAINLY NOT ENGLISH HISTORY, HAD NEVER
SUGGESTED THAT CIVIL OBEDIENCE COULD BE FRAGMENTED.

HOOKER'S STATE, HHICH, AS SOMEONE SAID, RESEMBLES A
"REFLEX ACTION OF GOD," HAS BASED ON WHITGIFTIS FOUNDATION
OF EXPEDIENCY BUT ALSO JUSTIFIED IN TERMS OF THE LARGER
SPIRITUAL ENDS OF A SOCIETY. HOOKER HAD STARTED FROM THE
ARISTOTELIAN PREMISE THAT MANFLOURISHES As A SOCIAL BEING
AND HAD INFUSED THIS THEORY WITH THE RATIONALISM OF AQUINAS."L6
hé. SHIRLEY HAS DISCUSSED THE DEBT OF HOOKER To ARISTOTLE

AND AQUINAS AT CONSIDERABLE LENGTH; SEE ESPECIALLY CH.
IV, “LAH AND AUTHORITY."

T l

J

.I‘

*1

’4

IthL‘GH SOD REMAI
IEEEE OPERATES UN:
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:15"?

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1+9

ALTHOUGH GOD REMAINS AN INFINITE MYSTERY, HIS VISIBLE UNI-
VERSE OPERATES UNDER NATURAL LAWS WHICH CAN, IN SOME DE“
GREE, BE DISCOVERED BY THE MIND OF FALLEN MAN. THE STATE
HHICH CONDUCTS ITS SPIRITUALAND TEMPORAL LIFE UNDER THE
AEGIS OF REASON HAS THE SANCTION OF GOD, AND SINCE REASON
HAS TAUGHT THAT THE ENGLISH CHURCH AND NATION HAVE RATIONAL

FOUNDATIONs-“THAT IS, THEY HAVE WORKED‘-THEY RECEIVE GOD'S

 

BLESSINGO A STATE ALREADY APPROVED BY THE ALMIGHTY IS COM“

MITTED ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO A DEFENSE OF THE STATUS QUO.
II. BACON AND THE STATE

IT IS NOTEHORTHY THAT IN SPITE OF HIS INVOLVEMENT IN
CIVIL AFFAIRS DURING MOST OF HIS MATURE LIFE AND IN SPITE
OF HIS PHILOSOPHICAL INTEREST IN CONDUCT, BACON DID NOT
HRITE A COMPREHENSIVE ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND FUNCTION OF
THE STATE. YET THE FRAGMENTS HHICH HE LEFT--IN HIS PHILo-
SOPHICAL, LITERARY, AND OCCASIONAL wORKs-—NOULD FILL A
SIZEABLE VOLUME. I THINK, IN FACT, THAT HE SAID ALMOST
EVERYTHING HE NANTED To SAY ABOUT MANY ASPECTS OF THE STATE
AND THAT ANY FURTHER HORK WOULD HAVE BEEN A SYNTHESIS OF
IDEAS HHICH HE HAD LEFT SOATTERED THROUGH THE WORKS OF HIS
MANY YEARS IN PUBLIC AND LITERARY LIFE. THE STUDENT'S
TASK, THEN, IS NOT To FILL IN EMPTY SPACES HITH CAUTIOUS

EXTRAPOLATION BUT To RANGE AT LARGE OVER BACON'S HORKS,

—I

-I

 

~I

YT

ISHauus AND CATAL
I I .I w , ' I ‘ jIEIACLINATION on T
I ~ I I DH BEST III I
, I '
. , I . t :INESTATE IS TO .
; ll .~ I
I I E! " SSH MS OIN DISC

11' :.'I3HT
UORE PLAU
— COURSE HA
I .. - ‘ , " I ' LAIS, IN
I ' f I I , THEY ARE
” 8T IHDM
I BUT FDRA
PASSIONS
OTHER, T
-4 , I UNTO TH:
T " ' “we; I
BEATEN F
, T “ JI T' A MORE 5
I I. 3 TI I T- : I ' PROPOSE.
II p. 'I /‘ T I ’ I

50

ASSEMBLING AND CATALOGUING IDEAS WHICH BACON LACKED EITHER

THE INCLINATION OR THE TIME TO ARRANGth7
THE BEST HAY I KNOW TO CHARACTERIZE BACONIS REFLECTIONS
ON THE STATE IS TO QUOTE FROM A PASSAGE IN WHICH HOOKER DEs-

CRIBED HIS OWN DISCUSSION OF LAH:

IT MIGHT PERADVENTURE HAVE BEEN MORE POPULAR NVD
MORE PLAUSIBLE TO VULGAR EARS, IF THIS FIRST DIS—
COURSE HAD BEEN SPENT IN EXTOLLING THE FORCE OF
LAWS, IN SHEWING THE GREAT NECESSITY OF THEM WHEN
THEY ARE GOOD, AND IN AGGRAVATING THEIR OFFENCE
BY WHOM PUBLIC LAWS ARE INJURIOUSLY TRADUCED.

BUT FORASMUCH As WITH SUCH KIND OF MATTER THE
PASSIONS OF MEN ARE RATHER STIRRED ONE WAY OR
OTHER, THAN THEIR KNOWLEDGE ANY WAY SET FORHARD
UNTO THE TRIAL OF THAT WHEREOF THERE IS DOUBT
MADE; I HAVE THEREFORE TURNED ASIDE FROM THAT
BEATEN PATH, AND CHOSEN THOUGH A LESS EASY YET

A MORE P FITABLE WAY IN REGARD OF THE END NE
PROPOSE.

ALTHOUGH BACON IS ALSO ATTEMPTING TO SET KNOWLEDGE FORWARD,
FOR THE MOST PART HE DOES WHAT HOOKER PROPOSES NOT To Do.
HE SPEAKS To "VULGAR EARS," OR TO ANY EARS HHICH NILL OPEN

THEMSELVES, TREADS BEATEN PATHs--WHICH HE THINKS ARE STILL

U7. BACONIS STATE HAS BEEN STUDIED BY TIO GERMAN SCHOLARS:
WILHELM RICHTER, BACON A££.STAATSDENK§§ (BERLIN, I928)
AND HELLMUT BOOK, STAAT UND GESELLSCHAFT EEl_FRANOIS
BACON (BERLIN, I957). THE—STUDY BY RICHTER IS A SHORT
DISSERTATION (C. 50 PAGES), HALF OF WHICH IS DEVOTED
TO A GENERAL suRVEY OF THE BACKGROUND OF BACONIS Po-
LITICAL THOUGHT. RICHTER MAKES VERY LITTLE USE OF
BAOON'S RELIGIo-POLITICAL WRITINGS, BUT DOES OFFER
EXTENSIVE REFERENCES TO THEM IN FOOTNOTES. BOOK'S
IS AN EXCELLENT ESSAY, WHOSE THEMES I SHALL MENTION
BELON. THERE Is AN ITALIAN STUDY OF BACON AND
MACHIAVELLI: N. ORSINI, BACONE E MACHIAVELLI (GENOA,

I956)- _ . . ,
L8. g, E. I, XVI, I; VOL. I, 277.

 

 

 

"I

NEED or IMPROVEIJE
man STIR HEN To I
mun-Is: ACTION.
Izm DESCRIBE EAc

THE MCST INTER
sun IS THAT IT OP
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mam ‘HIS PHILss:
czmmao To LE”

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SEAT

ELY CHALLEN-SEC
m ACTUALLY 00.

WZ-THE IDOLS IS 5
IBEX C‘F BACON‘S Hi
:2: III IHICH LIFE
MIL DISORDER IS

2mm

“
I"

5:

IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT--AND SUGGESTS MEASURES WHICH WILL
INDEED STIR MEN To ACTION, OR, MORE FREQUENTLY, TURN THEM
FROM UNWISE ACTION. IF HOOKER IS A PHILOSOPHER OF POLITICS,
WE MAY DESCRIBE BACON AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT BACON'S IDEA OF THE
STATE IS THAT IT OPERATES ON TWO WIDELY SEPARATED PLANES.
IN FACT, ONE WHO HAS COME TO KNOW BACON--AS MOST 00--
THROUGH HIS PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY WORKS IS SOMEWHAT
CONFOUNDED TO LEARN IN THE OCCASIONAL WORKS THAT BACONIS
OPTIMISM, WHAT BRINTON CALLS “EXUBERANT HUMANISM,"u9IS
GRAVELY CHALLENGED WHEN HE TURNS TO DISCUSSIONS OF WHAT

MEN ACTUALLY DO. THE PESSIMISM EXPRESSED IN THE ESSAYS

 

AND THE IDOLS IS SOMEHOW SWALLOWED UP IN THE LARGER FRAME-
WORK OF BACON'S HOPES FOR THE FUTURE KINGDOM OF MAN, A KING-
DOM IN WHICH LIFE HAS BECOME SO SPLENDIDLY LIVABLE THAT

CIVIL DISORDER I8 HARDLY THINKABLEC IN THE NE!_ATLANTIS

 

DISOIPLINARY PROBLEMS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS HANDLED IN THE
HOME, WHERE SOCIOLOGISTS TELL US THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED
NOW. THE FATHER OF THE FAMILY MEETS WITH HIS DESOENDANTS,
AND IF SOMEONE HAS STEPPED OUT OF LINE-“WHICH RARELY HAP-
PEN8--THE FATHER SCOLDS HIM ROUNDLY AND TELLS HIM TO STOP
THIS IRRATIONAL AND RETROGRESSIVE NONSENSE. ONE IMAGINES

THAT A BENSALEMITE WHO BY SOME TWIST OF FATE HAD COMMITTED

A9. cRANE BRINTON, THE SHAPING 2£_THE MODERN MIND (NEW
YORK, NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY, I955; I959. FIRST PUB-
LISHED IN IDEAS AND MEN (NEW YORK, PRENTICE—HALL,
I950), CH. '0

n

R!

IszIAE OFFENSE A
:35 IMMEDIATE OEPJF-
MAI NATURE EXPRES
gIcz-A's TRUE EVALUA
PIRREHCVEO (As YET
EOCA CALLS THI
22:11:», A IIIOERSPI
——._.__
THCSUSING HENRY F
4:25: T3 IORK IHILI
EIEE A MAN SETS AB
“3-": Hi Is cane:
5575 THE CLOSED EA

SMEESIIDNS’ AND E

II"

'I BE SEEN IN TH

52

A GENUINE OFFENSE AGAINST THE STATE WOULD BEG ON BOTH KNEEs
FOR IMMEDIATE DEPORTATIONC. NONETHELESS, THE DISTRUST FOR
HUMAN NATURE EXPRESSED IN THE ESSAYS AND IDOLS REPRESENTS
BACONIS TRUE EVALUATION OF CONTEMPORARY MAN, A BEING NOT
FAR REMOVED (AS YET) FROM THE BRUTE.

BOOK CALLS THIS DIVISION IN BACON'S THOUGHT A CONTRA-

DIGTION, A WIDERSPRUCH,5OBUT I BELIEVE THIS IS EQUIVALENT

 

To ACCUSING HENRY FORD OF INCONSISTENCY BECAUSE HE DROVE A
HORSE TO WORK WHILE HE WAS DEVELOPING THE AUTOMOBILE. WHEN-
EYER A MAN SETS ABOUT DIVERTING THE MAINSTREAM OF CIVILIZA-
TION, HE IS OBLIGED TO OVERSTATE HIS CASE: THAT IS HOW HE
GETS THE CLOSED EAR OF MANKIND TO OPEN ITSELF To ANY_OF HIS
SUGGESTIONS, AND BAOONIS MORE SANGUINE OPTIMISM SHOULD AL-
WAYS BE SEEN IN THIS LIGHT.

SINCE SEVERAL ASPECTS OF HIS STATE WILL BE COVERED IN
SEPARATE CHAPTERS, AS THEY APPLY TO TRACTS UNDER DISCUSSION,
ONLY FIVE OF BACONIS THEMES WILL CONCERN US HERE: THE COMPo-
SITION OF THE STATE, THE NATURE OF CIVIL OBEDIENCE, THE
FRUITS OF RELIGIOUS UNITY, THE BOUNDS OF RELIGIOUS UNITY,
AND THE METHODS OF ACHIEVING RELIGIOUS UNITY. oNE COMFORT-
ING FACT ABOUT BACONISPOLITICAL REFLECTIONS IS THAT WHEREVER
ONE ENCOUNTERS THEM, THEY ARE REMARKABLY CONSISTENT. (AS

MARY STURT HAS SAID, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT BACON HAD NO

50. STAAT UND GESELLSCHAFT BEI_BACON, P. 25.

 

.1

H

T I

p

yam CHILDHCDD .:
vs IOEA OF THE STAT
.zsssR-ANOIN IORKS
:HI INST OF THE CC‘
’ElLGSDPHICAL AND L
IT SHOULD NOT
I'm FDR ORCER, BA
=EE=:AO£NOY IN HIs
Ame THE FAHI.IAR
EIEEYIHERE IN ELIZI

MEWS: "IN HIS

PLACES HIS KING AT
HS REEAL HAND T0
FEITION ASPIRES T
MEI-EST ORDER OF I

“MELT.

55

LITERARY CHILDHOODOSIA CERTAINLY THERE IS NO EVOLUTION IN
HIS IDEA OF THE STATE, AND SINCE I WILL BE DEALING WITH HIS
LESSER-KNOWN WORKS IN THE BODY OF THIS PAPER, I WISH To
DRAW MOST OF THE COMMENTS IN THIS INTRODUCTION FROM HIS
PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY WORKS.

IT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US THAT BACON'S PHILOSOPHICAL
QUEST FOR ORDER, BALANCE AND UNITY FINDS ITS NATURAL COR-
RESPONDENOY IN HIS IDEA OF THE STATE.‘ THIS STATE IS FORMED
ALONG THE FAMILIAR PYRAMIDAL LINES WHICH ONE ENCOUNTERS
EVERYWHERE IN ELIZABETHAN THOUGHT. IN HIS MORE POETIC
MOMENTS, WHEN HIS IDEAS ARE "HOLPEN WITH A METAPHOR," BACON
PLACES HIS KING ATOP THE PYRAMID, FROM WHERE HE STRETCHES
HIS REGAL HAND To TOUCH THE LOWEST ORDER OF ANGELS.52 ALL
CREATION ASPIRES TO UNITY, AND THE KING SERVEs--AS THE
HIGHEST ORDER OF MAN--TO CONNECT THE VISIBLE AND THE IN-
VISIBLE. BUT BAOON'S REAL KING, THE ONE HE BELIEVES IN
AND THE ONE HE KNOWS, IS A DECIDEDLY HUMAN BEING, A PERSON
WHO MAY BE LAZY, VICIOUS, MISINFCRMED, STUPID, OR EVEN IN-
SANE; AND EVEN WHEN HE IS AN IDEAL KING, A MONAROHAL TRIPLE?
THREAT WHO COMBINES PIETY, LEARNING, ANDEFFICIENCY, HE IS
IN NEED OF THE BEST COUNSEL WHICH HIS NATION CAN PROVIDE

HIM.

5I. FRANCIS BACON (LONDON, KEGAN PAUL, I952), P. 20.

52. FOR EXAMPLE, SEE HIS DISCUSSION OF PAN IN THE WISDOM
BE THE ANCIENTS, WORKS, Vl, 707-Ih.

 

—I

H I I
T .
"IT I I
c I “TE
I F
. I
T _. I
I I I; I I
’ I
. I
I I , I
J , I
.'{ ’
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0 (' 1Q

‘{ J

I INTHE COUPOSI
I I .
, I LHHJM To KEEP 1
; HugnTHEREFORE TI
I , I , ; HHSH HMLITY I
‘J,UNH SPEEDILY
EIHASUSES THE
'HSOLENOT OF INFE
HHHSSOF THE TI
InncTosg "T30
Hkraaulryn).
CONCURRENT ‘
:EEREE IS THE KIN
ELEIIENT “THIN TI-I

‘:"ST‘NTLY IN c OI

JEIC:

KINGS
F°R LE.
CIOUS

51+

IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE THE KING HAS ONE MAJOR
FUNCTION: TO KEEP THE NATION'S ESTATES IN THEIR PROPER OR-
DERS: "THEREFORE THE MULTIPLYING OF NOBILITY AND OTHER DE-
GREES OF QUALITY IN AN OVER PROPORTION TO THE COMMON PED-
PLE, DOTH SPEEDILY BRING A STATE TO NECESSITY. . . ."55
THE KING USES THE NOBILITY As A SEA-WALL AGAINST WHICH THE
"INSOLENCY OF INFERIORS" MAY BE SPENT BEFORE IT REACHES THE
FORTRESS OF THE THRONE, BUT THE NOBLES ARE NOT To BE PER-
MITTED To BE "TOO GREAT FOR SOVEREIGNTY NOR FOR JUSTICE"
("0F NOBILITY").

CONCURRENT WITH THE NECESSITY OF PRESERVING ORDER AND
DEGREE IS THE KING'S OBLIGATION TO REMAIN THE "INDIFFERENT"
ELEMENT WITHIN THE NATION. FORCES WITHIN A SOCIETY ARE

CONSTANTLY IN CONFLICT; FACTION IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A

HEAD:

KINGS HAD NEED BEWARE HOW THEY SIDE THEMSELVES
AND MAKE THEMSELVES AS OF A FACTION OR PARTY;
FOR LEAGUES WITHIN THE STATE ARE EVER PERNI-
OIOUS To MONAROHIES. . . . WHEN FACTIONS ARE
CARRIED TOO HIGH AND TOO VIOLENTLY, IT IS A
SIGN OF WEAKNESS IN PRINCEs; AND MUCH To THE
PREJUDIOE BOTH OF THEIR AUTHORITY AND BUSINESS.
THE MOTIONS or FACTIONS UNDER KINGS OUGHT TO
BE LIKE THE MOTIONS (AS THE ASTRONOMERS SPEAK)
OF THE INFERIOR ORBS, WHICH MAY HAVE THEIR
PROPER MOTIONS, BUT YET STILL ARE QUIETLY
CARRIED BY THE HIGHER MOTION OF THE PRIMUM
MOBILE ("0F FACTIONS").

53. "0F SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES." I HAVE USED, IN MY
QUOTATIONS FROM THE ESSAYS, THE MODERNIZED TEXT OF
PROFESSOR HUGH DICK, SELECTED WRITINGS 2£_FRANGIS
BACON (NEW YORK, RANDOM HOUSE, I955).

 

.1

[ITHE M 2: I.
sHLorEACON'S “31
fHIAHJ 0F TYPHC
HMIHIS OFFICE A
HEIHLE JUNO WA:
HHNIIfiR AIO AI
TI-IEDDIER TO CREA'
IEEPDIER, SHE CR
T‘I‘ESI‘I'EIS 0F U'Ur':
"H,LEAVING THE
EHHRY RESCUEO

ETEENQTH, HE SHO'

I“

H
[HAMIME JUF

TV‘

I'H.
CN'8) HEAD.

OACON SAY
TLI
EOF KINGS Al
“I. BACON ‘RO
A
L20 PUBL'S
§$325 (BALI
7H8 GREATL
INEJORK
:ISPIRED,P
~' CON
I
:ECE VERST
H
a 3C
:ACO OVE
N
ADVA , SPE

55

IN THE WISDOM _O_§'_ THE ANCIENTS,5LI'A WORK WHICH CONTAINS SEV"

 

ERAL CF BACON'S MOST IMPORTANT COMMENTS ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT,
THE FABLE OF TYPHON IS USED TOIJEMONSTRATE HOW A KING MIGHT
ABUSE HIS OFFICE AND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE. IN
THE FABLE JUNO WAS ANGRY WITH JUPITER FOR ENGENDERING PALLAS
WITHOUT HER AID AND THEREFORE IMPLORED THE GODS TO GRANT HER
THE POWER To CREATE SOMETHING WITHOUT JUPITER'S HELP. GIVEN
THE POWER, SHE CREATED TYPHON, AN AWFUL MONSTER, WHO CUT OUT
THE SINEWS OF JUPITERIS HANDS AND FEET AND CARRIED THEM
AWAY, LEAVING THE GOD A HELPLESS, MUTILATED WRECK. BUT
MERCURY RESCUED THE SINEWS, AND WHEN JUPITER REGAINED HIS
STRENGTH, HE SHOT A THUNDERBOLT INTO TYPHON. FROM THE BLOOD
WHICH FLOWED FROM TYPHON'S WOUND SERPENTS SPRANG FORTH. IN
THE MEANTIME JUPITER HAD CAST THE WHOLE OF MOUNT AETNA UPON
TYPHONIS HEAD.

BACON SAYS THIS FABLE DEMONSTRATES THE uVARIABLE FOR-
TUNE OF KINGS AND THE REBELLIONS THAT OCCUR FROM TIME TO
5h. BACON WROTE THIS WORK IN LATIN (DE sAPIENTIA VETERUM)

AND PUBLISHED IT IN I609. IT HAS—BEEN STUDIED-TT-—_'

LENGTH BY CHARLES w. LEMMI, THE gLASSICAL DEITIES L!
BACON (BALTIMORE, JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS, I933). LEMMI
HTS—CREATLY DIMINISHED THE SUPPOSED ORIGINALITY OF
THE WORK, CHARACTERIZING IT, I FEAR, As'A KIND OF
INSPIRED PLAGIARISM. SPEDDING'S CONJEOTURE IS THAT
BACON WROTE THE PIECE TO CONDITION HIS AUDIENCE TO
RECEIVE HIS PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS. BY ESTABLISHING
THE PREMISE THAT THE ANCIENTS POSSESSED THE CAPACITY
To DISCOVER FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE UNIVERSE,
BACON, sPEDDING SAYS, COULD MAKE HIS PLAN FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING SEEM MORE REASONABLE. WHAT
MAN COULD DO ONCE HE COULD Do AGAIN. AN ENGLISH
TRANSLATION FOLLOWS THE LATIN TEXT, WORKS, VI, 687-

76k.

 

 

IVIIAVONARCHIES.
LIKE IIAII ANO IIFE,

TCHNNHTERIHS I
ISHSANO SENATE--
FEBNINNING A FE
5H:HLT TO PLOT I4
W'HIRTHE PEOPL
HIAERINNATE DEF
““0" PEOPLE, IN
“HCEAND MISCHI-
WI RESELLION, I.

THE HIDEOUSNESS o

’

56

TIME IN MONARCHIES." A KING AND HIS KINGDOM ARE PROPERLY
LIKE MAN AND WIFE, AND WHEN THE KING TAKES IT UPON HIMSELF
To ADMINISTER HIS GOVERNMENT ALONE--To THE NEGLECT OF HIS
NOBLES AND SENATE--HIS SUBJECTS ARE SOON DISCONTENT. IN
THE BEGINNING A FEW "NOBLES AND GREAT PERSONS" WILL MEET
SECRETLY TO PLOT HIS OVERTHROW, BUT SOON THEY WILL BEGIN
TO 'STIR THE PEOPLE." THEIR OWN DEVICES WILL BE COMPOUNDED
BY THE nINNATE DEPRAVITY AND MALIGNANT DISPOSITION OF THE
COMMON PEOPLE, WHICH IS To KINGS LIKE A SERPENT FULL OF
MALICE AND MISCHIEF." SOON, DISAFFECTION WILL SPREAD TO
OPEN REBELLION, WHOSE HORROR AM) DANGER ARE SYMBOLIZED IN
THE HIDEOUSNESS OF TYPHON: I'WITH A HUNDRED HEADS, DENOTING
DIVIDED POWERs; FLAMING MOUTHS, FOR DEVASTATION BY FIRE;
BELTS OF SNAKES, FOR THE PESTILENOES WHICH PREVAIL, Es-
PECIALLY IN SIEGEs; IRON HANDS, FOR SLAUGHTERs; EAGLE'S
TALONS, FOR RAPINE; FEATHERY BODY, FOR PERPETUAL RUMOURS,
REPORTS TREPIOATIONS AND THE LIKE."

REBELLIONS MAY GROW TO SUCH PROPORTIONS, HE CONTINUES,
THAT THE SOVEREIGN WILL BE FORCED To LEAVE HIS DOMINIONS
AND RETIRE TO SOME "REMOTE AND OBSCURE PROVINCE; HIS SINEWS
BOTH OF MONEY AND MAJESTY BEING CUT OFF." NONETHELESS, IF
THE SEGUESTERED RULER ANALYZES HIS SITUATION CAREFULLY, HE
MAY RETURN TO POWER. BY "AFFABILITY AND WISE EDICTS AND
GRACICUS SPEECHES” HE MAY REGAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF HIS PED-

PLE AND MAY PERSUADE THEM TO GIVE HIM SUPPLIES. CAUTIOUSLY

 

éIHLLlORK HIS IAI
:HH. SY SOME “HE!
HMHTHN OF THE A
MENEIN THEMSELV
WT," HE IILL DES
DHATHEV COMPLETE

THH IS A SIN;

EL"=5ICONIS ALIAY:

SHHHAH3 IHATEV

‘5 VESTED 'lTH VAS
HMIENDMSER 0F ,

K“STHE TALE OF
5““ THE AID OF

:qUUPON HER
IEI‘: .-
“Mfi BOTH THE

{34%

.Rznm ARMED PA
70A:

THIS MC

:ABLE CON1

OVERNMENT

57

HE WILL WORK HIS WAY BACK To POWER, AVOIDING VIOLENCE AT ALL
COSTS. BY SOME "MEMORABLE EXPLOIT" HE WILL DIMINISH THE
REPUTATION OF THE REBELS AND ATTEMPT To DESTROY THEIR CON-
FIDENCE IN THEMSELVES. WHEN THEY ARE "BEGINNING TO FALL
APART," HE WILL DESCEND UPON THEM (LIKE A MOUNTAIN) AND
CRUSH THEM COMPLETELY.55

THIS IS A SINGULARLY UN-BACONIAN WAY To PROVE A POINT,
BUT BACON IS ALWAYS INTENSELY SERIOUS WHEN HE DISCUSSES
STATECRAFT, WHATEVER METHODS HE USES. THE KING, WE NOTE,
Is VESTED WITH VAST POWERS, BUT HE MAY LOSE THEM IN AN IN-
FINITE NUMBER OF WAYS.

ANOTHER OF THE FABLES SERVES TO DEMONSTRATE THE DANGERS
OF EXTENDING THE PRINCIPLE CF nMAN AND WIFE" TOO FAR. BACON
TELLS THE TALE OF METIS TO WARN THE KING THAT ALTHOUGH HE
SEEKS THE AID OF HIS SUBJECTS, HE MUST PROTECT HIS REGAL
IMAGE. JUPITER, AS THE FABLE GOES, WED METIS AND ENGEND-
ERED UPON HER A CHILD, BUT BEFORE THE CHILD WAS BORN, JUPITER
DEVOURED BOTH THE WIFE AND THE UNBORN INFANT~~WHEREUPON HE
FOUND HIMSELF WITH CHILD AND BY A DELIVERY "OF STRANGE KIND"
BORE THE ARMED PALLAS. BACON GIVES THE FOLLOWING INTERPRETA-
TION:

THIS MONSTROUS AND AT FIRST SIGHT VERY FOOLISH

FABLE CONTAINS, AS I INTERPRET IT, A SECRET OF
GOVERNMENT. IT DESCRIBES THE ART WHEREBY KINGS

55- WORKS, VI, 702-h.

so DEAL WITH
AEEP THEIR AL
ALSO To INCRE
PEOPLE. FOR
TIE THEMSELVI
THAT or WE:L
ING ALL TFEI
THAT THIS Is
IHEN THE QUE
Is THE BRIN;

 

CIL TO DEAL
SHOULD SEEM
I‘LL; BUT A
SUCH A NATO
0‘ '7) THEY
BEEN BY TL-E
IN THE IGME
('HICH BECI
NECESSITY,
0‘ PALLAS

NOR Is IT

WEIR FREE
THORITY Ah
THAT THE C
OUT CF THI

II THE E55" “OF

58

SO DEAL WITH THE COUNCILS OF STATE AS NOT ONLY TO
KEEP THEIR AUTHORITY AND MAJESTY UNTOUCHED, BUT

ALSO TO INCREASE AND EXALT IT IN THE EYES OF THEIR
PEOPLE. FOR KINGS BY A SOUND AND WISE ARRANGEMENT
TIE THEMSELVES TO THEIR COUNCILS WITH A BOND LIKE
THAT OF WEDLOCK, AND DELIBERATE WITH THEM CONCERN-
ING ALL THEIR GREATEST MATTERS, RIGHTLY JUDGING

THAT THIS IS NO DIMINUTICN To THEIR MAJESTY. BUT
WHEN THE QUESTION GROWS RIPE FOR A DECISION (WHICH
IS THE BRINGING FORTH) THEY Do NOT ALLOW THE COUN-
CIL To DEAL ANY FURTHER IN IT, LEST THEIR ACTS
SHOULD SEEM To BE DEPENDENT UPON THE COUNCIL'S

WILL; BUT AT THAT POINT, (UNLESS THE MATTER BE OF
SUCH A NATURE THAT THEY WISH TO PUT AWAY THE ENVY

OF IT) THEY TAKE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS WHATEVER HAS
BEEN BY THE COUNCIL ELABORATED AND AS IT WERE SHAPED
IN THE WOMB; SO THAT THE DECISION AND EXECUTION
(WHICH BECAUSE IT COMES FORTH WITH POWER AND CARRIES
NECESSITY, IS ELEGANTLY REPRESENTED UNDER THE FIGURE
OF PALLAS ARMED) MAY SEEM To EMANATE FROM THEMSELVES.
NOR IS IT ENOUGH THAT IT BE SEEN TO PROCEED.FROM
THEIR FREE AND UNCONSTRAINED AND INDEPENDENT Au-
THORITY AND WILL, BUT THEY MUST HAVE THE WORLD THINK
THAT THE DECISION COMES OUT OF THEIR HEAD, THA§6IS
OUT OF THEIR PROPER WISDOM AND JUDGMENT. . . .

IN THE ESSAY "0F COUNSEL,"57WHIOH GREW OUT OF THIS DISCUS-
SION, BACON WARNS THE KING OF ANOTHER PROBLEM OF COUNSEL:
"5 KING, WHEN HE PRESIDES IN COUNSEL, LET HIM BEWARE HOW

HE OPENS HIS OWN INCLINATION TOO MUCH IN THAT WHICH HE
PROPOUNDETH; FOR ELSE COUNSELLCRS WILL BUT TAKE THE WIND

OF HIM, AND INSTEAD OF GIVING FREE COUNSEL, SING HIM A SONG

OF PLACEBO."58

 

56o IBID., PP. 76I'620

57. A GREAT MANY OF THE ESSAYS ARE DRAWN FROM BACON'S
OTHER WORKS. FOR EXAMPLE SEE J. zEITLIN, "THE
DEVELOPMENT OF BACONIS ESSAYS," JEGP, XXVII (I928)

PP. h96’5I90 _

58. oNE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BACON
AND MACHIAVELLI IS CONCERNED WITH THE LATTER'S LACK
OF CONFIDENCE IN COUNSEL. MACHIAVELLI'S POSITION

 

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59

IN AN OVERSIMPLIFIED FORM IT MAY BE SAID THAT BACON'S
STATE IS COMPOSED OF THOSE WHO RULE AND THOSE WHO MUST BE
RULED. BACON STARTS FROM THE PREMISE THAT A STATE IS A
VISIBLE FACT, EXISTING IN A SPECIFIC PLACE AT A SPECIFIC
TIME AND HAVING ITS OWN PROBLEMS To SOLVE. THE KING IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESERVING ORDER, WITHOUT WHICH NO BUSI-
NESS IN THE KINGDOM CAN BE CONDUCTED EFFECTIVELY--OR CON-
DUCTED AT ALL. ORDER ITSELF IS PRESERVED WHEN RULERS UNDER-
STAND HOW FUNDAMENTALLY UNCIVIL INDIVIDUAL MEN ACTUALLY ARE.
WHEN BACON DISCUSSES CIVIL OBEDIENCE, WHOSE PROBLEMS ARE
ALL INVOLVED WITH HIS IDEA OF THE KING, WE ARE REMINDED OF
HIS MOST FAMOUS COMMENT ON MACHIAVELLI:

SO THAT WE ARE MUCH BEHOLDEN To MACHIAVELLI AND
OTHER WRITERS OF THAT CLASS, WHO OPENLY AND UN-
FEIGNEOLY DECLARE OR DESCRIBE WHAT MEN DO, AND
NOT WHAT THEY OUGHT TO DO. FOR IT IS NOT POS—
SIBLE TO JOIN THE WISDOM OF THE SERPENT WITH
THE INNOCENCE OF THE DOVE, EXCEPT MEN BE PER-
FECTLY AOQUAINTED WITH THE NATURE OF EVIL IT-
SELF; FOR WITHOUT THIS, VIRTUE IS OPEN AND UN-
FENCED; AND A VIRTUOUS AND HONEST MAN CAN DO
NO GOOD UPON THOSE THAT ARE WICKED, To CORRECT
AND RECLAIM THEM, WITHOUT FIRST EXPLORIN ALL
THE DEPTHS AND RECESSES OF THEIR MALICE.
ALTHOUGH BACON BY NO MEANS NEGLECTS TELLING MEN WHAT THEY
OUGHT TO DO, THE BODY OF HIS COMMENTS ON CIVIL OBEDIENCE

IS THAT IF A KING NEEDS COUNSEL--AND ADMITS HIS NEED--

IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL HE IS NO LONGER

KING. SEE ESPECIALLY CHAPTER XXIII OF THE PRINCE.

BACON'S IDEAL KING IS A "SILENT LEARNERn WHO CAu-
TIOUSLY AVOIDS ANY DISPLAY OF IGNORANCE.

59. BOOK VII OF THE QE’AUGMENTIS, WORKS, v, I7.

P5 M!

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60

REVOLVE AROUND THE NOTION THAT THE MASSES DO WHAT THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO DO AND THAT ANY LOFTY DISCUSSIONS CF “OUGHT"
ARE BETTER FITTED To THE IDLE HOURS, AFTER THE CAT'S WORK
HAS BEEN DONE.

A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE OF BACON'S IDEA OF OBEDIENCE IS
THAT ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATE IS
TO BE APPROACHED WITH THE GREATEST CAUTION. HOOKER WENT A
LONG WAY TOWARD ESTABLISHING THE DIVINITY OF CUSTOM, BUT
BACON HAD FAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ACCUMULATED
DEBRIS OF THE AGES TO FOLLOW HOOKER'S LINE; NCNETHELESS
IN MOST RESPECTS HIS STATE IS FULLY AS IMMOBILE AS THE
CHURCHMAN'So. CUSTOMARILY BACON MAKES AN IMPORTANT DISTING-
OTION BETWEEN INNOVATIONS INVOLVING THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARN-
ING AND THOSE WHICH COMPREHEND POLITICAL CHANGE, AS HE DOES
IN THE NOVUM ORGANUM: "BUT SURELY THERE Is A GREAT DISTINC-
TION BETWEEN MATTERS OF STATE AND THE ARTs; FOR THE DANGER
FROM NEW MOTION AND FROM NEW LIGHT Is NOT THE SAME. IN
MATTERS OF STATE A CHANGE EVEN FOR THE BETTER IS DISTRUSTED,

60

BECAUSE IT UNSETTLES WHAT IS ESTABLISHED." LATER IN THE
SAME WORK HE SUGGESTS THAT THE TASKS HE HAS PLANNED FOR

MANKIND CAN PROCEED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ESTABLISHED
STATE: "MOREOVER THE REFORMATION OF A STATE IN CIVIL MAT-

TERS IS SELDOM BROUGHT IN WITHOUT VIOLENCE AND CONFUSION;

60. BOOK I, APHORISM xc, WORKS, Iv, 89.

 

 

HIDISCOVERIES CA2.
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BUT DISCOVERIES CARRY BLESSINGS WITH THEM, AND CONFER BENE-

IT6I

FITS WITHOUT CAUSING HARM OR SORROW TO ANY. IN THE
ESSAY n0F INNOVATION" HE MAKES ANOTHER RELEVANT COMMENT:
"IT IS GOOD ALSO NOT TO TRY EXPERIMENTS IN STATES, EXCEPT
THE NECESSITY BE URGENT, OR THE UTILITY EVIDENT; AND WELL
TO BEWARE THAT IT BE THE REFORMATION THAT ORAWETH ON THE
CHANGE, AND NOT THE DESIRE OF CHANGE THAT PRETENDETH THE
REFORMATION."
SINCE oHANGE, EVEN FOR THE BETTER, IS TO BE DISTRUSTED,

A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE STATESMAN Is TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
MOTIVATES MEN To RALLY FOR INNOVATION AND TO KNOW WHAT
MEASURES CAN BE USED To DISSIPATE THEIR ENERGY. DISCON-
TENT MAY ARISE, OF COURSE, FROM A POORLY MANAGED OR UNJUST
GOVERNMENT; BUT THE COMMON MAN NEVER NEEDS MORE THAN HIS
OWN INNATE MALICE TOWARD HIS SUPERIORS To STIR HIM TO FAC-
TION, SAYS BACON. To ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT HE RECOUNTS THE
FABLE OF FAME, SISTER OF THE GIANTS. THE GIANTS, CHILDREN
OF EARTH, WARRED AGAINST JUPITER AND THE GODS AND WERE OE-
FEATED WITH THUNDERBOLTS. ENRAGED BY THE DEFEAT OF HER
PROGENY, EARTH CREATED FAME. BACON HAS THE FOLLOWING INTER-
PRETATION OF THIS FABLE:

THE MEANING OF THE FABLE APPEARS To BE

THIS: BY EARTH IS MEANT THE NATURE OF THE
COMMON PEOPLE; ALWAYS SWELLING WITH MALICE

TOWARDS THEIR RULERS, AND HATCHING REVOLU‘
TIONS. THIS UPON OCCASION GIVEN BRINGS

6|. APH. CXXIX, WORKS, Iv, II}.

_)

 

FORTH REE
IICKED A;
PRINCES.
SAME NATI
ING TO 1’
QIILLITY
'HISPERS
LIEELS,

UPON THE
SEOITIC.
SELLICN,
IN SEx:

“ASCULI'

TIE“ IERE’ IT CA

“NTS‘IICH HE W

62

FORTH REBELS AND SEDITIOUS PERSONS, NHO HITH
HIOKED AUDAOITY ENDEAVOUR THE OVERTHROH OF
PRINOES. AND NHEN THEY ARE SUPPRESSED, THE
SAME NATURE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE, STILL LEAN—
INB TO THE HORST PARTY AND IMPATIENT 0F TRAN-
QUILLITY, SIVES BIRTH TO RUMOURS AND MALIGNANT
IHISPERS, AND QUERULOUS PMIES, AND DEPAMATORY
LIBELS, AND THE LIKE, TENDING TO BRING ENVY
UPON THE AUTHORITIES OF THE LAND: SO THAT
SEDITIOUS PAMES DIFFER FROM THE ACTS OF RE-
BELLION, NOT IN RACE AND PARENTAOE, BUT ONLY
IN SEx: THg ONE BEING FEMININE, AND THE OTHER
MASOULINE. 2

THERE HERE, IT OAN BE SEEN, GIANTS IN BAOONIS EARTH TOO,

SIANTS wHIOH HE MILL LATER CALL ”THE BEASTS HITH MANY

HEADS."

IN "or SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES,n ONE OF BAOONIS MOST
IMPORTANT DISOUSSIONS OF NATIONAL STRIPE, THE FABLE OF FAME
Is REPEATED AND SEVERAL NEH DIMENSIONS ADDED To THE PROBLEM
OF DISOORD. BAOON SAYS THAT WHENEVER ONE or THE FOUR PIL-
LARS or SOVERNMENT (RELIGION, JUSTICE, OOUNSEL, AND TREA-
SURE) IS SHAKEN, "MEN HAD NEED TO PRAY FOR PAIR HEATHER."
HE DISODSSES THREE ASPEOTS OF SEDITION: THE MATERIALS, THE
MOTIVES, AND THE REMEDIES. THE THO BASIO MATERIALS OF
SEDITION ARE POVERTY AND DISOONTENTMENT, THE LATTER or
IHIOH IS VERY OOMPLEx. BUT ABOVE ALL THE PRINOE SHOULD
NOT ASSUME THAT THE DANOER OF A DISOONTENT OAN BE MEASURED
BY ITS RELATIVE OLAIM TO JUSTNESS, "FOR THAT WERE TO IMASIHE

PEOPLE TO BE TOO REASONABLE." NOR CAN A PRINCE ASSUNE THAT

620 WORKS, VI, 7'8‘l9o

 

“I

 

IEISCDNTENT IHICH
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2:53“

65

A DISCONTENT HHICH HAS REMAIMED RELATIVELY HARMLESS HILL
CONTINUE TO BE MANAGEABLE, "FOR AS IT Is TRUE THAT EVERY
VAPOUR OR FUME DOTH NOT TURN INTO A STORM; so IT IS NEVER-
THELESS TRUE THAT STORMS, THOUGH THEY BLOH OVER DIVERSE
TIMES, YET MAY FALL AT LAST."

THE CAUSES OR MOTIVES OF SEDITIONS (UNDER WHICH £5157

RIALS SHOULD BE LOGICALLY INCLUDED, I THINK) ARE MULTIFORM~~

 

ANYTHING, ACTUALLY, wHICH "IN OFFENDING PEoPLE, JOINETH
THEM IN A COMMON CAUSE." REMEDIES ARE AS MANY AS INDIVI-
DUAL CASES REQUIRE, BUT ONE SAFE METHOD IS TO "GIVE MODER-
ATE LIBERTY FOR GRIEFS AND DISCONTENTMEHTS TO EVAPORATE (80
IT BE MITHOUT TOO GREAT INSOLENOY OR BRAVERY). . . ." IT
IS ALSO HISE To KEEP MEN NOURISHED HITH HOPE, EVEN HITH A
"POLITIG AND ARTIFICIAL" KIND, WISE TO KEEP FACTION FROM
GAINING A HEAD, HISE TO TURN ONE DISCONTENTED FACTION
AGAINST ANOTHER, AND HISE FOR A PRINCE TO KEEP NEAR HIS
PERSON A WARRIOR OF DEMONSTRATED LOYALTY AND VALOR.

BAOON'S DISTRUST FOR HUMAN NATURE PERMEATES ALL OF HIS
POLITICAL THOUGHT; IT SERVES, ONE MIGHT SAY, AS THE NEOEs-
SARY POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR ANY DISCUSSION OF THE STATE.
YET BACON DOES NOT PERMIT HIS APPREHENSIONS TO LEAD HIM TO
THE MORE UNSAVORY CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY MACHIAVELLI. FOR
ExAMPLE, IE SHALL SEE LATER, PARTICULARLY IN OUR DISCUSSION

OF IN MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE, THAT HE HAS THE HIGHEST PRAISE

 

FOR THE RELIGIOUS RULER. BOCK'S COMMENT ON BACON AND

l'IIRIAVEl

LEIHI, I
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6h

MACHIAVELLI IS, I THINK EMINENTLY SANE:

BACON MAR IM EIGENTLICHEN SINN KEIN MACHIAVEL-
LIST. ZNAR HAT ER MACHIAVELLIs LEHRE GENAU
GEKANNT UND FUHRT IHN ALS AUTORITHT IN ALLEN
MHGLICHEN FRAGEN AN. ER LOBT IHN SEHR, DASS
ER DIE MENSCHEN SO DARGESTELLT HABE, HIE SIE
NIRKLIOH SEIEN. ABER SOBALD ER AN OAS ENT-
SOHEIDENDE IN MACHIAVELLIS LEHRE KAM, DAS
NIMLICH IM STAATSLEBEN AUCH UNMORALISCHE
MITTEL GEREOZTFERTIGT SEIN KONNTEN, HURDE

ER UNSICHER. 5

LEMMI, NHO IS IN GENERAL ACCORD HITH BOOK, MAKES THE IM-
PORTANT OBSERVATION THAT ALTHOUGH BACON DISTRUSTS THE
MASSES, HE HAS NO DESIRE TO OPPRESS THEM: ". . . BACON

wAs STRONGLY AVERSE TO OPPRESSING THE PEOPLE BUT NOT TO
FOOLING THEM. THIS HAS THE GENERAL ATTITUDE OF CONTEM-
PORARY STATESMANSHIP, AND BACON REPEATEDLY IMPLIES HIS BE-
LIEF THAT THE OOMMONALITY, FOR THEIR OWN GOOD, SHOULD BE
REGARDED AS CHILDRENon6u LEMMI MAINTAINS THAT BACON'S CON-

SCIENCE PREVENTED HI“ FROM FOLLOIING THE HARSHER AND MORE

RUTHLESS LINES 0F MACHIAVELLI065 BOOK, GENERALLY MORE

63. STAAT UND GESELLSOHAFT, PP. 6h-65. LEMMI (CLASSICAL
DEITIE§T_GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER IHEN HE SAYS
$fiTT'fiTNY OF MAOHIAVELLI'S CONCLUSIONS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE ADMIRED BY BACON, BELONG TO THE COMMON SENSE

OF STATECRAFT IHIOH EXTENDS AS FAR BACK AS HISTORY
GOES. (SEE IN PARTICULAR PP. I65-6h.) ALTHOUGH I

AM INCLINED TO BE VARY OF THE AGONIES OF PROFESSOR
PRAz HIS THESIS IN MACHIAVELLI AND THE ELIZABETHANS
(I928) HAS A BROAD VALIDITY IN ITE'REITTIONSHIP TO
BACON.

 

 

 

 

6h. CLASSICAL DEITIES, PP. I68-69.

 

650 IBID., PC I7IO

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ESTAELI

65

REALISTIC IN HIS ANALYSIS OF BACON'S VIRTUE, CLAIMS THAT IT

WAS BACON'S FAITH IN A BESSEREN ZUKUNFT WHICH LED HIM AWAY

 

FROM THE DARKER SIDE OF THE FLORENTINE. AT ANY RATE, HHEN
BAOON TURNED TO A DISCUSSION OF RELIGIOUS UNITY THIS SAME
DISTRUST FOR HUMAN NATURE GUIDED ALL OF HIS THOUGHT.

PROBABLY THE BEST-KNONN OF BACON'S RELIGIo-POLITICAL
HRITINGS IS THE ESSAY "0F UNITY IN RELIGION," AND HE SHALL
SEE IN THIS HORK THAT A MAN IS NO MORE CAPABLE OF DIRECTING
HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE TOHARO A MEANINGFUL END THAN HE IS OF
ESTABLISHING HIS OHN TEMPORAL GOALS. THIS ESSAY, SUPPLE-
MENTED IITH REMARKS FROM "OF ATHEISM" AND "OF SUPERSTITION"
IS AN EXCELLENT PRECIS OF BAOON'S MANY REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
AND STATE AND HILL SERVE As A USEFUL TRANSITION TO THE BODY
OF THIS STUDY.

RELIGION, IT IILL BE RECALLED, IS ONE OF THE FOUR
PILLARS OF BAOON'S STATE, ONE OF THE SUPPORTING MEMBERS
OF THE IHOLE NATIONAL LIFE; HENCE IT Is SUBJECT TO THE
SAME EMPIRICAL LAwS HHICH GOVERN AND UNIFY THE SEOULAR
STATE. IN THE OPENING LINES OF "0F UNITY IN RELIGION" NE
ARE REMINDED OF HOOKER HHEN BACON ASSERTS THAT RELIGION IS
THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF SOCIAL HARMONY: "RELIGION BEING THE
CHIEF BAND OF HUMAN SOCIETY, IT IS A HAPPY THING wHEN IT-
SELF IS HELL CONTAINED IITHIN THE TRUE BAND OF UNITY."
UNITY Is ALSO DEMANDED BY THE TRUE GOD, A JEALOUS §32_HHOSE

"IORSHIP AND RELIGION MILL ENDURE NO MIXTURE NOR PARTNER.”

66

IN KEEPING WITH HIS LIFELONG POLICY OF DIVIOING EVERY-
THING POSSIBLE INTO AT LEAST THREE PARTS, BACON DISCUSSES
RELIGIOUS UNITY UNDER THREE INTERRELATED HEAos--FRUITS,
BOUNDS, AND MEANS. THE FRUITS ARE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL BENEFITS. ONE OF THE PRIMARY EXTER-
NAL FRUITS OF UNITY IS THAT IT DISCOURAGES ATHEISM, AN AT-
TITUDE OF MIND FOR HHICH BACON HAS AN INTERESTINGLY BROAD
CONTEMPT. THE ATHEIST, HE SAYS (IN "0F ATHEISM"), STANDS
ALONE AMONG THE RATIONAL CREATURES OF THE EARTH IN HIS
DENIAL OF THE EXISTENOE OF A MAKER.’ EVEN THE VERY SAVAGES
HAVE A GOD-CONSCIOUSNEsst THE ATHEIST, THOUGH RARELY AN
ENEMY OF THE STATE ("OF SUPERSTITION"), IS APPARENTLY IN-
.SECURE IN HIS POSITION AND IS THEREFORE EVER ASTIR To PRo-
CURE CONVERTS TO HIS IGNOBLE AND IRRATIONAL PERSUASION.66
BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS IMPLICATION a' ATHEISM IS THAT IT
DEPRIVES BOWH INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONS OF "THE MEANS TO
ExALT (FHEMSELVE27'ABOVE HUMAN FRAILITY" ("0F ATHEISMN),
‘THE ATHEIST, IN OTHER HORDS, HAS NO PLACE IN SOCIETY AND
NO PLACE IN THE COSMOS.

66. BACON LISTS FOUR MAJOR CAUSES OF ATHEISM: DIVISIONS

IN RELIGION, flSCANDAL OF PRIESTs,fl'bROFANE SCOFFING

IN HOLY MATTERS,n AND "LEARNED TIMES, SPECIALLY HITH

PEACE AND PROSPERITY; FOR TROUBLES AND ADVERSITIES DO

MORE BON MEN'S MINDS TO RELIGION." ("OF ATHEISMU)

IN THE NExT CHAPTER HE HILL OBSERVE THAT BAOON AT-
TACKS THE PURITANS FOR MAINTAINING THAT A LEARNED

MAN CANNOT BE A TRUE BELIEVERC

TI

4’)

”4

—4

67

THE OTHER EXTERNAL FRUITS OF UNITY ARE ALL COMPREHENDED
UNDER HHAT MIGHT BE CALLED “CHURCH ADVERTIZEMENT." HEATHENS,
PROPANE PERSONS, AND ALL KINDS OF SCOFFERS DELIGHT IN SEEING
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH, FOR DISUNITY SUPPLIES THEM HITH
MATERIALS TO CARRY OUT THEIR INGLORIOUS ASSAULTS ON FAITH.

BACONIS DISCUSSION OF INTERNAL FRUITS IS VERY BRIEF,
AND AGAIN HE ARE REMINDED OF HOOKER: "AS FOR THE FRUIT To-
HARDS THOSE THAT ARE HITHIN; IT IS PEACE; HHICH CONTAINETH
INFINITE BLESSINGS. IT ESTABLISHETH FAITH. IT KINDLETH
CHARITY. THE OUTwARD PEACE OF THE CHURCH [FE MEANS é CHURCH
HERE, HENCE THE INTERNAL FRUL:7 DISTILLETH INTO PEACE OF
CONSCIENCE. AND IT TURNETH THE LABOURS OF WRITING AND READ-
ING OF CONTROVERSIES INTO TREATISES OP MORTIFICATION AND
DEVOTION."

BAOON'S TREATMENT OF THE SOUNDS OP UNITY CONTAINED IN
"0F UNITY IN RELIGION“ IS DERIVED LARGELY PROM ONE OF HIS

EARLIEST TRACTS ON RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES, A! ADVERTISE-

 

MENT TOUCHING THE CONTROVERSIES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

 

 

(I589), DISCUSSED AT LENGTH IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. BY "SOUNDS
OF RELIGIONu BACON HAS REFERENCE TO THE NHOLE SPECTRUM OF
RELIGIOUS PERSUASION. JUST OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF ONE
"BOUND" STANDS THE MAN HHO IS NEVER PEACEFUL AND BIPARTISAN
IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS: HE Is A POLLOIER OF PARTY, A MAN TO
RHOM WALL SPEECH OP PACIFICATION IS ODIOUS." BEYOND THE

LIMITS OF THE OTHER POLE STAND nCERTAIN LAODICEANS AND

 

T

l

\ I
I

T l

-J

-I

68

LUKEwARM PERSONS NHO THINK THEY MAY ACOOMMODATE POINTS OF
RELIGION BY MIDDLE RAYS, AND TAKING PART OF BOTH, AND MITTY
RECONCILEMENTs; AS IF THEY WOULD MAKE AN ARBITREMENT BE-
TwEEN GOD AND MAN." (THIS MIDDLE HAY HAS NOTHING TO DO
NITH THE ANGLICAN ill MEDIA.) THE "LAODICEANS AND LUKE-
wARM PERSONS" ARE GIVEN LITTLE ATTENTION AS BACON TURNS
DIRECTLY To THE ZEALOTS. TO AVOID EXTREMES, HE SAYS,
CHRISTIANS SHOULD HARKEN TO THE HORDS OF THE SAVIOR HIM-

SELF, NHO SAID, "'HE THAT IS NOT HITH US IS AGAINST g3; AND

 

 

AGAIN, 55 THAT 12 NOT AGAINST US IS WITH US'; THAT IS, IF

 

 

THE POINTS FUNDAMENTAL AND OF SUBSTANCE IN RELIGION HERE
TRULY DISCERNED AND DISTINGUISHED FROM POINTS NOT MERELY

OF FAITH, BUT OF OPINION, ORDER, OR GOOD INTENTION."67

THO KINDS OF CONTROVERSIES SPLIT THE CHURCH, SAYS

BACON, THOSE IN HHICH ISSUES CONTROVERTED ARE UNwORTHY OF
EXTENDED DEBATE AND THOSE IN HHICH IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE
TURNED OVER SO MANY TIMES THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS BE-
COME OBSCURED HITH INSUBSTANTIAL SUBTLETIES. TO AVOID

THESE EXTREMES AND TO PRESERVE UNITY BAOON COUNSELS THAT

 

CONTROVERSIALISTS HEED THE HORDS OF AUGUSTINE: "CHRISTL§_

 

 

COAT INDEED HAD NO SEAM, BUT THE CHURCHIS VESTURE WAS 25-

DIVERS COLOURS; WHEREUPON HE SAITH, IN VESTE VARIETAS SIT,

 

SCISSURA NON SIT. . . ." SOMEHHERE BETwEEN ADMISSIBLE

 

67. THE FIRST PASSAGE IS IN LUKE II:25 AND IN MATTHEH
I2:30; THE SECOND IN LUKE 9:50. BACON FOUND THE
VERSATILITY OF THESE PHRASES MOST ATTRACTIVE AND
USED THEM MANY TIMES.

7 I

~4

1t.

69

VARIETY AND FORBIDDEN DIVISION LIES BACONIS IDEA OF THE
BOUNDS OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM, AND THESE ARE PASSAGES WHICH
HE PUT TO YEOMANIS SERVICE.

BEFORE LEAVING THE BOUNDS OF UNITY, BACON MENTIONS "Two
FALSE PEACES OR UNITIES." THE ONE RESULTS HHEN MEN AGREE
"UPON AN IMPLICIT IGNORANCE" AND ANOTHER WHEN MEN STRIKE
FACILE AGREEMENTS ON CONVICTIONS WHICH ARE LOGICALLY IN-
COMPATIBLE.

IN "0F SUPERSTITION" A FEw MORE TYPES FOUND IN THE
VAST REACHES BETNEEN BOUNDLESS ZEAL AND FAITHLESS INDIF-
FERENCE ARE FILLED IN. IN BACON'S MIND SUPERSTITION SYM-
BOLIzED ALL THAT HAS BAD ABOUT TRADITION; IT HAS RESPON-
SIBLE FOR CLUTTERING MEN'S MINDS HITH NONSENSE, RESPONSIBLE
FOR A GREAT WASTE OF HUMAN ENERGY, RESPONSIBLE FOR FILLING
MEN HITH INSUBSTANTIAL HOPES AND TERRIFYING THEM HITH FALSE
FEARS. ~LIKE MOST ENGLISH PROTESTANTS OF HIS AGE HE SELDOM
MISSED A CHANCE TO CHARGE THE cHURCH OF ROME HITH BEING
THE CITADEL OF ORGANIZED SUPERSTITION, BUT HE PERMITTED
SUPERSTITION TO SPRING FROM MANY OTHER ROOTS TOO. IN HIS
LENGTHY LIST OF THE CAUSES OF SUPERSTITION HE CRITICIZES
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT ALIKE (AND CHURCHMAN AND PHILOSO—
PHER):

THE CAUSES OF SUPERSTITION ARE, PLEASING AND
SENSUAL RITES AND CEREMONIEs; EXCESS OF OUT-

HARD AND PHARISAICAL HOLINEss; OVER-GREAT
REVERENCE OF TRADITIONS, HHICH CANNOT BUT

l
l
.1 I

r’

7O

LOAD THE CHURCH; THE STRATEGEMS OF PRELATES
FOR THEIR OWN AMBITIONS AND LUCRE; THE FAv-
DURING TOO MUCH OF GOOD INTENTIONS, WHICH
OPENETH THE GATE TO CONCEITS AND NOVELTIEs;
THE TAKING AN AIM AT DIVINE MATTERS BY Hu-
MAN, WHICH CANNOT BUT BREED MIXTURE OF IMA-
GINATIONs; AND, LASTLY, BARBAROUS TIMES,
JOINED WITH CALAMITIES AND DISASTERS. Su-
PERSTITION, WITHOUT A VEIL, IS A DEFORMED
THING; FOR As IT ADDETH DEFORMITY TO AN

APE TO BE SO LIKE A MAN, SO THE SIMILTUDE
OF SUPERSTITION TO RELIGION MAKES IT MORE
DEFORMED. AND AS WHOLESOME MEAT CORRUPTETH
TO LITTLE WORMS, SO GOOD FORMS AND ORDERS
CORRUPT INTO A NUMBER OF PETTY OBSERVANCES.
THERE IS A SUPERSTITION IN AVOIDING SUPER-
STITION, WHEN MEN THINK TO DO BEST IF THEY
GO FURTHEST FROM THE SUPERSTITION FORMERLY
RECEIVED; THEREFORE CARE WOULD BE HAD THAT
(AS IT FARETH IN ILL PURGINGS) THE GOOD BE
NOT TAKEN AWAY WITH THE BAD; WHICH COMMONLY
IS DONE WHEN THE PEOPLE IS THE REFORMER.

SUCH ARE THE "BOUNDS" OF RELIGIOUS UNITY; THEY EMBRACE
THE WHOLE OF MAN'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

IT IS INTERESTING THAT IN HIS REMARKS ON THE MEANS
OF PROCURING RELIGIOUS UNITY BACON CONFINES HIMSELF FOR
THE MOST PART TO A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF RELIGIOUS WARS68
AND OTHER ACTS IN WHICH CONSCIENCES ARE FORCED WITH "SAN-
GUINARY PERSECUTIONS." IT WOULD, AFTER ALL, BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO REVIEW THE MEANS OF UNITY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A SHORT
ESSAY, AND I SUSPECT THAT BACON FELT AN APPEAL T0 CHRISTIAN
CHARITY WOULD HAVE TO SUFFICE. AGAIN, HOWEVER, HE COUNSELS
GOVERNMENTS TO KEEP THE TEMPORAL SWORD OUT OF THE HANDS OF

68. I HAVE DISCUSSED BACON'S VIEWS ON RELIGIOUS WARS IN
CHAPTER VII.

7|

THE PEOPLE, WHO, PARTICULARLY IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS, ARE
HIGHLY VOLATILE.

THISSUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FEATURES OF HIS STATE SHOULD
BE SUFFICIENT To ALERT US TO THE PRINCIPLES FROM WHICH ALL
OF BAOONIS RELIGIo-POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS PROCEED. MOST
FAITHS, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN THEIR HISTORIES, HAVE
MAINTAINED THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT A MEANINGFUL CIVILIZA-
TION TO A BARBAROUS AND UNGODLY PEOPLE, BUT IT WILL BECOME
EVIDENT IN THE COURSE OF THIS STUDY THAT BACON HAD ALMOST
NO CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF A CHURCH, EVEN ONE CARE-
FULLY INTEGRATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF A STATE, TO DIRECT
THE MAJOR FORCES OF THE NATIONAL LIFE. THOUGH HE ADOPTS
MANY OP HOOKER'S PREMISES, BACON SEES THE CHURCH AS A
DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE, AND HE IS CAREFUL TO POINT OUT
THAT A DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PRESUME TO TELL THE HEAD OFFICE
HOI TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS. IN A SENSE THIS Is HOOKER'S
POSITION TOO, BUT HOOKER'S CHURCH-DEPARTMENT IS MUCH MORE
VITAL TO THE NATIONAL LIFE THAN IS BACONIS. IN BAOON'S
MIND THE MAJOR BUSINESS OF THE CHURCH Is TO KEEP ITS MEM-
BERS FROM BECOMING MENACES TO THE STATE AND CHRISTENDOM IN
GENERAL--BY EDUCATING THEM, BY PACIFYING THEM, BY CONVINc-
ING THEM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE THAT THE TRUE FAITH IS A
REASONABLE FAITH. HIS DEEP DISTRUST FOR THE RELIGIOUS
TEMPERAMENT, EXHIBITED EVERYWHERE IN HIS WORKS, LEADS,

HIM TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SEOULAR GOVERNMENT MUST

 

HI

 

-I

I9

 

72

PROTECT ITS RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS
As LONG AS MEN FEEL THE NEED To IMPOSE THEIR SPIRITUAL
WILLS UPON OTHERS. IT Is THIS DEFENSIVE CHARACTER OF THE
CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIP WHICH INFORMS ALL OF BACON'S

RELIG I0-POL ITICAL THOUGHTS

 

L.

CHAPTER III
THE RATIONALE 0F RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES

IN THIS CHAPTER AND THE NEXT WE SHALL DISCUSS THOSE
OF BACON'S RELIGIO"POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS WHICH DEAL SPECI'
FICALLY WITH THE CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THE PURITANS AND THE
CHURCHMEN. THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS CHAPTER IS BACON'S 52:

VERTISEMENT TOUCHING THE CONTROVERSIES OF THE CHURCH OF

 

 

' A TRACT INSPIRED BY THE APPEARANCE OF THE INFAM-

ENGLAND,
OUS MARPRELATE TRACTS OF I588-89. THE WORK IS BACON‘S FIRST
LENGTHY DISCUSSION OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH OF
ENGLAND AND CONTAINS HIS FULLEST ANALYSIS OF THE GENESIS

AND DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES. ASSUMING THE
ATTITUDE OF AN "INDIFFERENT" MAN, BACON PLAYS THE ROLE OF

A SENSIBLE MEDIATOR BETWEEN THE PASSIONATE BELLIGERENCE OF
THE PURITAN MARTIN AND THE HAUGHTY INFLEXIBILITY OF THE

HIGH CHURCHMEN.

TO ONE NOT UNDULY DEPRESSED BY THE EXCESSES OF RELI-
GIOUSLY MOTIVATED VITUPERATION THE MARPRELATE EPISODE CON-
STITUTES ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING CHAPTERS IN THE HISTORY
I. THE TRACT WAS PROBABLY WRITTEN IN THE SUMMER OF I589.

IT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION BUT CIRCULATED

WIDELY IN MANUSCRIPT. SEE WORKS, VIII, 70-75 FOR
SPEDDING'S DISCUSSION. THE TEXT IS CONTAINED IN

PAGES 7u“95o

75

7U

OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH. ELIZABETH HAD BEEN VERY FIRM WITH
THE PURITANS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY HAD ATTEMPTED TO INTR0-
DUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ALTER HER CHURCH, AND THE BIS—
HOPS THEMSELVES~~BY BAOON'S OWN ACOOUNT~~HAD BECOME MORE AND
MORE ENCHANTED WITH THEIR ROLES UNTIL THEY HAD ADOPTED PRC-
HIBITIVE POLICIES WHICH PAR EXCEEDED THEIR COMMISSION AS
CHURCHMEN AND THEIR RIGHTS As MEMBERS OF A PROTESTANT SOC—
IETY. ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAD CONSTANTLY MADE IT A POINT

TO EQUATE PURITANISM WITH TREASONABLE FACTION. THE PURI-
TANS, WHO COULD NOT, OF COURSE, PUBLISH THEIR VIEWS, NATu-
RALLY EXPERIENCED THOSE FRUSTRATIONS MEN ALWAYS FEEL WHEN
THEY ARE CALUMINATED AND HAVE NO LEGITIMATE MEANS To DEFEND
THEMSELVES. THE PHANTON MARTIN,2 USING A SECRET PRESS AND
TECHNIQUES VARYING FROM SCURRILOUS NAME-CALLING TO REASONABLY
TEMPERATE ARGUMENTATION, ATTEMPTED TO RECTIFY THESE INJus-
TICEs; AND IN ORDER To EVALUATE BAOON'S REMARKS IT WILL BE
NECESSARY To REVIEW MARTINIS MAJOR THEMES AND TO PLACE A
WARY HAND ON HIS FEVERISH AND FANATICAL BROW.

FROM THE SEVEN EXTANT MARPRELATE TRACTS5 THREE DOMINANT

2. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER INTO THE DEBATE OVER THE
AUTHORSHIP OF THE MARPRELATE TRACTS, A DEBATE WHICH
APPARENTLY WILL NEVER BE ENDED TO EVERYONE'S SATISFAC—
TION. I REFER TO “MARTIN" THROUGHOUT.

5. "THE EPISTLE," “THE EPITOME," "MINERAL AND METAPHYSICAL
SCHOOLPOINTS," "HAY ANY WORK FOR COOPER," "MARTIN JUN-
IOR," "MARTIN SENIOR," AND "THE PROTESTATION OF MARTIN
THE GREAT." A SEQUEL TO "HAY ANY WORK" IS NOT EXTANT.
THE LENGTHIEST TREATMENT OF THE TRACTS IS BY WILLIAM
PIERCE, A! HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION IB'IEE_MARPRELATE

 

 

._.
‘1‘

.—~

H
J

o.

/3

75

THEMES EMERGE. THE FIRST IS AN UNCOMPROMISING CONDEMNA-
TION OF THE BISHOPS As INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS AND OF THE
EPISCOPAL FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT; THE SECOND Is A FIRM
ALLEGATION OF THE PURITANS' ALLEGIANCE TO ENGLAND; AND THE
THIRD IS A DEFENSE OF THE MAJOR PURITAN THEORIES OF CHURCH
GOVERNMENT. IT WAS OF COURSE THE VIOLENT INDICTMENT OF THE
BISHOPS WHICH CAUGHT THE FANCY OF THE PURITANS, ALTHOUGH
THEY WERE BY NO MEANS UNIFIED IN THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD
MARTINIS TACTICSou FOLLOWING THE GENERAL PROCEDURE OF THE
DAY, MARTIN ACCUSES THE OPPOSITION OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR
MOST OF THE EVILS EXISTING IN THE CHURCH:

IS IT ANY MARVEL THAT WE HAVE so MANY SWINE,
DUMB DOGS, NON-RESIDENTS, WITH THEIR JOURNEY-
MEN, THE HEDGEPRIESTs; SO MANY LEWD LIVERS,
AS THIEVES, MURDERERS, ADULTERERS, DRUNKARDS,
CORMORANTS, RASCALs; SO MANY COVETOUS POPISH
BISHOPS, IN OUR MINISTRY; AND SO MANY AND SO
MONSTROUS CORRUPTIONS IN OUR CHURCH? AND YET
(ARE WE) [PIERCE ADD§7 LIKELY TO HAVE NO RE-
DRESS, SEEING OUR IMPUDENT, SHAMELESS, AND

TRACTS (CONSTABLE, I908). PIERCE ALSO EDITED THE
NRRPRELATE TRACTS (LONDON, JAMES CLARKE & CO., I9II).
HE IS DEDICATED TO THE NOTION THAT WHAT MARTIN SAID
ABOUT THE BISHOPS WAS FUNDAMENTALLY TRUE. w. H.
FRERE, THE CHURCH HISTORIAN, ATTACKED PIERCE'S THESIs;
SEE THE INTRODUCTION TO THE MARPRELATE TRACTS FOR THIS
DEBATEC

 

U. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SECOND TRACT MARTIN SAYS, "THE

PURITANS ARE ANGRY WITH ME. I MEAN THE PURITAN
PREACHERS. AND WHY? BECAUSE I AM TOO OPEN; BE-
CAUSE I JEST. . . .. I DID NOT THINK THAT MARTIN

SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BLAMED OF THE PURITANS FOR
TELLING THE TRUTH OPENLY. FOR, MAY I NOT SAY THAT
JOHN OF CANTERBURY IS A PETTY POPE, SEEING HE IS
50?. . . I AM PLAIN; I MUST NEEDS CALL A SPADE A
SPADE; A POPE A POPE. . . ." MARPRELATE TRACTS, PP.
II8-II9. (MARTIN'S DOCTRINE WAS THOROUGHLY "PURI-
TANICAL"; IT WAS HIS PUNGENT LAMPOONS WHICH DIS—
PLEASED THESE PREACHERS.)

 

~4

76

WAINSCOT-FACED BISHOPS, LIKE BEASTS, CONTRARY
TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ALL MEN, AND AGAINST THEIR
OWN CONSCIENCES, DARE IN THE EARS OF HER MAJESTY
AFFIRM ALL TO BE WELL, WHERE THERE IS NOTHING
BUT SORES AND BLISTERs; . . ."
MARTIN CAN BE MORE LIGHT-HEARTED THAN THIS PASSAGE MIGHT
SUGGEST, BUT EVEN IN A GAYER MOMENT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT
LEVITY Is ONLY A MASK FOR A DEEP DISCONTENT BORDERING ON

PIOUS HYSTERIA:

. . . 225 LORD BISHOPS, I SAY, AS JOHN OF CANTER-
BURY, THOMAS OF WINCHESTER, (I WILL SPARE JOHN OF
LONDON FOR THIS TIME; FOR IT MAY BE, HE IS AT
BOWLS, AND IT IS PITY TO TROUBLE ANY GOOD BROTHER,
LEST HE SHOULD SWEAR TOO BAD), MY REVEREND PRE-
LATE OF LICHFIELD, WITH THE REST OF THAT SWINISH
RABBLE, ARE PETTY ANTICHRISTS, PETTY POPES, PROUD
PRELATES, INTOLERABLE WITHSTANDERS OF REFORMATION,

ENEMIES 8F THE GOSPEL, AND MOST COVETOUS WRETCHED
PRIESTSC

IT Is IMPORTANT To NOTE THAT IN SPITE OF HIS DISTEMPER
MARTIN IS STILL SPEAKING OF "OUR CHURCH"; INDEED THERE Is
THROUGHOUT THE TRACTS NO SEPARATIST SPIRIT, BUT RATHER AN
IMPASSIONED APPEAL FOR REFORM WITHIN THE CHURCH.. THIS Is
ONE REASON WHY MARTIN IS ANXIOUS To DEMONSTRATE THAT THE
PURITANS, CONTRARY TO THE SCANDALOUS REPORTS OF THE BISHOPS,
ARE TRUE PATRIOTS WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO USURP
CIVIL AUTHORITY. IN FACT, SAYS MARTIN, IF THE QUEEN WISHES
TO PLACE HER FINGER ON THE SEAT OF POTENTIAL REVOLT IN ENG-

LAND, SHE NEED PROBE NO FURTHER THAN HER VERY OWN BISHOPS,

5. MARPRELATE TRACTS, P. 7!.

 

6. IBID., P. 24..

77

WHO HAVE BEEN DEFENDING THEIR POSITION ON "COMELINESS AND
ORDER“ IN PRECISELY THE TERMS BELLARMINE HAS BEEN USING To
DEFEND THE POLICIES OF ROME. MARTIN EVEN SUGGESTS THAT THE
BISHOPS AND BELLARMINE GET TOGETHER AND co-AUTHOR A SINGLE
BOOK (P. Ihl).

BUT WHEN MARTIN FINALLY TURNS TO THE CONDITIONS UNDER
WHICH HE AND HIS PURITAN COMPATRIOTS WILL AGREE TO BE SON-
TENT AND SILENT, THE OLD DILEMMA, WORN THREADBARE DURING
THE ADMONITION CONTROVERSY, APPEARS IN ALL OF ITS RAGGED
IMPLAOABILITY. THE MARTINISTS MAKE NO PRETENSE TO VIOLATE
THE FRANCHISES OF CIVIL AUTHORITY, BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THE CHRISTIAN MAGISTRATE (IN MARTIN'S SENSE, THE "SEOULAR
RULER") HAS THE SACRED OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE PERFECT BODY
OF CHRIST INVIOLATE. AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ETCHING
THE FINE LINES OF THIS FAULTLESS ANATOMY? MEN LIKE MARTIN
HIMSELF, WE LEARN, MEN WHO HAVE PORED OVER THE WORD UNTIL
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CALLED THEM AS WITNESSES To TRUTH.

SUCH MEN, BECAUSE THEY LABOR INTIMATELY AND MYSTERIOUSLY
WITH GOD, MAY NOT BE REMOVED FROM ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICE BY
THE MACHINERY OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, FOR "THE MAGISTRATE HATH
NEITHER THE SKILL NOR THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THE MEMBERS OF
THE BODY OF CHRIST. BECAUSE HE CANNOT TELL TO WHAT USE THE

MEMBERS OF HIS MAKING MAY SERVE THE CHURCH."7 NO "CIVIL

7o IBID., P. 25].

78

MAGISTRATE, NO PRINCE, NO STATE, MAY WITHOUT SIN, ABOLISH
ANY LAWFUL OFFICER, TOGETHER WITH HIS OFFICE, OUT OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH. . . ."8 FURTHERMORE, SAYS MARTIN,
"NO LIKELIHOOD OF INCONVENIENCE" SHOULD DETER THE MAGISTRATE
FROM INSISTING THAT HIS CHURCH BE GOVERNED BY PASTORS, DOC—
TORS, ELDERS, AND DEACONS.

wE WILL NOT CONSIDER THE MULTITUDE OF MINOR PROPOSALS
MARTIN ENUMERATES, ExOEPT TO SAY THAT THEY ARE, BASICALLY,
WHAT THE PURITANS HAD BEEN SUING FOR FROM THE BEGINNING.
MARTIN LAMENTS AGAINST THE DUMB CLERGY, AGAINST PLURALITIES,
NON-RESIDENCE, ExCOMMUNICATION, AND A HOST OF RITUALS WHICH
IN HIS MIND REEK OF PAPISTRY. YET IN SPITE OF WHAT IS CER-
TAINLY THE ADVOCATION OF A VERY NEARLY COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF
THE CHUROH'S STRUCTURE, MARTIN HAS EVERY FAITH THAT HE RE-
PRESENTS THE WILL OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE AND THAT THE TRANSI-
TION FROM A CORRUPT PRELAOY TO A GLORIOUSLY GODLY DISCIP-
LINE NEED INVOLVE NO TREMBLING OF THE STATE.

DESPERATE MEN BRING FORTH DESPERATE ATTEMPTS, AS BAOON
ONCE OBSERVED, AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE MARPRELATE TRACTS
THAT SOME OF THE PURITANS HAD FOUND THE ELIZABETHAN SETTLE-
MENT HOPELESSLY INOOMPATIBLE WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD. DIs-
RESPECT FOR THE BISHOPS IS TOTAL, UNCOMPROMISING, AND VIOIous--

ALMOST, AS I HAVE SUGGESTED-“HYSTERICALO YET MARTIN '8 BY

8. IBID., P. 250.

 

I I.
I ,- I .I I .
I . , I I .
I T - -
I , . I
I I
I
f I- I I
f I J I
I I T I I
I. T

79

NO MEANS A MADMAN. DURING THOSE MOMENTS WHEN HE ABANDONS
INTEMPERATE RHETORIC FOR SINCERE AHEMLS To THE CHRISTIAN
CONSCIENCE, WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE CHURCH'S POLICY OF
PRETENDING THAT MOST OF THE ISSUES IN DEBATE WERE "INDIF-
FERENTS" WAS BECOMING DANGEROUSLY OBSOLETE. HOOKER WAS
STILL IN ORDNANCE, IT MUST BE REMEMBERED, AND THE.PURITANS
HAD ALWAYS IMAGINED WHITGIFT HAD LOST THE DEBATE WITH CART-
WRIGHT. IF THE CHURCH IS PROPER, SAYS MARTIN, WHY ARE ITS
LEADERS SO IMPROPER? WHY ARE THEY THE "RINGLEADERS OF PRo-
FANENESS" IN A NATION ALREADY OVERRUN WITH EVIL AND IGNOR-
ANCE? IS IT A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE THAT MULTITUDES PER-
ISH LN IGNORANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THEIR
MINISTERS, A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE THAT THE BISHOPS BOWL
AND TABLE ON THE SABBATH, TAKE BRIBES, AND MOLEST THE POOR
IN THEIR "UNGODLY COURTS," A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE THAT
THEY HAVE "JOINED THE PROFANATION OF THE MAGISTRY TO THE
CORRUPTION OF THE MINISTRY"? MARTIN THINKS IT Is TIME FOR
ANSWERS, AND UNTIL HE GETS THEM, HE WILL PLACE A SPOKESMAN
ON EVERY CORNER AND PUBLISH THE KNAVERY OF THE BISHOPS TO
THE WORLD.

BAOON'S ADVERTISEMENT TOUCHING THE CONTROVERSIES 2:

 

THE CHURCH 2: ENGLAND, DIRECTED AT THE EDUCATED ENGLISH“
MAN AT LARGE, SEEMS ALMOST SOPORIFIO AFTER THE NIGHTMARISH

RANTS OF MARTIN. IT IS A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED ESSAY WHICH

 

80

ATTEMPTS TO FORMULATE A RATIONALE FOR RELIGIOUS CONTRo-
VERSIES SO THAT BOTH THE PURITANS AND THE HIGH CHURCHMEN
MIGHT SEE THE REASONABLENESS OF DISSENT BUT MIGHT ALSO PER-
CEIVE THE DANGERS OF IMMODERATELY CONDUCTED CONTENTIONS.
BACON PROPOSES NOT TO ENTER "THE CONTROVERSIES THEMSELVES"
BECAUSE HE JUDGES THAT THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF "THE
DISEASE REQUIRETH RATHER REST THAN ANY OTHER CURE." CON-
TROVERSIES, HE ASSURES THE READER, ARE A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF THE EVOLUTION OF FAITH, FOR IT IS THE "CONTRARY BLASTS
OF DOCTRINE" WHICH nSIFT AND WINNOW MEN'S FAITH,'I AND WHICH
LEAD MEN TO TRUTH AFTER THEY HAVE EMERGED FROM PERIODS OF
PERSECUTION. YET, HE ADMONISHES, THE CHRISTIAN IS THE
BROTHER OF CHRISTIANS, AND WHATEVER HIS VIEWPOINT HE MUST
CALL TO MIND THE WORDS OF ST. JAMES, "ILET EVERY MAN BE
SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATHo'"9

IT APPEARS FOR A MOMENT THAT BACON MIGHT AVOID THE
SLOUGH OF INDIFFERENTS, BUT, AFTER SAYING THAT COMPARED
WITH THE ISSUES WHICH SEPARATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ROME
THOSE WHICH SEPARATE PURITAN AND ANGLICAN ARE GRATIFYINGLY
AMENABLE, HE AMBLES CASUALLY INTO THE MIRE WHICH HAD SERVED
As THE REAL IMPASSE OF THE WHOLE DEBATE BETWEEN THE PURITANS
AND THE CHURCHMEN:

BUT WE CONTEND ABOUT CEREMONIES AND THINGS IN-

DIFFERENT; ABOUT THE EXTERN POLICY AND GOVERN-
MENT OF THE CHURCH. IN WHICH KIND, IF WE WOULD

9. WORKS, VIII, Tu.

81

BUT REMEMBER THAT THE ANCIENT AND TRUE BONDS
OF UNITY ARE ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, AND NOT

ONE CEREMONY, ONE POLICY; IF WE WOULD OBSERVE
THE LEAGUE AMONGST CHRISTIANS THAT IS PENNED

BY OUR SAVIOUR, HE THAT Is NOT AGAINST 2§.l§.

WITH 33, . . OUR-CONTRovERSIES OF 6HEMSELVES

WOULD CLOSE UP AND GROW TOGETHER.l

 

 

 

 

IT WAS THESE "EXTERN" POLICIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE INVOLv-
ING CHURCH GOVERNMENT, ABOUT WHICH THE ANGLICANS AND PURI~
TANS COULD NOT AGREE. IN THE "EPITOME," THE SECOND MAR-
PRELATE TRACT TO APPEAR (NOV., I588), MARTIN HAD DEALT
EXPLICITLY WITH THIS ASPECT OF INDIFFERENTS. HE AND HIS
PURITAN COUNTRYMEN DENIED CATEGORICALLY THE PROPOSITION

THAT CHURCH GOVERNMENT WAS A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE. HOW,

 

HE SAID, IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THAT SOMETHING AS FUNDA-
MENTAL AS THE OFFICES AND OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH CAN BE CON-
SIDERED INOIFFERENT? IF, HE SAID, WE MUST CONTINUALLY
SPEAK OF INDIFFERENTS, LET US AGREE UPON WHAT THEY REALLY
ARE:

OF THIS LATTER SORT ARE THESE POINTS: WHETHER

IT BE MOST CONVENIENT, THAT PRAYER SHOULD BE-

GIN AT 8 OR 9 OICLOCK; WHETHER THE SERMON

SHOULD CONTINUE AN HOUR, OR AN HOUR AND A

HALF; WHETHER THE PULPIT SHOULD BE OF WOOD
OR OF STONE, &O."'

BACON'S POSITION IS VERY REASONABLE, REASONABLE THAT IS TO
THOSE OF HIS PERSUASION, BUT BEFORE HIS ESSAY REALLY GETS

UNDER WAY, HE HAS ESTABLISHED A FIRST PREMISE WHICH IN THE

IO. IBID., PC 750

II. MARPRELATE TRACTS, PP. I3O-I5I.

 

2:

L-
I

L.

82

PURITAN'S VIEW IS AT BEST TOTALLY MEANINGLESS, AND AT WORST
WELL NIGH DAMNABLE.

BEFORE HE TURNS TO A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE "ACCI-
DENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES" OF THE CONTROVERSIES, BACON COM-
MENTS SPECIFICALLY ON MARTINIS DEVICES. IT IS TO BE Ex-
PECTED, HE SAYS, THAT A "FEELING CHRISTIAN" WILL ExPRESs
HIMSELF WITH EITHER LOVE OR ZEAL, BUT "TO TURN RELIGION
INTO A COMEDY 0R SATIRE; TO SEARCH AND RIP UP WOUNDS WITH
A LAUGHING CONTENANCE; TO INTERMIx SCRIPTURE AND SCURRILITY
SOMETIME IN ONE SENTENCE; IS A THING FAR FROM THE DEVOUT
REVERENCE OF A CHRISTIAN. . . .‘I'2 CURIOUS CONTROVERSIES
CONDUCTED WITH PROFANE SCOFFING LEAD ONE PRECIPITOUSLY
DOWN THE TERRIBLE ROAD TO ATHEISM. AND IN SPITE OF THE
DANGERS OF TREADING ON A HOT FLAME, THE OUTBURSTS OF MARTIN
AND HIS KIND ARE TO BE STRICTLY CENSURED, "AS THE INTEMPER-
ATE ExTRAVAGANCIES OF SOME LIGHT PERSONS." MEN ARE READY
ENOUGH TO FIND FAULT WITH THOSE IN HIGH PLACES, AND THERE
ARE "DANGEROUS AMPLIFICATIONS" IN SUGGESTING TO THE WORLD
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS "NEAR LOST THE FORCE OF HER SINEWS,
AND [FE7'READY TO ENTER INTO SOME CONVULSION."l3 ALL MEN
INCLINED TO SMILE AT THE ANTICS OF MARTIN SHOULD CONVERT
THEIR MIRTH TO BLUSHING AND THEIR SPORT To REVERENCE.

AFTER THESE MORE OR LESS GENERALIZED COMMENTS, BACON

I20 WORKS, VIII, '76-'77. I50 IBID., PP. 78-790

85

TURNS To A DETAILED CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSES OF CHURCH
CONTROVERSIES. PERHAPS THERE IS SOME REASON TO CALL THESE
PHENOMENA BACON'S "RELIGIOUS IDOLs"; CERTAINLY THE CATE-
GORIES INCLUDE MANY OF THE CONDITIONS WHICH HAVE DRAWN
CHRISTIANS APART SINCE THE REFORMATION. BECAUSE THE CLASSI-
FICATION Is GIVEN IN SUMMARY FORM, I QUOTE IT IN FULL:

Io THE FIRST IS, THE GIVING OF OCCASION UNTO THE
CONTROVERSIES: AND ALSO THE INCONSIDERATE AND
UNGROUNDED TAKING OF OCCASIONC

2. THE NEXT IS, THE EXTENDING AND MULTIPLYING OF
THE CONTROVERSIES TO A MORE GENERAL OPPOSITION
OR OONTRADIOTION THAN APPEARETH AT THE FIRST
PROPOUNDING OF THEM, WHEN MENIS JUDGMENTS ARE
LESS PARTIAL.

5. THE THIRD IS, THE PASSIONATE AND UNBROTHERLY
PRACTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF BOTH PARTS TOWARDS
THE PERSONS EACH OF OTHERS, FOR THEIR DISCRE-
DIT AND SUPPRESSION.

A. THE FOURTH IS, THE COURSES HOLDEN AND ENTER-
TAINED ON EITHER SIDE, FOR THE DRAWING OF
THEIR PARTIZANTS To A MORE STRAIGHT UNION
WITHIN THEMSELVES, WHICH EVER IMPORTETH A
FURTHER DISTRACTION OF THE ENTIRE BODY.

5. THE LAST IS, THE UNDUE AND INCONVENIENT PRo-
POUNDING, PUBLISHING, AND DEBATING OF THE
CONTROVERSIES. IN WHICH POINT THE MOST
PALPABLE ERROR HATH BEEN ALREADY SPOKEN
OF; As THAT WHICH THROUGH THE STRANGENESS

AND FRESHNESS OF THE ABUSE FIRST OF ERETH
ITSELF TO THE CONCEITS OF ALL MEN.l

IT IS THE FIRST DIVISION, THE GDCASIONS OF CONTROVER-
SIES, To WHICH BACON TURNS WITH THE MOST ENTHUSIASM. THERE
ARE, HE SAYS, FOUR MAJOR CAUSES OF CONTROVERSIES: IMPERFEC-

TIONS IN MEN HOLDING HIGH OFFICES, THE "NATURE AND HUMOUR

III. IBID., PC 79.

8h

OF SOME MEN," THE "EXTREME AND UNLIMITED DETESTATION OF
SOME FORMER HERESY OR CORRUPTION OF THE CHURCH ALREADY
ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONVICTED," AND THE "PARTIAL AFFECTA-
TION AND IMITATION OF FOREIGN CHURCHES." IN THE FIRST
SUBDIVISION (CONCERNING IMPERFECTIONS OF MEN IN HIGH
PLACES) BAOON FOLLOWS A LINE OF THOUGHT WHICH, THOUGH
OPENLY CRITICAL OF CORRUPTION IN A CHURCH HIERARCHY, MUST
HAVE BEEN OF LITTLE CONSOLATION To THE PURITANS. MEN IN
CHARGE OF THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF A PEOPLE, HE SAYS,
ARE UNDER CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE, AND ONCE THEY HAVE LOST
THE CAPACITY To CONFIRM "THEIR REPUTATION IN THE CON-
SCIENCES OF MEN" THEY BECOME THE TRUE ENEMIES OF THE
FAITH. FORTUNATELY, BACON CONTINUES, HE HAS NOT OB-
SERVED HYPOCRISY OR OUTWARD CORRUPTION AMONG THE Bls-
HOPS WITH WHOM HE IS AOQUAINTED, NOR CAN HE CONDEMN THE
"REST GENERALLY." BUT IN ANY CASE, HE WARNS, IT IS NOT
THE BUSINESS OF COMMON MEN (AMONG WHOM HE INCLUDES HIM-
SELF) TO "JUDGE OF THEM THAT BELONG To so HIGH A MASTER."
IN THE WORDS OF SOLOMON--WHOSE WORD IN BACONIS MIND WAS
VIRTUALLY AS GOOD AS GODIs--"RULERS BE NOT REPROACHED;

NO NOT IN THOUGHT."I5 AGAIN WE OBSERVE THAT BACON COULD
NEVER CONSENT TO EXTENSIVE ATTACKS ON MEN IN HIGH PLACES.
THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING COULD ASSIMILATE CORRUPTION IF

ITS LINKS WERE LEFT IN PLACE.

I50 IBID., P. 8'.

85

BACONIS DEEP-SEATED DISTRUST FOR THE UNATTACHED CON-
SCIENCE IS MANIFESTED IN THE SECOND SUBDIVISION, CONCERNED
WITH "THE HUMOUR OF SOME MEN." THE GRANDOISE CONCEPTION
OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONSCIENCE, WHICH SERVED AS A RALLYING
POINT FOR THE REFORMERS, HAD VERY LITTLE POSITIVE MEANING
FOR BACON. AMONG THE YOUNG, THE EXCITABLE, AND THE CON-
TENTIOUS, HE SAYS, RELIGIOUS ALLEGIANCE IS PRIMARILY A
MATTER OF MAGNETISM. SOME MEN ARE BORN TO ATTRACT, OTHERS

To BE ATTRACTED, "SO IT IS TRUE WHICH Is SAID TRANSEUNT AB

 

IGNORANTIA AD PRAEJUDICIUM, THEY LEAP FROM IGNORANCE TO A

 

 

 

PREJUDICATE OPINION, AND NEVER TAKE A SOUND JUDGMENT IN

 

THEIR WAY."|6 A NATURAL APPETITE FOR SECTARIANISM IS FED
BY THE UNIVERSITIES, "THE SEAT AND CONTINENT OF THIS
DISEASE.” MEN-~AND DNE Is REMINDED HERE OF THE IDOLS OF
THE THEATER--ATTACH THEMSELVES UNTHINKINGLY To THE NAMES
OF THINGS AND PERSONS AND LET THE "THINGS THEMSELVES" GO
BEGGING. THOSE WHO CONSTANTLY ASSERT THAT THE CHURCH'S
DESIRE FOR PEACE RISES FROM A CARNAL DESIRE TO THE CHURCH-
MEN To PROTECT THEIR OWN OFFICES SHOULD HEED THE WORDS OF

THE APOSTLE PAUL, “WHILST THERE IS AMONGST YOU ZEAL AND

 

CCNTENTION, ARE YE NOT CARNAL?"
THE THIRD OCCASION OF CONTROVERSIES HAS REFERENCE To

ONE OF THE MOST HEATED BATTLES WHICH RAGED BETWEEN THE

I6. IBID., PP. 82-83.

~4

86

CHURCHMEN AND THE PURITANS, THAT CONCERNED WITH WHAT MIGHT
BE CALLED THE "BENT-TWIG" THEORY OF REFORM, OR, THE THEORY
OF "CONTRARIES." IT Is PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE
WHERE THIS THEORY WAS FIRST EXPRESSED, BUT IT WAS CART-
WRIGHTIS EXPOSITION WHICH DREW THE ATTENTION OF BOTH wHIT-
GIFT AND HOOKER--AND OF BACON, I AM SURE. CARTWRIGHT HAD
SAID, "COMMON REASON DOTH TEACH THAT CONTRARIES ARE CURED
BY THEIR CONTRARIES: NOW CHRISTIANITY AND ANTICHRISTIANITY,
THE GOSPEL AND POPERY, BE CONTRARIEs; THEREFORE ANTICHRIS—
TIANITY MUST BE CURED NOT BY ITSELF, BUT BY THAT WHICH Is
(AS MUCH As MAY BE) CONTRARY UNTO IT."'7 AND ELSEWHERE HE
HAD SAID, REFERRING AGAIN TO HOW FAR REFORM SHOULD 80:

As IF A MAN WOULD BRING A DMINKEN MAN TO SOBRI-

ETY, THE BEST AND NEAREST WAY IS To CARRY HIM

AS FAR FROM HIS ExCESS IN DRINK As MAY BE; AND,

IF A MAN COULD NOT KEEP A MEAN, IT WERE BETTER

To FAULT IN PRESCRIBING LESS THAN HE WOULD

DRINK, THAN TO FAULT IN GIVING HIM MORE THAN

HE OUGHT; As WE SEE, TO BRING A STICK WHICH IS

CROOKED To BE STRAIGHT, WE DO NOT ONLY BOW IT

so FAR UNTIL IT COME To BE STRAIGHT, BUT WE

SEND IT SO FAR UNTIL WE MAKE IT so CROOKED OF

THE OTHER SIDE As IT WAS BEFORE ON THE FIRST

SIDE, To THIS END THAT AT THE LAST IT MAY

STAND STRAIGHT, AND AS IT WERE N THE MIDWAY

BETWEEN BOTH THE CROOKS. . . .'
so THE PURITANS HAD THEIR CONCEPTION OF A VIA MEDIA TOO, BUT
WHAT CONCERNED BOTH WHITGIFT AND HOOKER WAS HOW MUCH WRENCH-
ING THAT POOR STICK COULD ENDURE. WHITGIFT REPLIED THAT

CARTWRIGHT'S AWFUL CONTRARIES DISTORTED AND OVERSIMPLIFIED

I7. WHITGIFT'S WORKS, II, but. I8. IBID., MHZ-N5.

—.

~I

87

THE MATTER OF REFORM. IF, HE SAID, ONE SIMPLY RUNS WILDLY
FROM "ANTICHRISTIANITY" TO "CHRISTIANITY," HE OVERLOOKS
THE POSSIBILITY THAT ROME MIGHT RETAIN soMETHING THAT IS
GOOD. THE FUNDAMENTAL ABUSES OF ROME, HE CONTINUED, HAD
INDEED BEEN RECOGNIZED AS REPUGNANT BY THE ENGLISH CHURCH.
FURTHERMORE, USE OF THE VERNACULAR, SIMPLIFICATION OF
CEREMONIES, AND A HOST OF OTHER INNOVATIONS TESTIFIED TO
THE SANCTITY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.'9 HOOKER, WRITING IN
I595, AGAIN QUOTED CARTWRIGHT'S PASSAGE ON CONTRARIES, AND,
UNDERSTANDING THE MALLEABILITY OF A METAPHOR, CONCLUDED:
WE ARE CONTRARIWISE OF OPINION, THAT HE
WHICH WILL PERFECTLY RECOVER A SICK AND RESTORE
A DISEASED BODY UNTO HEALTH, MUST NOT ENDEAVOUR
SO MUCH To BRING IT To A STATE OF SIMPLE CON-
TRARIETY, AS OF FIT PROPORTION IN CONTRARIETY
UNTO THOSE EVILS WHICH ARE To BE CURED. HE
THAT WILL TAKE AWAY ExTREME HEAT BY SETTLING
THE BODY IN ExTREMITY OF GOLD, SHALL UNDOUBT-
EDLY REMOVE THE DéBEASE, BUT TOGETHER WITH IT
THE DISEASED TOO.

BACON SUBSCRIBES ENTHUSIASTICALLY To THE MODERATE
POSITIONS OF WHITGIFT AND HOOKER, MAINTAINING THAT THE
THIRD OCCASION OF CONTROVERSIEs--AN OCCASION SECOND TO
NONE AS A CAUSE OF SCHISM AND HERESY--Is MAN'S PERNICIOUS
INCLINATION TO MEASURE THE TRUTH OF A RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE

BY HOW FAR IT HAS MOVED FROM "THE ERROR LAST CONDEMNED."

"MANY IN OUR TIMES,n HE CONTINUES, "CONDEMN THE CHURCH OF

I9. SEE ESPECIALLY WHITGIFT'S WORKS, II, th-hz.

20. ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY, IV, VIII, I; VOL. I, MHZ.

 

~I

L-

——1

88

ROME WITHOUT RESERVATION AND FORMULATE THEIR IDEAS OF THE
GOOD AND THE HOLY AROUND A SERIES OF ANTI-CATHOLIC PROPOSI-
TIONS. THIS PROCEDURE HAS THE MULTIPLE DEFECT OF DELUDING
THE REFORMERS THEMSELVES, OF SEDUCING OTHERS, AND OF MAKING
CALUMINATION OF THE ADVERSARY INEVITABLE. BEFORE MEN CON-
SENT TO A "GENERAL DEMOLITION" OF HOME, THEY WILL DO WELL
TO TAKE A SOBER LOOK AT CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS TO AVOID THE
POSSIBILITY OF DESTROYING THE GOOD ALONG WITH THE BAD. To
PURGE THE CHURCH "EVERY DAY ANEW. . . Is THE WAY TO MAKE A

WOUND IN HER BOWELS, AS IS ALREADY BEGUN."2I

NEVER ONE To
TAKE INTESTINAL DISORDERS LIGHTLY, BACON HERE SELECTS A
METAPHOR DESIGNED TO REMIND THE REFORMERS OF THE ORGANIC
NATURE OF THEIR MEASURES. DOCTRINAL SUBTLETIES, WHEN AT-
TACHED To A "CAUSE," BECOME DANGEROUSLY CATHARTIC, AND LEST
THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE, MEN ARE CAUTIONED TO
AVOID THE EXCESSES OF CONTRARIES.

IN HIS DISCUSSION OF THE FOURTH AND LAST CAUSE OF CON-
TROVERSIES (THE I'PARTIAL AFFECTATION AND IMITATION OF FOR-
EIGN CHURCHES") BACON AGAIN DEMONSTRATES HIS ALLEGIANCE To
WHITGIFT AND REPEATS HIS REFRAIN ON CHRISTIAN UNITY. MCGINN
OBSERVES THAT CARTWRIGHT, UNLIKE CALVIN-WHOSE SYSTEM EM-

BRACED ONLY A CITY STATE--ENVISIONED AN ENGLISH STATE

CHURCH WHICH MIGHT EVENTUALLY AFFILIATE ITSELF WITH OTHER

2I. WORKS, VIII, 8h.

 

89

STATE CHURCHES.22 THIS AFFILIATION, IN CARTWRIGHT'S WORDS,
WOULD HAVE THE INESTIMABLE ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING INDIVI-
DUAL PRESBYTERIAN BODIES WITH A MEANS OF SETTLING DOCTRINAL
DISPUTES WITH A FORM OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION:

SO, IF THE ELDERS OF ANY CHURCH SHALL DETERMINE
ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD, OR INCON-
VENIENTLY IN ANY MATTER THAT FALLETH INTO THEIR
DETERMINATION, THE PARTIES WHICH ARE GRIEVED
MAY HAVE RECOURSE, FOR REMEDY, UNTO THE ELDERS
AND PASTORS OF DIVERS CHURCHES, THAT IS TO SAY,
UNTO SYNODS OF SHIRES, OR DIOCESES, OR PR0-
VINCES, OR NATIONS OF AS GREAT OR OF AS SMALL
COMPASS AS SHALL BE THOUGHT CONVENIENT BY THE
CHURCH, ACCORDING TO THE DIFFICULTY OR WEIGHT
OF THE MATTERS WHICH ARE IN CONTROVERSY. . . .25

WHITGIFT WAS JUSTLY AMUSED BY THIS ROMANTIC CONCEPTION OF
UNITY AMONG THE REFORMERS AND ANSWERED CARTWRIGHT WITH
MASTERFUL IRONY:

SO SHALL THERE BE TURBARUM ET CONTENTIONUM SATIS:
IMUCH UNQUIETNEss;I FOR ONE—OR TWO BUSY PASTORS,
SUCH AS YOUR SCHOOL CAN YIELD GOOD STORE OF,
WOULD INVENT MATTER ENOUGH To TROUBLE THE WHOLE
CHURCH; AND PASTORS SHOULD THEN BE COMPELLED TO
BE AS MUCH ABSENT FROM THEIR BENEFICES, BY REA-
SON OF THOSE SYNODS, As THEY BE NOW UPON OTHER
OCCASIONS. LORD, WHAT A TUMULTUOUS CHURCH

WOULD T IS BE, IF THIS PLATFORM MIGHT TAKE
PLACEL2

 

 

WE SEE HERE FRAGMENTS OF TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONCEPTIONS

OF CHURCH UNITY. THE PURITANS WERE DOCTRINALLY COMMITTED

22. THE ADMONITION CONTROVERSY, P. I55.

25. WHITGIFTIS WORKS, III, 265.

 

2W. IBID., p. 26W.

90

TO A SEARCH FOR ABSOLUTES AND THEY QUITE NATURALLY WISHED
To INCLUDE AS MUCH OF MANKIND IN THEIR QUEST AS THE ENERGY
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD ALLOW. THE CHURCHMEN, ON THE
OTHER HAND, RELIED ON RELATIVISM--OR AT LEAST THEY SAID
THEY DID--AND THE GOVERNMENT KEPT INSISTING THAT IT HAD
NO DESIRE TO SPONSOR RELIGIOUS CRUSADES, CERTAINLY NOT
AMONG PROTESTANT NATIONS.

BACON'S FEAR OF INNOVATION, HIS DEDICATION TO POLITI-
CAL EXPEDIENCY, AND HIS DISTASTE FOR PROSELYTIZING APPEAR
WHEN HE DISCUSSES THIS FOURTH CAUSE OF CONTROVERSIES. HE
EXPRESSES THROUGHOUT HIS WORKS ABSOLUTELY No DESIRE TO SEE
THE ENGLISH CHURCH ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE MISSIONARY ACTIVI-
TIES, NOR DOES HE SYMPATHIZE WITH CARTWRIGHT'S THEORY OF
SPIRITUAL EXCHANGE. INDEED, WHEN HE SPEAKS OF "AFFECTA-
TION AND IMITATION OF FOREIGN CHURCHES," HE HAS REFERENCE
To ALL FORMS OF ECCLESIASTICAL MIMICRY. THE MARIAN EXILEs
AND OTHERS "CCNVERSANT IN CHURCHES ABROAD. . . HAVE Vlo-
LENTLY SOUGHT TO INTRUDE THE SAME UPON OUR CHURCH."25
FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS, EVEN GRANTING THAT CONTINENTAL
CHURCHES MAY HAVE BETTER FORMS OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND

DISCIPLINE, IT IS FREQUENTLY BETTER TO SEEK "NOT WHAT Is

 

BEST, BUT OF GOOD THINGS WHAT I NEXT AND READIEST O B

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAD."26 A FEW LINES LATER HE MAKES A SPECIFIC EQUATION

250 WORKS, VIII, 8h. 26. IBIDO

9|

OF ECCLESIASTICAL TO CIVIL INNOVATIONS WHEN HE SAYS, "IT
MAY BE, IN CIVIL STATES, A REPUBLIC IS BETTER POLICY THAN

A KINGDOM; YET GOD FORBID THAT LAWFUL KINGDOMS SHOULD BE
TIED TO INNOVATE AND MAKE ALTERATION." BACON DOES NOT

SAY WHAT HE FINDS ADMIRABLE ABOUT CONTINENTAL CHURCHES,

BUT HE IS NOT READY TO ADMIT THAT THE "PARITY AND EQUALITY"
OF REFORMED MINISTERS IS A THING TO BE ADMIRED, FOR, ESPE-

I

CIALLY IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS, CONFUSION RESULTS "WHEN VOICES

 

SHALL BE NUMBERED AND NOT WEIGHED." SIMILARLY--BACON HERE

 

 

REFERS TO A "WISE FATHER"--COUNCILS ARE MORE APT TO IN-
CREASE THAN ABATE "ILL THINGS." IN OTHER WORDS, CART-
WRIGHT‘S SYNODING HAS LITTLE MERIT AS A MEANS OF ACHIEv-
ING CHURCH UNITY.

To THE CHARGE THAT CHURCHES ABROAD REAP FRUITS DENIED
THE ENGLISH, BACON ANSWERS, “I BESEECH THE LORD TO MULTIPLY
HIS BLESSINGS AND GRACES UPON THOSE CHURCHES AN HUNDRED
FOLD.“27 POSSIBLY "THEIR FRUITS ARE As TORCHES IN THE
DARK, WHICH APPEAR GREATEST AFAR OFF," BUT IN ANY CASE,
BACON CONTINUES, HIS DEVOUT HOPE IS THAT HIS CHURCH WILL
CONTEND WITH OTHERS "As THE VINE WITH THE OLIVE, WHICH OF
US BEARETH BEST FRUIT; AND NOT AS THE BRIER WITH THE
THISTLE, WHICH OF US IS MOST UNPROFITABLE."28

IT IS APPARENT FROM BACON'S DESCRIPTION OF THE FOUR

MAJOR CAUSES OF CONTROVERSIES THAT THE REFORMERS CARRY

27. IBID., P. 85. 28. IBID.

92

THE PRIMARY BURDENS OF HIS ACCUSATIONS. IT IS THEY WHO EX-
CORIATE MEN IN HIGH OFFICES, THEY WHO POSSESS UNCONTROLLABLE
HUMORS, THEY WHO JUMP FROM IGNORANCE TO PREJUDICE, AND THEY
WHO MISTAKENLY EMULATE FOREIGN CHURCHES. YET IT BECOMES
CLEAR IN THE SECOND MAJOR DIVISION OF THE ESSAY (CONCERN-
ING "EXTENDING AND MULTIPLYING OF THE CONTROVERSIEs" BEYOND
THEIR ORIGINAL BOUNDS) THAT BACON IS FAR FROM SATISFIED
WITH THE CHURCH'S OWN POLICIES, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
FACT THAT THESE POLICIES BEAR VERY LITTLE RESEMBLANCE TO
WHAT THEY ONCE WERE. HE SPEAKS OF THE INTEMPERATE INCLINA-
TION OF BOTH SIDES TOWARD MULTIPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF
CONTROVERSIES, BUT HIS BASIC CONCERN Is TO CHARGE THE
CHURCHMEN WITH PROGRESSIVE DOCTRINAL RIGORMORTIS. IN THE
BEGINNING, HE SAYS, THEY WERE WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE MANY
IMPERFECTIONS IN THEIR DISCIPLINE, THOUGH THEY WISELY
WARNED AGAINST PULLING UP THE CORN ALONG WITH THE TARES.
BUT NOW, HE CONTINUES, THEY HAVE GROWN STIFF AND IMMOBILE
AND HAVE REJEOTED ALL SUGGESTED INNOVATIONS. IN THE EYES
OF AN INDIFFERENT PERSON THIS INFLEXIBILITY SEEMS HIGHLY
SUSPECT. "IS NOTHING AMlss?" HE ASKS. IS THERE NO ABUSE
OF EXCOMMUNICATION? ARE THERE NO BILLS FOR THE BISHOPS TO
PRESENT TO PARLIAMENT? NO PROPOSALS WHEREBY THE AILING AND
INSUFFIOIENT MINISTRY MAY BE REVIVIFIED? ALTHOUGH IT MAY
NOT BE A TIME TO PLANT, THE "GOOD HUSBANDMAN IS EVER PROYN-

ING AND STIRRING HIS VINEYARD OR F'EI—0029

29. IBID., P. 88.

'L/ _I

v
.

“I

95

BACON PURPOSEFULLY AVOIDS SUGGESTING IN ANY COMPREHEN-
SIVE WAY WHAT THIS "PROYNING AND STIRRING" MIGHT INVOLVE,
BUT HIS CRITICISM OF CHURCH RIGIDITY AND LETHARGY IS VIGOR-
OUS AND BITING. IF, HE SAYS, THE BISHOPS ADMIT~~AND THEY
MUST--THAT THE CHURCH IS NOW As FAR REMOVED FROM ITS FORMER
POLICIES AS IT ONCE WAS FROM THOSE OF ROME, IT IS OBLIGED
TO OPEN ITS DOORS AGAIN (JUST A SAGAclous CRACK OF COURSE)
TO THE REFORMERS. OTHERWISE THE ESTABLISHMENT Is IN DANGER
OF COMING FULL CYCLE BACK TO MARIANISM.

IN THE THIRD MAJOR DIVISION OF THE ESSAY (RELATING TO
THE UNBROTHERLY PRACTICES OF THE DISPUTANTS TOWARD EACH
OTHER) BACON EXPANDS HIS COMMENTS ON THE UNJUST PRACTICES

OF THE CHURCHMEN, CONCENTRATING ON THEIR UNBROTHERLINESS

 

BECAUSE "INJURIAE POTENTIORUM SUNT: INJURIES COME FROM

 

 

 

THEM THAT HAVE THE UPPER HAND."3O I MENTIONED ABOVE MAR-

 

 

TINIS INDIGNATION THAT THE CHURCHMEN WERE CONSTANTLY EQUAT-
ING HIS CAUSE WITH TREASON BY ASSOCIATING IT WITH THE MANIA-
CAL ELEMENT OF PROTESTANTISM--ESPECIALLY ANABAPTISM. AMONG
THE CONDITIONS OF TRUCE LISTED BY MARTIN IS THE FOLLOWING
REQUIREMENT: "THAT THEY [THE CHURCHMEN? NEVER SLANDER THE
CAUSE OF REFORMATION, OR THE FURTHERERS THEREOF, IN TERM-
ING THE CAUSE BY THE NAME OF ANABAPTISTERY, SCHISM, &0.,

AND THE MEN PURITANS, AND ENEMIES OF THE STATEona‘ BACON

50. IBID. 5|. MARPRELATE TRACTS, P. 80.

 

-—I

I?
t»
CI

[9

9H

FINDS THIS ASPECT OF MARTINIS CRITICISM THOROUGHLY REASON-

ABLE, SAYING:

THEY HAVE CHARGED THEM As THOUGH THEY DENIED
TRIBUTE TO CAESAR, AND WITHDREW FRONTTFE‘ETTWL
MAGISTRATE THEIR OBEDIENCE WHICH THEY HAVE
EVER PERFORMED AND TAUGHT. THEY HAVE EVER
SORTED AND COUPLED THEM WITH THE FAMILY OF
LOVE, WHOSE HERESIES THEY HAVE LABOURED TO
DESCRY AND CONFUTE.52

SIMILARLY, THE BISHOPS HAVE BEEN QUICK To BELIEVE RUMORS
ABOUT THE REFORMERS, AND THEIR "EXAMINATIONS AND INQUISI-
TIONS HAVE BEEN STRAIT." SUBSCRIPTION HAS BEEN ENFORCED
IN SUCH A WAY THAT NONCONFORMISTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE
REMAINED SUFFICIENTLY LOYAL TO THE CHURCH HAVE BEEN FORCED,
AS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, TO DISSENT; FURTHERMORE, THE
CENSCRING AND SILENCING OF PREACHERS, SOMETIMES FOR THE
MOST INSIGNIFICANT OF ISSUES (FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SAYING IN
THE BAPTISM CEREMONY "DO YOU BELIEVE" FOR "DOST THCU BE-
LIEVE") HAS CREATED A SCARCITY OF PREACHERS WHICH IS FAR
MORE HARMFUL To THE CHURCH THAN MODERATE NON-CONFORMITY.
BACON ENDS THIS SECTION WITH THE ASSERTION THAT IT IS
BETTER TO LIVE IN A NATION IN WHICH THERE Is NO LAW THAN
52. WORKS, VIII, 89. THE FAMILISTS IN ENGLAND WERE FRE-

QUENTLY THE SCAPEGOATS OF REFORM--THE ENGLISH ANA-
BAPTISTS, SO To SPEAK. IT IS INTERESTING THAT IN
I60h~~IN A PETITION TO JAMEs--THE FAMILY DID "UT-
TERLY DISCLAIM AND DETEST ALL THE ABSURD AND SELF-
CONCEITED OPINIONS AND DISOBEDIENT AND ERRONEOUS
SORTS OF ANABAPTISTS, BROWN, PENRY, PURITANS, AND
ALL OTHER PROUD-MINDED SECTS AND HERESIES." SEE
E. BELFORT BAX, RISE AND FALL OF THE ANABAPTISTS
(NEW YORK, MACMILLAN COT, I905TT'PT—558T'

 

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95

IN ONE IN WHICH "ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL" (THAT IS, PRESCRIBED
BY LAW). LAWS, HE CONCLUDES, ARE LIKENED UNTO GRAPES, WHICH
IF PRESSED BEYOND REASON "YIELD AN HARD AND UNWHOLESOME
WINE."

IF THE REFORMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOME OCCASION TO RE-
JOICE IN THIS DISCUSSION OF THE THIRD DIMENSION OF CONTRo-
VERSIES, IN THE FOURTH THEY ARE SHOWN NO PITY AS BACON GOES
DIRECTLY TO WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE THE FUNDAMENTAL FAL-
LACIES OF THEIR CONCEPTION OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH. IN THE FIRST
PLACE HE CHARGES THE REFORMERS WITH DIVIDING CHRISTIANITY
INTO TWO NEAT CATEGORIES-THE ZEALOUS AND SINCERE, WHO ALONE
ARE TRULY CF GOD'S KINGDOM; AND THE CHRISTIAN "INTELLECTu-
ALS," WHO, UNABLE TO MUSTER AN EMOTIONAL COMMITTMENT TO GOD,
CAN NEVER BE MORE THAN "CIVIL AND MORAL" MEN. THE LATTER,
SAY THE REFORMERS, ARE THE "POLITIQUES" OF FAITH, MEN WHO
CONFINE THEIR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE To A CARNAL SAVORING OF
THEIR OWN BRAINS. MINISTERS OF THIS SCHOOL, MEN WHO ACTu-
ALLY--SAYS BACON-~CONSTRUCT THEIR ARGUMENTS "WITH STRONG
PROOFS AND WARRANTS," ARE ACCUSED OF ESCHEWING SIMPLICITY
IN FAVOR OF THE SEDUOTIVE LANGUAGE OF THE INTELLECT. IT
IS ALL VERY WELL, CONTINUES BACON, FOR A MAN TO SPEAK
PLAINLY, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF LIFE WHICH DE-
MAND THAT MEN PROCEED BEYOND APPEALS TO THE EMOTIONS. UN-
FORTUNATELY, THE REFORMERS DEAL IN "GENERALITY AND REPETI-

TION." "THE WORD (THE BREAD OF LIFE) THEY TOSS IT UP AND

-4

 

 

96

DOWN, THEY BREAK IT NOT."55 WHAT DO THEY REALLY MEAN WHEN
THEY SPEAK OF OBSERVING THE SABBATH-DAY OR SPEAK AGAINST
PURSUING UNLAWFUL GAIN? PRECISELY WHAT MAY BE DONE ON THE
SABBATH? WHAT SORT OF GAIN IS TRULY LAWFUL? THESE ARE
QUESTIONS WHICH DEMAND REVIEW BY THE BEST MINDS OF A CULTURE,
SAYS BACON; THEY ARE QUESTIONS WHICH CAN NEVER BE ANSWERED
WITH ZEALOUS GENERALIZATIONS OR MEANINGLESS JUGGLINGS OF
ABSTRACTIONS.

BACON ALSO THINKS IT UNWISE To OPEN CONTROVERSIES
TCUCHING "ALL POINTS OF DOCTRINE" To THE GENERAL POPULA-
TION, A PROCEDURE WHICH VIOLATES THE APOSTLEIS PRECEPT
"THAT THE WEAK BE NOT ADMITTED UNTO QUESTIONS AND CONTRo-
VERSIES."5u EVEN MORE, HE OPPOSES ADOPTING SCRIPTURE As THE
SOLE RULE OF FAITH, FOR THIS IS AN ABUSE WHICH PREVENTS THE
REFORMERS FROM UTILIZING THEAUTHORITATIVE COMMENTS OF THE
FATHERS. TEXTUAL INDIVIDUALISM, RESORTING To "NAKED Ex-
AMPLES, CONCEITED INFERENCE, AND FORCED ALLUSIONS," UNDER-
MINES "ALL CERTAINTY OF RELIGION." LIKEWISE, THE PURITAN
FETISH FOR PREACHING PUTS MANY UNQUALIFIED PREACHERS BE-
FORE CONGREGATICNS, MEN WHO FREQUENTLY HAVE NEITHER THE
TRAINING NOR THE INNATE CAPACITY TO SERVE GOD FROM THE PUL-
PIT. THESE MEN MAY HAVE "ZEAL AND HATE OF SIN," BUT BACON

ASKS THEM TO "TAKE HEED THAT IT BE NOT TRUE WHICH ONE OF

55. IBID., P. 92. 5M. IBID., P. 95.

 

 

”I

«If

97

THEIR ADVERSARIES SAID, THAT THEY HAVE BUT TWO SMAL£_WANTS,

 

 

KNOWLEDGE AND LOVEJ‘B5 THUS HE CONCLUDES THE FOURTH POINT.

 

IN THE FIFTH AND LAST DIVISION ("TCUCHING THE DUE PUB-
LISHING AND DEBATING OF THESE CONTROVERSIES") BACON BRIEFLY
RECAPITULATES HIS EARLIER CENSURE OF MARTINIS ABUSIVE AT-
TACKS AND CONCLUDES HIS ARGUMENT WITH AN APPEAL To THE
FACTIOUS TO HAVE THEIR DISPUTES ARBITRATED IN THE "PRIVATE
ASSEMBLIES AND CONFERENCES OF THE LEARNED."

IN A STUDY WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY USED BY STUDENTS OF
BACON, EDWIN ABBOTT MAKES THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATION ON

THE ADVERTISEMENT TCUCHING THE CONTROVERSIE§ OF THE CHURCH

 

 

 

OF ENGLAND: "BACON WRITES LIKE A SENSIBLE ERASTIAN, WITH

 

PURITAN INCLINATIONS, WHO HAS A PROFOUND INDIFFERENCE To

SMALL DETAILS OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT OR CEREMONIES. NO ANGLI-.
CAN, AND No DECIDED PURITAN, COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS PAPER."56
CERTAINLY BACON Is SENSIBLE ENOUGH, AND I THINK IT Is THIS
VERY QUALITY WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR BOTH THE VIRTUES AND WEAK-
NESS OF HIS RATIONALE OF CONTROVERSIES. HIS OWN INVOLVE-

MENT IN THE CONTEMPORARY DISPUTE Is THOROUGHLY UNEMOTIONAL;

IN FACT HE MAKES A POINT OF HIS OWN INDIFFERENCE. HIS MAJOR
APPEAL, As IT WILL BE IN ALL OF HIS RELIGIo-POLITICAL TRACTS,

IS TO REASON RATHER THAN FAITH. THERE IS NO SUGGESTION THAT

35. IBID., PC 914..

56. FRANCIS BACON (LONDON, MACMILLAN AND CO., I885),
PC I

 

 

 

~I

 

98

THE REFORMERS (OR THE CHURCHMEN) ARE DAMAGING THEIR CHANCES
FOR SALVATION BY BEING CONTENTIOUS. THEY ARE SIMPLY WAST-
ING HUMAN ENERGY. IMMODERATE ZEAL IN CONTROVERSIES IS BAD
BECAUSE IT IS IRRATIONAL, AND WHEN SOMETHING Is IRRATIONAL,
IT SERVES AS A TRAP FOR THE STAGGERING, IGNORANT MASSES WHO
CAN NEVER DO MORE THAN FOLLOW THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY.
WHEN THAT LUMINARY IS AN INTEMPERATE, UNLEARNED MAN, HIS
DISCIPLES ARE CONDEMNED To A REIGN OF WASTEFUL EXCESS, CON-
DEMNED TO FOLLOW HIS LIGHT UNTIL IT IS ECLIPSED BY THAT OF
A MORE FASHIONABLE ZEALOT. LEARNED MEN, FROM WHOM MOST
CONTROVERSIES DESCEND, ARE OBLIGED To RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS
OF DOCTRINES WHICH MAY SERVE AS RALLYING POINTS FOR ENTHUSI-
ASTSC

WE CAN ALWAYS FIND REASONS To PRAISE A SENSIBLE AND
MODERATE MAN, BUT IN RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES THERE IS A
LIMIT BEYOND WHICH COMMON SENSE CANNOT PROCEED. I SHOULD
THINK THAT, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO BACON, THE PURITANS WOULD
NOT HAVE FOUND HIS ARGUMENTS NEARLY AS REASONABLE AS HE
FOUND THEM. I AM SOMEWHAT AT A Loss TO DISCOVER WHY ABBOT

FOUND ANY "PURITAN INCLINATIONs" IN THE ADVERTISEMENT, BUT

 

I AM TOTALLY CONFOUNDED BY A REMARK HE MM<ES A FEW LINES

LATER:

AS BETWEEN THE CONTROVERSIALISTS, IT WOULD
BE HARD TO DETECT PARTIALITY; FOR BACONIS IN-
DIGNATION AT THE OPPRESSIONS OF THE BISHOPS IS
EQUALLED BY HIS SCORN FOR THE BIGOTED NARROW-
NESS OF SOME OF THE PURITANS. BUT IN HIS FRANK

T ‘7
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A~I

 

99

RECOGNITION OF THE EXISTENOE OF IMPERFECTIONS

IN THE CHURCH, AND OF THE NEED OF SOM REFORM,

HE APPEARS TO INCLINE TO THE LATTER05%
I THINK I HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT IN BACONIS MIND THE PURI-
TAN HAD TO BE A PURITAN ON ANGLICAN TERMS. THE EPISCOPACY
WAS TO STAND FIRM AND ITS MEMBERS WERE NOT TO BE CRITI-
CIZED BY MORTALs; THE BIBLE WAS TO BE DEMOTED; PREACHING
WAS TO BE LIMITED; AND THE PURITANS WERE TO AGREE THAT
MOST OF THE THINGS THEY SUED FOR WERE NOT REALLY OF MUCH
IMPORTANCE ANYWAY. IT IS OF COURSE IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE
WHAT SORT OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE THE PURITANS
AT ANY GIVEN TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN CONTENT To ACCEPT, BUT
IF ALL THEY REALLY REQUIRED IN I589 WAS BACONIS REASONABLE
ADJUSTMENT, IT IS EXOEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO ACCOUNT FOR
THEIR SURVIVAL.

IT MUST BE ADMITTED THAT IN THE ADVERTISEMENT BACON
VASTLY OVER-SIMPLIFIES THE WHOLE MATTER OF REFORM, BUT HIS
SYNTHESIS OF THE FORCES RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY ASPECTS OF
FACTION IS FIRMLY GROUNDED IN PSYCHOLOGY. ASSUMING THAT
HE ACTUALLY BELIEVED HIS LITTLE TRACT CAPABLE OF RESOLVING
CONTEMPORARY DISPUTES, WE MAY WONDER, HOWEVER, IF HIS OWN
|NDIFFERENCE DID NOT LEAD HIM TO UNDERESTIMATE PURITANISM.
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, WHICH DEALS WITH SOME ASPECTS OF "THE

CONTROVERSIES THEMSELVES," WE SHALL PERHAPS COME TO A FULLER

57. IBID., PP. 25-26.

 

—I

 

IOO

UNDERSTANDING OF BAOON'S IDEA OF PURITANISM, AND WE MAY
SEE IF THE OPTIMISM AND GENEROSITY OF I589 ABANDONED

BAOON IN HIS LATER YEARS.

 

 

CHAPTER IV

THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH

IN THIS CHAPTER WE SHALL DISCUSS THOSE OF BACON'S RE-
FLECTIONS ON PURITANISM AND THE CHURCH WHICH WERE COMPOSED
DURING THE REIGN OF KING JAMES. MOST OF THEM ARE FOUND IN

A SINGLE TRACT, CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS TCUCHING THE BETTER

 

 

PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (I605),

 

 

A WORK WHICH CONTAINS BACONIS FULLEST DISCUSSION OF THE
INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH. THE OTHER STATEMENTS, Dls-
TURBINGLY FRAGMENTARY AND AMORPHOUS, CONSTITUTE THE ONLY
RECORD WE HAVE OF BACON'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SPIRITUAL
SIDE OF PURITANISM DURING THOSE VITAL YEARS WHEN THE
FORCES WHICH ERUPTED IN THE CIVIL WAR WERE BEING FORMED.
LIKE MANY A CONTEMPORARY, BACON HAD A RELATIONSHIP
WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH WHICH COULD HARDLY BE DESCRIBED AS
IDEAL. APPARENTLY THE QUEEN'S ATTITUDE HAD BEEN THAT THE
SON OF HER FIRST LORD KEEPER WAS A MAN TO BE ADMIRED AND
USED, BUT NOT ONE TO BE GIVEN A MAJOR OFFICE IN HER REALM.
CONTINUALLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE QUEEN, BACON HAD BEEN VERY
NEARLY FORCED TO EXECUTE HIS MELANCHOLY PLAN TO DESERT
NATIONAL POLITICS AND DEVOTE ALL OF HIS ENERGIES TO THE
ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. BUT THE ACCESSION OF JAMES

BROUGHT NEW HOPE. ANTHONY BACON (BACONIS BROTHER, WHO HAD

IOI

I02

RECENTLY DIED), A KIND OF SELF-APPOINTED AND SELF-SUSTAIN-
ING AMBASSADOR ABOUT EUROPE, HAD MADE MANY IMPORTANT FRIENDS
IN JAMES' SCOTTISH COURT; AND FRANCIS DID NOT HESITATE TO
RECOMMEND HIMSELF To THE NEW KING IN THE FIRST DAYS OF HIS
REIGN. REALIZING THAT JAMES WOULD SOON FACE THE PROBLEM OF
INFORMING HIS NEW COUNTRYMEN OF HIS ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY,
AND REALIZING THAT THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT To AD-
VANCE ONE'S OWN CAUSE, BACON TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO COMPOSE
A LENGTHY TRACT ON THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION OF THE
CHURCH, A TRACT DESIGNED TO SUGGEST THE MEASURES OF CHURCH
REFORM WHICH HE FELT THE PURITANS WOULD VALUE AND THE CHURCH-
MEN WOULD ENDURE. BUT BEFORE WE CONSIDER BAGON'S PROPOSALS,
IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO OUTLINE THE VIEWS ON CHURCH GOVERN-
MENT AND DISCIPLINE WHICH JAMES BORE TO ENGLAND HIDDEN UNDER
HIS ROYAL CROWN.

TREVELYAN, A GREAT SCHOLAR WHO HAD ABOUT AS MUCH AF-
FECTION FOR JAMES AS THE PURITANS EVENTUALLY DID, MAINTAINS
IN HIS HISTORY 2: ENGLANDl THAT JAMES' TRAGIC ERROR WAS TO
ATTEMPT TO "MATERIALIZE ENGLISH KING-WORSHIP INTO THE PO—
LITICAL DOGMA OF DIVINE HEREDITARY RIGHT. . . ."2 WHEN HE
INSISTED UPON THE DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS, WHEN HE WROTE THE
I. (NEW YORK, LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.,‘I926; I952.) I HAVE

USED THE ANCHOR EDITION (NEW YORK, I956), 5 VOLS.

2. IBID., II, I55.

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I03

DIALECTIC OF THE RIGHT WITH HIS OWN PEN AND DELIVERED IT
WITH HIS OWN LIPS, THE ENGLISHMEN TOOK FROM THEIR SOVEREIGN
WHAT THEY HAD TACITLY GRANTED BOTH HENRYS AND ELIZABETH.

AS ANY STUDENT OF ENGLISH HISTORY KNOWS, JAMES TOOK HIS
ROLE AS DEFENDER OF THE FAITH VERY SERIOUSLY. PERHAPS HIS
IDEA OF THE ROYAL OFFICE IS NOWHERE BETTER STATED THAN IN A

SONNET WHICH HE PREFIXED TO BASILIKON DORON (OR Hti MAISTIES

 

 

INSTRVCTIONS TO HIS DEAREST SONNE, HENRY THE PRINCE £75997}

 

 

 

GOD GIUES NOT KINGS THE STILE OF 6005 IN VAINE,

FOR ON HIS THRONE HIS SCEPTER DOE‘THEY SWEY:

AND AS THEIR SUBIECTS OUGHT THEM TO OBEY,

SO KINGS SHOULD FEARE AND SERUE THEIR GOD AGAIN

IF THEN YE WOULD ENIOY A HAPPIE RAIGNE,

OBSERUE THE STATUTES OF YOUR HEAUENLY KING,

AND FROM HIS LAW, MAKE ALL YOUR LAWES TO SPRING:

SINCE HIS LIEUTENANT HERE YE SHOULD REMAIN,

REWARD THE IUST, BE STEADFAST, TRUE, AND PLAINE,

REPRESS THE PROUD, MAINTAYNING AYE THE RIGHT,

WALKE ALWAYES SO, AS EUER IN HIS SIGHT,

WHO GUARDES THE GODLY, PLAGUING THE PROPHANE:
AND SO YE SHALL IN PRINOELY VERTUES SHINE,
RESEMBLING RIGHT YOUR MIGHTIE KING DIUINE.5

IN AN EARLIER WORK, THE TRUE LAW OF FREE MONARCHIES (I598)

 

 

JAMES STATES EXPLICITLY WHAT SORT OF GOVERNMENT BEST SUITS
THE LIEUTENANT OF GOD. THE FORM, HE SAYS, WHICH APPROACHES
NEAREST TO PERFECTION IS THE MONARCHY, FOR IT BEARS A DIRECT
RESEMBLANCE TO THE LAWS OF DIVINITY AND FINDS ITS CORRES—
PONDENCY IN NATURE ITSELF. THE MONARCHY IS AN EXPRESSION
5. QUOTED FROM THE POLITICAL WORKS OF JAMES I, EDITED WITH

AN INTRODUCTION BY CHARLES HOWARD —MCILWAIN (HARVARD

UNIV. PRESS, I9I8), P. 5. THIS IS A REPRODUCTION OF

THE EDITION OF I6I6, WHICH JAMES PUBLISHED BECAUSE OF

THE APPEARANCE OF SPURIOUS EDITIONS OF HIS POLITICAL
WORKS.

 

 

1V

 

IOu

OF UNITY, AND UNITY IS "THE PERFECTION OF ALL THINGS."u
JAMES THEN PROCEEDS TO ESTABLISH THE DIVINE NATURE OF THE
ROYAL OFFICE WITH SCRIPTURAL WARRANTS: "KINGS ARE CALLED
GODS BY THE PROPHETIOALL KING DAUID ZESALM 82:67, BECAUSE
THEY SIT VPON GOD HIS THRONE IN THE EARTH, AND HAUE THE

COUNT OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION TO GIUE VNTO HIM."5, SINCE
. .‘0

KINGS ARE APPOINTED AND ANOINTED BY GOD, SAYS JAMES, GOD
ALONE CAN REMOVE THEM FROM OFFICE. THE PEOPLE, ONCE THEY
HAVE BEEN GIVEN A LAWFUL KING, ARE BOUND TO OBEY HIM,

BOUND TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH "PATIENCE ANDHUMILITIES" IF
HE SHOULD BRING THEM PAIN AND SORROW. IN VERY UNCOMPROMIs-
ING TERMS HE SUMS UP HIS POSITION ON CIVIL OBEDIENCE:

SHORTLY THEN To TAKE VP IN TWO OR THREE SENTENCES,
GROUNDED VPON ALL THESE ARGUMENTS, OUT OF THE LAWE
OF GOD THE DUETIE, AND ALLEAGEANCE OF THE PEOPLE
To THEIR LAWFUL KING, THEIR OBEDIENCE, I SAY,
OUGHT To BE To HIM AS TO GODS LIEUTENANT IN EARTH,
OBEYING HIS COMMANDS IN ALL THINGS, ExOEPT DIR-
ECTLY AGAINST GOD, AS THE COMMANDS OF GODS MINISTER,
ACKNOWLEDGING HIM A IUDGE SET BY GOD OUER THEM,
HAUING POWER TO IUDGE THEM, BUTTO BE IUDGED ONELY
BY GOD, WHOM TO ONELY HEE MUST GIUE COUNT OF HIS
IUDGMENT; FEARING HIM AS THEIR IUDGE, LOUING HIM
AS THEIR FATHER; PRAYING FOR HIM AS THEIR PRC-
TECTOUR; FOR HIS CONTINUANOE, IF HE BE GOOD; FOR
HIS AMENDENENT, IF HE BE WICKED; FOLLOWING AND
OBEYING HIS LAWFULL COMMANDS,'ESGHEWING AND FLY-
ING HIS FURY IN HIS VNLAWFULL, WITHOUT RESISTANCE,
BUT BY SOBBES AND TEARES TO GOD, ACCORDING TO THAT
SENTENCE VSED IN THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH IN THE TIME
OF THE PER ECUTION. PRECES, & LAOHRYMAE SUNT ARMA
ECCLESIAE.

IT IS LITTLE WONDER, JUDGING BY THE UNCTUOUS TONE OF THESE

h. IBID., P. 55. 5. IBID., PP. 5h§55. 6G IBID., P. 6|.

L.

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I05

PHRASES, THAT HISTORIANS CLAIM JAMES HAD LITTLE IN COMMON
WITH THE PEOPLE OF HIS SOUTHERN KINGDOM. ALTHOUGH HOOKER
COMES TO THE SAME CONCLUSION ABOUT THE SOCIAL CONTRACT,
JAMES SOUNDS A GOOD DEAL MORE LIKE HOBBES THAN HE DOES THE
CHURCHMAN. JAMESI CONTRACT IS SCRIPTURAL--DIVINE, IF YOU
WILL~~WHEREAS HOBBES' IS EMPIRICAL, BUT BOTH THEORIES MEAN
PRECISELY THE SAME THING TO THE PEOPLE. WHETHER THEY DIR-
ECT THEIR "SOBBES AND TEARES“ TO GOD OR TO THE LIEUTENANT
HIMSELF MAKES VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

IT IS THIS THEORY OF THE ROYAL OFFICE WHICH LED JAMES
TO SAY, "NO BISHOP, NO KING." IN THE NATURAL ORDER OF
NATURE, SAYS JAMES, THE EPISCOPACY, ACTING UNDER THE SUPER-
VISION OF THE CROWN, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELL-
BEING OF THE NATION. UNFORTUNATELY THIS CHAIN OF COMMAND
HAD BEEN DENIED JAMES BY SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIANISM, AND HIS
THOROUGH DISAFFECTION FOR SCOTLANDIS CHURCH IS VIGOROUSLY

STATED IN BASILIKON DORON. THE KING TELLS HIS SON THAT

 

SCOTLAND, UNLIKE ENGLAND, DENMARK, AND PARTS OF GERMANY,
HAS EXPERIENCED A REFORMATION LARGELY GUIDED BY "POPULAR
TUMULT AND REBELLION," BY FIERY MINISTERS CLOGGED WITH THEIR
OWN PASSIONS AND FANTASIES. HENCE HE COUNSELS HENRY TO

TAKE HEEDE THEREFORE. . . TO SUCH PURITANES,

VERIE PESTES IN THE CHURCH AND COMMON-WEALE,

WHOM NO DESERTS CAN OBLIGE, NEITHER OATHES OR

PROMISES BINDE, RAILING WITHOUT REASON, AND
MAKING THEIR OWNE IMAGINATIONS (WITHOUT ANY

I06

WARRANT OF THE WORD) THE SQUARE OF THEIR
CONSCIENCE.

A FEW LINES LATER HE MAKES THIS RECRIMINATING REMARK: "CHER-
ISH NO MAN MORE THEN A GOOD PASTOR, HATE NO MAN MORE THEN A
PROUDE PURITANE." AND WHEN HE SPEAKS OF REFORMED PRIDE, WE
SEE HOW DEEP HIS DISTRUST FOR THE PURITAN CONSCIENCE Ex-
TENDED: "AND WHAT IS BETWIXT THE PRIDE OF A GLORIOUSNEeu-
CHADNEZZAR, AND THE PREPOSTEROUS HUMILITY OF ONE OF THE
PROUD PURITANES, CLAIMING TO THEIR PARITIE, AND CRYING, WEE
ARE ALL BUT VILE WORMES, AND YET WILL IUDGE AND GIUE LAW TO
THEIR KING, BUT BE IUDGED NOR CONTROLLED BY NONE?"8
MCILWAIN MAKES THE INTERESTING OBSERVATION (THIS IS A
MAJOR THESIS OF HIS "INTRODUCTION,“ IN FACT) THAT WE NEED
NOT FEAR WE ARE ENCOUNTERING IN THESE EARLY WORKS IDEAS
WHICH JAMES LATER ABANDONED, FOR IT WAS A MAJOR FEATURE OF
JAMESI PERSONALITY NEVER TO ABANDON AN IDEA WHICH HAD ONCE
BEEN POSSESSEO. COMBINE THIS IDIOSYNCRASY WITH GARRULITY
AND WE HAVE A FAIR NOTION OF WHAT LAY AT THE BOTTOM OF MANY

OF JAMES' DIFFICULTIESO9

7. JAMES WAS LATER OBLIGED TO INDICATE JUST WHOM HE HAD IN
MIND WHEN HE USED THE WORD PURITAN. IN THE EPISTLE To
THE READER~~ATTACHED TO THIS ESSAY IN THE I616 EDITION--
JAMES SAID THAT HE HAD REFERENCE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO,
LIKE THE ANABAPTISTS, ASSUMED THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CON-
SCIENCE WAS THE ONLY CRITERION IN MATTERS OF FAITH.
(POLITICAL WORKS, P. 6.) SEE PP. 25-2u FOR THE QUOTA-
TION,ABOVEO

 

8. IBID., P0 580

9. BACON, IN A THOROUGHLY COMPLIMENTARY MOOD, ONCE COM-
MENTED ON JAMESI READINESS TO ENTER ALL INTELLECTUAL
LISTS: ". . . I HAVE OBSERVED IN YOUR MAJESTY. . .

L.

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I07

THIS BRIEF SKETCH OF JAMES' IDEA OF A KING AND CHURCH
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE WHAT SORT OF MAN

BACON WAS WRITING TO WHEN HE COMPOSED THE PACIFICATION AND

 

EDIFICATION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FULLY BRIEFED

 

HE HAD BEEN ON JAMESI RELIGIOUS PREJUDICES, BUT IT WAS OF
COURSE COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE KING WAS DISSATISFIED WITH
SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIANISM. THE MATTER WAS COMPLICATED, How-
EVER, BECAUSE JAMES,FAR FROM SURE THAT HE WOULD SUCCEED
ELIZABETH, HAD DISPLAYED AN OPENMINDEDNESS TO RELIGIOUS
DIVERSITY WHICH, THOUGH BELIED IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF HIS
REIGN, HAD CONVINOED PURITAN AND CATHOLIC ALIKE THAT HE WAS
PREPARED TO SPONSOR CONSIDERABLE REVISIONS IN ENGLANDIS Eo-
CLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT. THE ENGLISH WERE INCA CONCILIATORY
MOOD,'OAS RELIGIOUS MOODS GO, AND IT WOULD APPEAR FROM THE
PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION TRACT THAT BACON, THOUGH GEN-
ERALLY IN ACCORD WITH JAMESI VIEW OF THE EPISCOPACY, FELT
THAT A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN CHURCH POLICY WERE NEEDED IF

THE ENGLISH WERE TO REMAIN TRACTABLE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME
THING AS SAYING THAT REVISIONS ARE NEEDED TO GAIN THE SUP-
PORT OF GOD, AND WE SHOULD BE GREATLY MISLED IN EVALUATING
THIS ESSAY IF WE WERE TO FAIL TO KEEP THIS IMPORTANT DISTINC—

TION IN MIND.

SUCH A READINESS TO TAKE FLAME AND BLAZE FROM THE
LEAST OCCASION PRESENTED, OR THE LEAST SPARK OF AN-
OTHERIS KNOWLEDGE DELIVERED." (THIS Is FROM THE SEO-
OND PARAGRAPH OF THE DEDICATION OF THE ACVANCEMENT 25.
LEARNING.)

 

I0. TREVELYAN, II, I57-58.

-—I

(3

I08

BACON OPENS HIS DISCUSSION OF THE PACIFICATION AND EDI-
FICATION OF THE CHURCH WITH AN APOLOGY FOR HIS OWN PARTICI-
PATION IN SUCH AFFAIRS ANDWITH A FEW SELECT GENERALIZATIONS
ABOUT CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. ALTHOUGH, HE SAYS, THE SUBJECT
OF CHURCH POLICY DOES NOT PROPERLY APPERTAIN TO HIS PROFEs-
SION, IT IS A WISE SAYING THAT A MAN WHO STANDS TO THE SIDE
OF AN ISSUE MAY SEE IT MORE CLEARLY THAN THOSE ACTUALLY IN-
VOLVED IN IT.ll AFTER THIS APOLOGY, BAOON MAKES A DIRECT
APPEAL TO JAMES TO PRESERVE CHURCH UNITY, WHICH, HE SAYS,
IS NO LESS PRECIOUS THAN NATIONAL UNITY (LAUDED SHORTLY BE-
FORE IN ANOTHER BRIEF TO JAMES). HE HUMBLY COUNSELS THE
KING TO ADOPT A COURSE OF "GOLDEN MEDIOCRITY" BETWEEN THOSE
WHO SAY THAT THE CHURCH CAN SUFFER NO CHANGE-~THAT, IN EF-

FECT, THE BAD IN IT MUST BE PROTECTED BY THE GOOD-“AND THOSE

 

WHO CLAIM THAT THE CHURCH NEEDS A BROAD REFORMATION. CON-
CERNING THESE Two EXTREMES, HE SAYS:

BUT BEFORE I ENTER INTO THE POINTS CONTRo-
VERTED, I THINK GOOD TO REMOVE (IF IT MAY BE)
TWO OPINIONS, WHICH DO DIRECTLY CONFRONT AND
OPPONE TOREFORMATION,--THE ONE BRINGING IT
To A NULLITY, AND THE OTHER TO AN IMPOSSIBILITY.
THE FIRST IS, THAT IT IS AGAINST GOOD POLICY TO
INNOVATE ANYTHING Ifi-CFURCH MATTERs; THE OTHER:'
THAT ALL REFORMATION MUST BE AFTER ONE PLATFORM.|

 

 

 

 

II. LATER HE DID NOT GRANT THE SAME FRANCHISE TO "MONKS AND

CLOSET PENMEN“ WHO HAD TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO EVALu-

ATE ELIZABETH'S GOVERNMENT: "BUT IT Is NOT TO MONKS OR
CLOSET PENMEN THAT WE ARE TO LOOK FOR GUIDANCE IN SUCH

A CASE; FOR'MEN OF THAT ORDER, BEING KEEN IN STYLE, POOR

IN JUDGMENT, AND PARTIAL IN FEELING, ARE NO FAITHFUL

WITNESSES AS TO THE REAL PASSAGES OF BUSINESS." (WORKS,

VI, 505.)
I2. WORKS, X, I05.

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I09

TO FURTHER DEMONSTRATE HIS AFFINITY TO SOME FORMS OF
INNOVATION, BACON EMPLOYS A HYDROLOGIC METAPHOR WHICH READ-
ERS OF HIS PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS WILL IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE:

WHO KNOWETH NOT THAT TIME IS TRULY COMPARED TO A
STREAM, THAT CARRIETH DOWN FRESH AND PURE WATERS
INTO THAT SALT SEA OF CORRUPTION WHICH ENVIRONETH
ALL HUMAN ACTIONS? AND THEREFORE IF MAN SHALL
NOT BY HIS INDUSTRY, VIRTUE, AND POLICY, AS IT
WERE WITH THE OAR Row AGAINST THE STREAM AND IN-
CLINATION OF THE TIME, ALL INSTITUTIONS AND OR-
DINANCES, BE THEY NEVER SO PURE, WILL CORRUPT
AND DEGENERATE.'5
IN ALL OTHER CASES THIS STREAM IS BRINGING DOWN THE OFFAL
AND LIGHT STUFF OF ANTIQUITYflI-I BUT HERE, IN MAKING REFER-
ENCE TO THE PRIMITIVE PURITY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, BACON
FOULS HIS CRYSTALLINE WATERS IN THE STAGNANT MERES OF HUMAN
ACTION.

BUT INNOVATION, WE ARE SOON TO LEARN, IS NOT TO EXT
TEND INTO THE HALLOWED CHAMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH-
GOVERNMENT. IN "REVOLVING THE SCRIPTURE5" BACON HAS FOUND
NO INDICATION THAT GOD HAS PRESCRIBED ONE PLATFORM OF
CHURCH GOVERNMENT. ON THE CONTRARY, GOD HAS LEFT SUCH

MATTERS "TO BE VARIED ACCORDING TO THE TIME AND PLACE AND

ACCIDENTS, WHICH NEVERTHELESS HIS HIGH AND DIVINE PROVIDENCE

I5. IBID.

IN. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PREFACE TO THE GREAT INSTAURA-
TION BACON SAYS, "TIME Is LIKE A RIVER, WHICH HAS
BROUGHT DOWN TO US THINGS LIGHT AND PUFFED UP,
WHILE THOSE WHICH ARE WEIGHTY AND SOLID HAVE SUNK"
(WORKS, IV, I5).

 

 

I10

I
DOTH ORDER AND DISPOSE." 5 BUT THEN BACON MAKES THE cus-
TOMARY ANGLICAN LEAP FROM THE MULTI-PLATFORM PRINCIPLE TO
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE IMMUNITY OF ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS.
THAT WHICH IS LAWFULLY AND PROPERLY ESTABLISHED, HE SAYS,
"OUGHT TO BE MAINTAINED INVIOLATE." SIMILARLY, THE SUB-
STANCE OF CHURCH DOCTRINE (ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM), LIKE
THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, IS IMMUTABLE;
BUT RITES, CEREMONIES, POLICIES, AND DISCIPLINES ARE "LEFT
AT LARGE." CONCERNING ESSENTIALS, BACON CONTINUES, LET US
EMBRACE THE WORDS OF CHRIST, THAT HE WHO IS NOT WITH US IS
AGAINST us; BUT CONCERNING THINGS INDIFFERENT, HE THAT IS
NOT AGAINST US IS WITH US.'6 THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF
THIS PROGRESS IS A DIRECT DEFENSE OF THE EPISCOPACY:
FIRST, THEREFORE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
BISHOPS, I FOR MY PART, NOT PREJUDGING THE
PRECEDENTS OF OTHER REFORMED CHURCHES, DO
HOLD IT WARRANTED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND
BY THE PRACTICE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH IN
THE BETTER TIMES, AS MUCH MORE CONVENIENT
FOR KINGDOMS, THAN PAR TY OF MINISTERS AND
GOVERNMENT BY SYNODS.l
WE NEED HARDLY SAY THAT BACON HAS SIMPLY BEEN REPEAT-

ING THE COMMONPLACE USED FOR SEVERAL DECADES BY THE CHURCH“

MEN TO DEFEND THE ESTABLISHMENT. HIS OWN MOTIVES IN THESE

I5. WORKS, x, I07. I6. IBID., P. I08.

I7. IBID., PP. I08-09. LATER (P. III) BACON SUGGESTS
THAT CONVOCATION BE GRANTED SOME OF ITS FORMER
JURISDICTION, BUT HE MAKES NO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDA-
TIONS. '

OPENING PARAGRAPHS WOULD NOT BE TO INFORM JAMES, TO WHOM
THE CHURCHIS DEFENSE WAS AN OLD STORY, BUT TO SUGGEST To
THE NEW KING THAT HE (BACON) WAS AMENABLE TO HIS SOVER-
EIGNIS IDEA OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT.

BACON'S SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM BEGIN,
HOWEVER, WITH A CRITICISM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT. WE MAY
RECALL HIS EARLIER STRICTURES ON THE AUTONOMY OF THE
EPISCOPACY, AND BOTH OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOPS RELATE TO THIS ABUSIVE USE OF
AUTHORITY. THE BISHOPS, HE SAYS, ARE COMMISSIONED TO MAKE
DECISIONS OF THE GRAVEST NATURE WITHOUT INVITING COUNSEL,
AND HE FINDS THIS POWER, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT APPLIES TO
EXCOMMUNICATION, EXCESSIVE. THE BISHOPS HAVE A FRANCHISE
WHICH IS PRACTICALLY WITHOUT EXAMPLE IN ECCLESIASTICAL
AND CIVIL HISTORY~~EVEN KINGS HAVE THEIR COUNSELLORSI
IN ONE OF HIS FEW WINDY PASSAGES, BACON RAMBLES ON UN-
NECESSARILY ABOUT HOW COUNSEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOUGHT BY
MEN IN IMPORTANT OFFICES, CONCLUDING THAT THE BISHOPS
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SEEK ADVICE IN THEIR WEIGHTIEST
DECISIONS:

AND THEREFORE IT SEEMS TO ME A THING REASON-
ABLE AND RELIGIOUS, AND ACCORDING TO THE
FIRST INSTITUTION, THAT BISHOPS, IN THE
GREATEST CAUSE, AND THOSE WHICH REQUIRE A
SPIRITUAL DISCERNING, NAMELY IN ORDAINING,
SUSPENDING, OR DEPRIVING MINISTERS, IN EX‘
COMMUNICATION. o C IN SENTENCING THE VALIDITY

OF MARRIAGES AND LEGITIMATIONS, IN JUDGING

 

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CAUSES CRIMINOUS, AS SIMONY, INCEST, AND THE
LIKE, gHOULD NOT PROCEED SOLE AND UNASSISTED.
I
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BAOON BELIEVES THIS IS A REFORMATION IN THE CHURCH WHICH

WILL GO "SINE STREPITU, WITHOUT ANY PERTURBATION AT ALL."

 

THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNS THE TENDENCY OF
BISHOPS To DELEGATE THEIR AUTHORITY IN CASES WHICH DEMAND
THEIR PERSONAL ATTENTION. THE BISHOP, BACON AFFIRMS, HAS
THE KIND OF AUTHORITY WHICH CANNOT IN CERTAIN RESPECTS BE
DELEGATED. LIKE A JUDGE, HE Is CHOSEN BECAUSE HE HAS THE
SINGULAR CAPACITY To ExECUTE HIS OFFICE; HENCE To DELEGATE
AUTHORITY Is TO DENY THE VERY NATURE OF HIS OFFICE. IT Is
THE RIGHT OF A CHRISTIAN INVOLVED IN A HIGHLY SERIOUS MAT-
TER TO HAVE ACCESS To THE BISHOP HIMSELF. THIS TOO Is A
THING REASONABLE. AND RELIGIOUS.

IN THE ANGLICAN-PURITAN DEBATE A QUESTION FULLY AS
IMPORTANT As THAT RELATING TO CHURCH GOVERNMENT CONCERNED
THE FORM OF PUBLIC PRAYER, FOR IF THE EPISCOPACY WERE To
REMAIN UNIMPAIRED AND THE UNIFORMITY ACT IN EFFECT, THE
PURITANS COULD BE PACIFIED ONLY IF THEY WERE PERMITTED TO
CHANGE.THE CHURCH SERVICE ITSELF, A RIGHT WHICH THEY HAD
NOT BEEN GRANTED UNDER ELIZABETH. IT IS THIS PROBLEM To

IHIOH BAOON TURNS NEXT, AND A BRIEF LOOK AT HOOKER'S VIEWS

HILL DEMONSTRATE HOW FUNDAMENTALLY SYMPATHETIO HE IS WITH

THE CHURCHMANIS POSITION.

I8. IBID., PP. IIO-II.

'. 1!.“- I"_

 

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HOOKER'S DEFENSE OF A SET FORM OF PUBLIC PRAYER, WHICH
Is PRIMARILY AN EXTENSION OF THE DEBATE CONDUCTED BY CART-
WRIGHT AND wHITGIFT, UNFOLDS FROM THE FIRST PREMISE THAT
THE CHRISTIAN WHOLE "ExCEEDETH THE WORTHn OF ANY OF ITS
SEPARATE PARTS.'9 THEREFORE, MEN JOINED TOGETHER IN THE
MYSTIOAL BODY OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH WORSHIP G00 IN A WAY F
THEY COULD NOT IN DISJUNCTION, WHATEVER THE SINCERITY OF
THEIR INDIVIDUAL DEVOTION. IF PUBLIC WORSHIP IS THE HIGH-

EST FORM OF WORSHIP, IT FOLLOWS THAT ITS FORM SHOULD BE I

 

‘F F "‘

DETERMINED BY THOSE BEST QUALIFIED TO INTERPRET THE WILL
OF GOD--SKILLED AND REVERENT THEOLOGIANS. HOOKER MAINTAINS
THAT ALTHOUGH CERTAIN VARIATIONS IN THE FORM OF COMMON
PRAYER CAN BE OBSERVED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF
CHRIST, IT IS CERTAIN THAT ALL TRUE LITURGY HAS PROCEEDED
FROM ONE MOLD, "AND THAT THE PUBLIC PRAYERS OF THE PED-
PLE OF GOD IN CHURCHES THOROUGHLY SETTLED DID NEVER USE
TO BE VOLUNTARY OICTATES PROCEEDING FROM ANY MAN'S Ex-
TEMPORALWIT."20 THE "STRANGE CONCEIT" THAT ANY SET FORM
OF SERVICE IS SUPERSTITIOUS IS BORN, HE AFFIRMS, OF THE
"BEST STRATAGEM“ OF SATAN, WHO WELL KNOWS THAT THE SUREST
WAY TO SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOD'S KINGDOM Is TO MAKE
ISB. HOOKERIS COMPREHENSIVE EXPLICATION OF PRIVATE AND PUB-
LIC WORSHIP IS CONTAINED IN CHAPTERS XXIII-XXVI! OF
BOOK FIVE OF THE LAWS OF ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY. BOOK
FIVE WAS PUBLISHED-TN'7597.

20. ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY v, xxv, LI; VOL. II, I2I.

IIh

THE PUBLIC PRAYER ODIOUS. HOOKER HAS, OF COURSE, NO SYM-
PATHY FOR THOSE WHO WISH To ABOLISH A PRESCRIBED FORM OF

WORSHIP ALTOGETHER, TO WORSHIP "ACCORDING TO THE EXIGENCE
OF PRESENT OCCASIONS"; NOR, THOUGH HE ADMITS THAT SOME AS—
PECTs OF THE SERVICE ARE NOT COMPLETELY UNALTERABLE, Is HE
INCLINED To OPEN THE COMMON PRAYER TO INTERNAL REVISIONS.

HE Is, IN A WORD, DEFENDING THE CHURCH RATHER THAN PACIFY-

ING PURITANS.
BACON TAKES A LESS UNCOMPROMISING STAND, BUT IN HIS

SIX MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS 0N CHURCH SERVICE WE SEE HIS

BASIO ALIGNMENT WITH HOOKER:

AND THEREFORE, FIRST, THAT THERE BE A SET FORM
OF PRAYER AND THAT IT BE NOT LEFT EITHER TO AN
ExTEMPORAL FORM OR TO AN ARBITRARY FORM. SEC—
ONDLY, THAT IT CONSIST AS WELL OF LAUDS, _HYM§
.AND THANKSGIVINGS, As OF PETITIONS, PRAYERS, AND
SUPPLICATIONS. THIRDLY, THAT THE FORM THEREOF
BE QUICKENED WITH SOME SHORTNESS AND DIVERSITY
OF PRAYERS AND HYMNS, AND WITH SOME INTERCHANGE
OF THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AS WELL AS OF THE
VOICE OF THE MINISTER. FOURTHLY, THAT IT ADMIT
SOME OISTINCTIONS OF TIMES AND COMMEMORATIONS
OF GOD'S PRINCIPAL BENEFITS, AS WELL GENERAL

AS PARTICULAR. FIFTHLY, THAT PRAYERS LIKEWISE
BE APPROPRIATED TO SEVERAL NECESSITIES AND OC—
CASIONS OF THE CHURCH. SIXTHLY, THAT THERE BE
A FORM LIKEWISE OF WORDS AND LITURGY IN THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND IN THE DE-
NOUNOING [FKE., "ANNOUNCING" OF THE CENSURES
OF THE CHURCH, AND OTHER HOEY ACTIONS AND
SOLEMNITIES. THESE THINGS I THINK WILL NOT BE
MUCH CONTROVERTED.2 ‘

'TszFIRST RECOMMENDATION IS, OF COURSE, VASTLY MORE IMPOR-

T‘ANT THAN THE SUM OF THE OTHER FIVE, WHICH ARE DOMINATEO BY

2|. WORKS, x, IIS.

 

“FIT

II5

AN APPEAL T0 INSTITUTE A PLEASING DIVERSITY AND TO MAKE PRO-
VISIONS IN THE SERVICE FOR EXIGENCYO THE OBJECT OF THE

CHURCH SERVICE, THAT IS, WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH

 

IS To REMAIN UNCHANGED.22

IT IS NOW OBVIOUS WHAT BACON WILL SAY ABOUT THE ROLE
OF THE MINISTER IN THE SERVICE AND ABOUT THE PROPER FUNc-
TION OF THE SERMON. HIS DISCUSSION "TCUCHING A PREACHING
MINISTRY" IS THE MOST THOROUGHLY BACONIAN PASSAGE IN THE
TRACT:

To SPEAK OF A LEARNED MINISTRY, IT Is TRUE
THAT THE WORTHINESS OF THE PASTORS AND MINISTERS
Is OF ALL OTHER POINTS OF RELIGION THE MOST SUM-
MARY; I DO NOT SAY THE GREATEST, BUT THE MOST EF-
FECTUAL TOWARDS ALL THE REST. BUT HEREIN TO MY
UNDERSTANDING WHILE MEN GO ON IN ZEAL To HASTEN
THIS WORK, THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF As GREAT OR
GREATER INCONVENIENCE THAN THAT WHICH THEY SEEK
To REMOVE. FOR WHILE THEY INVEIGH AGAINST A
DUMB MINISTRY, THEY MAKE TOO EASY AND TOO PRo-
MISCUOUS AN ALLOWANCE OF SUCH As THEY ACCOUNT
PREACHERS, HAVING NOT RESPECT ENOUGH To THEIR
LEARNINGS IN OTHER ARTS, WHICH ARE HANDMAIDS To
DIVINITY; NOT RESPECT ENOUGH TO THE GIFT ITSELF,
WHICH MANY TIMES Is NONE AT ALL. FOR GOD FOR-
BID, THAT EYERY MAN THAT CAN TAKE UNTO HIMSELF
BOLDNESS To SPEAK AN HOUR TOGETHER IN A CHURCH
UPON A TEXT, SHOULD BE ADMITTED FOR A PREACHER,
THOUGH HE MEAN NEVER SO WELL. I KNOW THERE IS
A GREAT LATITUDE IN GIFTS AND A GREAT VARIETY
IN AUDITORIES AND CONGREGATICNS, BUT YET so AS

222. I SUSPECT'-AND THIS IS A THOROUGHLY REASONABLE PRO-
POSITION--THAT BACON HAD HOOKER'S WORK BEFORE HIM AS
HE COMPOSED MUCH OF THIS TRACT. THERE IS A MARKED
SIMILARITY IN THE WAY ISSUES ARE APPROACHED, AND CO-
CASIONALLY BAOON SEEMS ATTRACTED TO HOCKERIS IRONYO
IN THESE TRACTS WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERING BACON AL-
MOST NEVER MAKES SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO CONTEMPORARY
PERSONALITIESO THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH HIS POSE AS
THE INDIFFERENT MAN, BUT MORE FUNDAMENTALLY IT IS THE
RECOGNITION OF THE ODIUM ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OF THE

CHURCHMEN.

 

I”

II6

THERE IS ALIQUID INFIMUM BELOW WHICH YOU OUGHT NOT
TO DESCEND. FOR YOU MUST RATHER LEAVE THE ARK TO
SHAKE AS IT SHALL PLEASE GOD, THAN PUT UNWORTHY
HANDS TO HOLD IT UP, AND WHEN WE ARE IN GOD'S
TEMPLE, WE ARE WARNED RATHER TO PUT OUR HANDS
UPON OUR MOUTH THAN TO OFFER THE SACRIFICE TO

FOOLS.25
IT Is HARD TO DETECT IN THIS PASSAGE EVEN A MODICUM OF

RESPECT FOR WHAT MANY PROTESTANTS CALL "LAY INSPIRATION" OR

ANY RESPECT FOR COMMUNAL ENTHUSIASM IN GENERAL. A COMELY

SERVICE INTERRUPTED BY A SPONTANEOUS OVERFLOW OF RELIGIOUS

“I“

 

EMOTION WOULD FIND N0 FAVOR IN THE EYES OF FRANCIS BACON.

HE INSISTS THAT FAITH, LIKE ALL OTHER EXPERIENCES OF LIFE,

‘ 1

BE REASONABLE, MODERATE, AND ORDERLY.
BACON HAS THREE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE MINISTRY,
‘THE FIRST OF WHICH Is RATHER INTERESTING IN LIGHT OF HIS
MANY ENCOMIUMS ON ELIZABETHIS ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY. DUR-
ilfla A PORTION OF ELIZABETH'S REIGN MINISTERS HAD BEEN PER-
Ml‘rTED TO "PROPHESY," THAT IS, To ASSEMBLE IN SMALL GROUPS
AIWD GIVE INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES.
CKJSTOMARILY DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE INITIATED BY THE YOUNGER
MEMBERS OF THE MINISTRY AND WOULD END As SEASONED MINISTERS
GAMI: THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PASSAGES IN QUESTION.
IEIEALLY CONDUCTED, PROPHESYING WAS AN ExCELLENT DEVICE To
TFRAIN YOUNG MINISTERS, BUT IN I576 ELIZABETH FELT THAT THE
EXERCISE HAD GOTTEN OUT OF HAND AND THEREFORE INSTRUCTED

ARCHBISHOP GRINDAL TO HAVE IT DISPENSED WITH. GRINDAL,

23. WORKS, x, II8-I9.

 

 

II7

HOWEVER, DID NO MORE THAN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE MEETINGS
THEMSELVES. THIS HALF-MEASURE DISPLEASED THE QUEEN, WHO
IN MAY OF I577 SENT PERSONAL LETTERS To HER BISHOPS PRO—
HIBITING PROPHESYING. GRINDAL OPENLY OPPOSED THIS MEASURE,
AN ACT FOR WHICH HE WAS DISGRACED AND SEQUESTRATED FOR SIX
MONTHS.2II FRERE MAINTAINS THAT PROPHESYING CONTINUED IN
VARIOUS FORMS IN SPITE OF THE QUEEN'S IRRITABILITY.
BACON WISHES TO SEE PROPHESYING REVIVED, FOR HE THINKS
ITS METHODS ARE ADMIRABLY SUITED TO THE TRAINING OF MIle-
TERS. ORATORS, LAWYERS, LDGICIANS, AND "EVERY PRACTICE OF
SCIENCE" HAVE THEIR DEVICES FOR INSTRUCTING THE NOVICE, HE
SAYS. PREACHING ONLY, "WHICH Is THE WORTHIEST, AND WHEREIN
IT IS MOST DANGER To DO AMISS, WANTETH AN INTRODUCTION, AND
IS VENTURED AND RUSHED UPON AT THE FIRST."25 HE WILL, HOW-
EVER, SUGGEST TWO PROVISIONS, ONE THAT THE MINISTERS IN-
VOLNED MEET DIRECTLY AFTER THE EXERCISES AND ADMONISH OF-
FWENDERS, AND THE OTHER THAT YOUNG DIVINES IN THE UNIVER-
8I'TIES BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXERCISE BEFORE
TFlEY PRESUME To PREACH. TO THOSE WHO FEAR THAT PROPHESY-
'“Ie WILL BREED NEW CONTROVERSIES BACON GIVES THE ASSURANCE
ZLL. w. H. FRERE, A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH IN THE
REIGNS OF ELIZABETH AND JAMES (LONDON, MACMILLAN
IND—63}, IgUEETTyiflb, PP. I95-9h. ACTUALLY GRINDAL

REMAINED IN DISGRACE UNTIL HE DIED, BLIND, IN I583.‘
ELIZABETH WISHED To DEPRIVE GRINDAL BUT WAS DISSUADED

BY HER COUNC IL.

2‘5. WORKS, x, I20.

-4

II8

THAT "MATTERS OF CONTROVERSY TENDING ANY WAY TO THE VIOLAT-
ING AND DISQUIETING OF THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH" MAY BE
STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. IF A nGRAVE PERSON" ATTENDS THE MEET-
INGS, AS PRESIDENT OR MODERATOR, THEY OAN BE ADEQUATELY
POLICED.
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE MINISTRY Is
THAT CLERGYMEN BE SUBJECTED TO A MORE "EXACT PROBATION AND
EXAMINATION" AND THAT THEIR ORDINATIONS OCCUR ONLY AT
SPECIFIED TIMES, WITH APPROPRIATE COMPLEMENTARY CEREMONIES.
THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS THAT AN EFFORT BE MADE To DIs-
TRIBUTE MINISTERS MORE EQUITABLY THROUGHOUT THE REALM.
IN HIS REMAINING SUGGESTIONS, OF WHICH THERE ARE A
GOOD MANY, BACON RANGES AT LARGE OVER THE CHURCHIS DISCIP-
LINE, AND IN AN ATTEMPT To AVOID REACHING THE POINT OF
DIMINISHING RETURNS IN THIS DISCUSSION I SHALL PRESENT
RELEVANT BACKGROUND MATERIAL ONLY IN THOSE CASES WHICH ARE
PARTICULARLY KNOTTY OR WHICH THROW AN INTERESTING LIGHT ON
BAOONIS OWN OPINIONS. FREQUENTLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF HIS
*0 VICE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY PERCEIVED.
IN THE ADMONITION CONTROVERSY WHITGIFT AND CARTWRIGHT

"Ac COME To ETYMOLOGICAL ANO SPIRITUAL BLDWS OVER THE WORD
IE‘SIEST, WHOSE CONNOTATION OF "SACRIFICER" WAS OF COURSE
“'WATHEMA TO THE REFORMERS. WHITGIFT, THOUGH "NOT GREATLY

E’ELIGHTED WITH THE NAME,"26AFFIRMED NONETHELESS THAT "A

26. WHITGIFT'S WORKS, III, 55I.

I

L_

(W

T I

L,

\l
g

II9

TRUTH IS TO BE DEFENDED." HOOKER HAD BEEN EVEN LESS DE-
LIGHTED WITH THE NAME, AND IN DISCUSSING THE NOMENCLATURE
OF THE CHURCHIS MINISTRY HAD DISCARDED PRIEST AND HAD USED

PRESBYTER, "BECAUSE IN A MATTER OF SO SMALL MOMENT [rHEj7

 

WOULD NOT WILLINGLY OFFEND THEIR EARS TO WHOM THE NAME OF
PRIESTHOOD Is ODIOUS THOUGH WITHOUT CAUSE."27 BACON, FAV—
ORING HOOKERIS ARGUMENT, SUGGESTS THAT PRIEST BE DISCON-
TINUED, "THE WORD MINISTER BEING ALREADY MADE FAMILIAR."28
AN ISSUE OF MORE IMPORTANCE (THOUGH IT Is DIFFICULT TO
ASCERTAIN THE PLANES OF IMPORTANCE IN THE PURITAN MIND)
CONCERNED CONFIRMATION. SIMPLY STATED, THE PROBLEM WAS
THIS: IT WAS THE CHURCH'S POLICY TO MAKE BAPTISM AND CON-
FIRMATION TWO SEPARATE CEREMONIES, THE LATTER OF WHICH
COULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A BISHOP. THE PURITANS HAD
MANY CRITICISMS OF THIS POLICY. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS SIMI-
ImAR To THE CATHOLIC SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION; IT IMPLIED
TWWAT CONFIRMATION WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BAPTISM; IT SUG-
GESTED THAT THE BISHOP HAD A UNIQUE POWER IN THE "LAYING
0h! OF HANDS," A POWER DENIED HIM BY SCRIPTURE; AND IT SENT
MANY A POOR FAMILY TRAMPING ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE IN SEARCH
OF’ A BISHOP TO RENDER A SERVICE WHICH THE REFORMERS THOUGHT

D ID NOT NEED DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE. ALSO, SINCE THE

27. g. E. V, LXXVIII, 2; VOL. II, I469-70.

28. WORKS, x, II6.

_ ill"-

 

Ink

L-

I20

CONFIRMATION CEREMONY INVOLVED THE EXAMINATION OF THE CON‘

FIRMEE, THE REFORMERS FELT THE PROCEEDINGS WERE BETTER FIT-

TED TO AN INDUCEMENT TO COMMUNION. BACON GREATLY OVERSIM-

 

PLIFIES THE MATTER, REFERRING ONLY TO THE LAST ASPECT:

FOR CONFIRMATION, TO MY UNDERSTANDING THE
STATE OF THE QUESTION Is WHETHER IT BE NOT A
MATTER MISTAKEN AND ALTERED BY TIME; AND WHETHER
THAT BE NOT NOW MADE A SUBSEQUENT TO BAPTISM

I.E., THE EXAMINATION7, WHICH WAS INDEED—TN
INDUCEMENT TO THE COMMUNION. FOR WHEREAS IN
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH CHILDREN WERE EXAMINED OF
THEIR FAITH BEFORE THEY WERE ADMITTED TO THE
COMMUNION, TIME MAY SEEM TO HAVE TURNED IT TO
REFER As IF IT HAD BEEN To RECEIVE A CONFIRMA-
TION OF THEIR BAPTISM.2

 

 

BACON ALSO TOUCHES THE ABSOLUTION, IN COMMENTS WHICH

WILL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:

29.

TCUCHING THE ABSOLUTION, IT IS NOT UN"
WORTHY CONSIDERATION WHETHER IT MAY NOT BE
THOUGHT UNPROPER AND UNNECESSARY; FOR THERE
ARE BUT TWO SORTS OF ABSOLUTION, BOTH SUP-
POSING AN OBLIGATION PRECEDENT; THE ONE UPON
AN EXCOMMUNICATION, WHICH IS RELIGIOUS AND
PRIMITIVE; THE OTHER UPON CONFESSION AND
PENANCE, WHICH IS SUPERSTITIOUS OR AT LEAST

 

IBID. FOR HOOKERIS EXPLIOATION, WHICH CONTAINS A
LENGTHY REVIEW OF PURITAN COMPLAINTS, SEE g, E. V,
LXVI; VOL. II, 557-h8. HOOKER DEFENDS BOTH THE
CONCEPTION AND CEREMONY OF CONFIRMATION, REFERRING
To THE UNFORTUNATE "DEEP NEGLECT OF THIS CHRISTIAN
DUTY" (LXVI, 8; VOL. II, 5H9. THIS Is, IN FACT, ONE
OF HOOKER'S MORE IMPASSIONED SECTIONS. THE ANGLICAN-
PURITAN DEBATE ON BAPTISM ITSELF HAD MANY PRONGS}
BACON MENTIONS BRIEFLY THAT BAPTISM BY LAYMEN OR Wo-
MEN IS NOT "GENERALLY DEFENDED" (WORKS, x, II7). AT
THE HAMPTON COURT CONFERENCE THE CHURCHMEN AGREED TO
CHANGE THE CHURCH'S RUBRIC ON BAPTISM TO AVOID THE
IMPLICATION THAT A MOTHER (UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS)
COULD BAPTIZE HER CHILD AT HOME. PART OF THE RUBRIC
WAS CHANGED FROM "LET THEM THAT BE PRESENT CALL UPON
GOD FOR HIS GRACE, AND SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER, IF THE

 

IZI

POSITIVE; AND BOTH PARTICULAR, NEITHER GENERAL.
THEREFORE SINCE THE ONE IS TAKEN AWAY, AND THE
OTHER HATH HIS PROPER CASE, WHAT DOTH A GENERAL
ABSOLUTION, WHEREIN THERE IS NEITHER PENANCE
NOR EXCOMMUNICATION PRECEDENT? FOR THE CHURCH
NEVER LOOSETH, BUT WHERE THE CHURCH HATH BOUND.
AND SURELY I MAY THINK THIS AT THE FIRST WAS
ALLOWED IN A KIND OF SPIRITUAL DISCRETION,
BECAUSE THE CHURCH THOUGHT THE PEOPLE COULD

NOT SUDDENLY BE WEANED FROM THEIR CONCEIT OF
ASSOILING ZT}E., "ABSOLVING" 0 To WHICH THEY

HAD BEEN SO LONG ACCUSTOMED. '

WITH HIS EMPIRICAL VIEW OF CHURCH DOGMA BACON MIGHT HAVE

LAID WASTE A GREAT MANY CEREMONIES BY SIMPLY EXPLAINING

 

THEIR IRRATIONALITY, BUT CHURCHMEN WERE NOT ALWAYS As CON-
FIOENT AS HE THAT REASON WOULD RULE THE DAY, OR THAT IT
NEEDED To.
SINCE I560, THE YEAR OF THE VESTARIAN CONTROVERSY,

THE QUESTION OF THE ATTIRE OF MINISTERS HAD NEvER BEEN OUT
OF THE SPOTLIGHT. TO MANY PURITANS ANGLICAN VESTMENT WAS
SYMBOLIC OF ALL THAT WAS BAD ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT; AND
1W1: CHURCHMEN, THOUGH CONTINUALLY MAINTAINING THAT THEIR
APPAREL WAS A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE, WENT ON ACTING As IF
'1‘ WERE A CONCERN OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. A PORTION OF
H<>OKERIS ARGUMENT WILL SUFFICE TO SHOW US HOW THE CHURCH'S

AR GUMENT RAN:

““TTME”WTtt'§UFFICE" TO "LET THE MINISTER OF THE PARISH

. . . CALL UPON GOO. . . ." QUOTED FROM 5. P. v,
LXII, I, N. 3; VOL. II, 280-8I. ORDINARIIY TN MATTERS
LIKE THIS BACON HOPES FOR A SOLUTION WHICH WILL SAT-
ISFY THE MORE AGGRESSIVE GROUP.

30. WORKS, x, II6.

-—+

L-

I22

THE ATTIRE WHICH THE MINISTER OF GOD IS BY
ORDER TO USE AT TIMES OF DIVINE SERvICE BEING
BUT A MATTER OF MERE FORMALITY, YET SUCH As FOR
COMELINEss-SAKE HATH HITHERTO BEEN JUDGED BY
THE WISER SORT OF MEN NOT UNNEOESSARY TO CONCUR
WITH OTHER SENSIBLE NOTES BETOKENING THE DIF-
FERENT KIND OR QUALITY OF PERSONS AND ACTIONS
WHERETO IT Is TIED; As WE THINK NOT CURSELVES
THE HOLIER BECAUSE WE USE IT, SO NEITHER SHOULD
THEY WITH WHOM NO SUCH THING IS IN USE THINK US
THEREFORE UNHOLY, BECAUSE WE SUBMIT CURSELVES
UNTO THAT, WHICH IN A MATTER so INDIFFERENT
THE WISDOM OF AUTHORITY AND LAW HATH THOUGHT
COMELY.3'

THIS IS THE KIND OF ARGUMENT WHICH ONE CAN WALK THROUGH
FROM ANY ANGLE AND NEVER LEAVE A TRACK, FOR SOMEWHERE BE-
TWEEN INDIFFERENCE AND SENSIBLE COMELINESS THE GROUND BE-
COMES VERY FLUID. THE PURITANS, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HAD
INFORMED THE CHURCHMEN THAT 1251 DID NOT THINK ATTIRE WAS

A MATTER OF INDIFFERENCE. IN FACT, MANY OF THEIR MINISTERS
WERE SO OPPOSED TO THE CHURCH'S APPAREL THAT THEY REFUSED
To WEAR IT, AND WERE THEREFORE NOT PERMITTED TO PREACH.
'THIS MEANT THAT CONGREGATIONS WERE LEFT WITHOUT MINISTERS
<3? ANY SORT. WOULD IT NOT BE REASONABLE, THEN, To SACRI-
F'ICE COMELINESS FOR THE RETURN OF THESE MINISTERS To THEIR
FI.OCKs? THE CHURCH SAID NO. COMELINESS WAS NOT A THING
To BE TAKEN INDIFFERENTLY.

IN THIS CASE BACON SYMPATHIzES WITH THE PURITANS, AND

THE LINE OF HIS ARGUMENT IS VERY INTERESTING (AND DIFFICULT)

T o FOLLOW:

3‘. E. E... V, XXIX, I; VOL. II, I28-29o

.r'_

 

HM

THIS

FOR THE CAP AND SURPLICE, SINCE THEY BE
THINGS IN THEIR NATURE INDIFFERENT AND YET
BY SOME HELD SUPERSTITIOUS, SO THAT THE QUES—
TION IS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND CONSCIENCE, IT
SEEMS TO FALL WITHIN THE COMPASS OF THE
APOSTLE'S RULE, WHICH Is, THAT THE STRONGER
DO DESCEND AND YIELD TO THE WEAKER. oNLY
THE DIFFERENCE IS, THAT IT WILL BE MATERIALLY
SAID, THAT THAT RULE HOLDS BETWEEN PRIVATE
MEN AND PRIVATE MAN, NOT BETWEEN THE CON-
SCIENCE OF A PRIVATE MAN AND THE ORDER OF A
CHURCH. BUT SINCE THE QUESTION AT THIs TIME
IS OF TOLERATION, NOT BY CONNIVANCE WHICH MAY
ENCOURAGE DISOBEDIENCE, BUT BY A LAW WHICH MAY
GIVE A LIBERTY, IT Is GOOD AGAIN TO BE ADVISED
WHETHER IT FALL NOT WITHIN THE EQUITY OF THE
FORMER RULE; THE RATHER BECAUSE THE SILENCING
OF MINISTERS BY THIS OCCASION IS (IN THE SCAR-
CITY OF GOOD PREACHERS) A PUNISHMENT THAT LIGHTS
UPON THE PEOPLE AS WELL As UPON THE PARTY.5

IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTORTED PASSAGES IN THE BACON

CANON, BUT ITS OBJECTIVITY IS EVEN MORE REMARKABLE THAN

ITS SYNTAX. BACON SEEMS TO BE VIEWING THE VESTMENT CON“

TROVERSY FROM THE COMMON-SENSE PLATEAU OF THE TWENTIETH

<3ENTURY RATHER THAN FROM THE TEMPESTUOUS WATERS OF HIS

OWN.

ANOTHER INDIFFERENT WHICH-BACON FEELS MAY BE CONCEDED

T<> THE PURITANS CONCERNS THE RING IN THE WEDDING CEREMONY:

32.
33.

WORKS, x,

FOR THE FORM OF CELEBRATING MATRIMONY, THE
RING SEEMETH TO MANY EVEN OF VULGAR SENSE AND
UNDERSTANDING A CEREMONY NOT GRAVE, SPECIALLY
TO BE MADE (AS THE WORDS MAKE IT) THE ESSENTIAL
PART OF THE ACTION: BESIOES, SOME OTHER OF THE
WORDS ARE NOTE IN COMMON SPEECH TO BE NOT OE-
CENT AND FIT.

II8.

IB|DO, PO "7.

- nflH-—_——

 

 

 

I2u

THE RING CEREMONY (WHICH HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED, INCIDENTALLY)
FOLLOWS THE VOWS OF THE HUSBAND AND WIFE To "TAKE THEE TO
MY WEDDED. . . &O." IT THEN PROCEEDS
THEN SHALL THEY AGAIN LOOSE THEIR HANDs; AND
THE MAN SHALL GIVE UNTO THE WOMAN A RING, LAY-
ING THE SAME UPON THE BOOK WITH THE ACCUSTOMED
DUTY To THE PRIEST AND CLERK. AND THE PRIEST,
TAKING THE RING, SHALL DELIVER IT UNTO THE MAN,
To PUT IT UPON THE FOURTH FINGER OF THE WOMAN'S
LEFT HAND. AND THE MAN HOLDING THE RING THERE,
AND TAUGHT BY THE PRIEST, SHALL SAY, 'WITH THIS
RING I THEE WED, AND WITH MY BODY I THEE WOR-
SHIP, AND WITH ALL MY WORLDLY GOODS I THEE EN-
DOW: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON,
AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN.’
WHEN BACON SAYS nSOME OTHER OF THE WORDS ARE NOTED IN COM-
MON SPEECH TO BE NOT SO OEOENT AND FIT," HE NO DOUBT HAS
REFERENCE TO "WITH MY BODY I THEE WORSHIP." CARTWRIGHT
HAD SAID, "THEY MAKE THE NEw-MARRIED MAN ACCORDING To THE
POPISH FORM TO MAKE AN IDOL OF HIS WIFE, SAYING, 'WITH
THIS RING | THEE WED, WITH MY BODY I THEE WORSHIP.I"3H
THOUGH ADMITTING THAT THE RING CEREMONY WAS NOT STRICTLY
ESSENTIAL, BOTH WHITGIFT AND HOOKER DEFENDED IT AT LENGTH
As AN ACTION SYMBOLICALLY APPROPRIATE To THE UNION OF MAN
AND WIFE. CARTWRIGHT'S CONTENTION WAS THAT THE SYMBOL
LOOKED VERY LIKE THE CATHOLIC SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE.
BACONIS COMMENTS ARE TOO BRIEF TO REVEAL HIS OWN CONVIC—
TIONS, BUT HE IS CLEARLY READY TO ABANDON THE LITTLE BAND

3h. WHITGIFT'S WORKS, III, 555. HOOKER DISCUSSES THE
RING CEREMONY IN E. P. v, LxquI, 6-?; VOL. II,

129-55 .

‘Wfln r>fl"‘ll.'.

I25

OF GOLD, WHICH HAS MEANT SO MUCH To SO MANY BRIDES, IN THE
NAME OF NATIONAL ORDER AND TRANQUILLITY.
ONE OF BACON'S MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVES
THE so-CALLED THREE-FOLD SUBSCRIPTION. ONE OF WHITGIFT'S
FIRST ACTIONS As AROHBISHOP (HE ACCEDED IN I585) WAS TO RE-
QUIRE ALL PREACHERS AND ALL IN ORDERS To SWEAR TO THIS SUB-
SCRIPTION BEFORE PERFORMING ANY ECCLESIASTICAL FUNCTION.
oNE PROVISION OF THE SUBSCRIPTION II/'AFFIRME9_7THE QUEEN'S
SUPREMACY, ONE [gSSERTED7'THAT THE PRAYER BOOK AND ORDINAL
CONTAINED 'NOTHING CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GODI WITH A PRo—
MISE TO USE IT AND NONE OTHER, [3ND ONE ALLOWED7'THE ARTI-
CLES AS 'AGREEABLE To THE WORD OF GOD.I"55 IT Is PLAIN To
SEE WHY THE PURITANS WERE GREATLY DISPLEASED WITH THIS SUB-
SCRIPTION, AND BACON SUGGESTS THAT IN THIS CASE CHURCH UNI-
FORMITY MIGHT BE MODIFIED TO INSURE NATIONAL UNITY:
AND FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION, IT SEEMETH TO BE
IN THE NATURE OF A CONFESSION, AND THEREFORE
MORE PROPER TO BIND IN THE UNITY OF FAITH, AND
TO BE URGED RATHER FOR ARTICLES OF DOCTRINE
THAN FOR RITES AND CEREMONIES AND POINTS OF
OUTWARD GOVERNMENT. FOR HOWSOEVER POLITIC
CONSIDERATIONS AND REASONS OF STATE MAY RE-
QUIRE UNIFORMITY, YET CHRISTIAN Ago DIVINE
GROUNDS LOOK CHIEFLY UPON UNITY.5
IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE GROWTH OF ARMINIANISM IN THE REIGN OF

CHARLES | THAT THE GREAT DOCTRINAL SCHISM IN THE CHURCH

CAME ABOUT. NO DOUBT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF MERIT IN

55. BROOK, WHITGIFT, P. 82. 56. WORKS, x, IIB.

FQ-r‘“. o

BACONIS RECOMMENDATION IN I605, FDR ON MANY DOCTRINAL Is-
SUES THE CHURCH WAS UNITED, AND THE THREE-FOLD SUBSCRIP-
TION MADE THE CHURCHMENIS POSITION ON INDIFFERENCE AND
COMELINESS EXOEEDINGLY HYPOCRITICAL. BACONIS FRANK ADMls-
SION OF THIS FACT DOES NOT MAKE HIM A PURITAN, BUT IT DOES
CARRY THE IMPLICATION THAT THE CHURCH OUGHT TO PRACTICE
WHAT IT PREACHES.

EARLIER IN THIS DISCUSSION WE NOTED THAT BACON FAVORED
A PLEASING DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH SERVICE. ALTHOUGH HE
SAYS VERY LITTLE MORE ABOUT VARIETY AND HARMONY IN THE
COMMON PRAYER, HE DOES MAKE A RATHER LENGTHY COMMENT ON
CHURCH MUSIC:

FOR MUSIC IN CHURCHES, THAT THERE SHOULD BE
SINGING OF PSALMS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS Is NOT
DENIED. so THE QUESTION IS DE Mono; WHEREIN IF
A MAN WILL LOOK ATTENTIVELY TNTOTTEE ORDER AND
OBSERVANCE OF IT, IT IS EASY TO DISCERN BETWEEN
THE WISDOM OF THE INSTITUTION AND THE EXCESS OF
THE LATER TIMES. FOR FIRST, THERE ARE NO SONGS
OR VERSES SUNG BY THE QUIRE, WHICH ARE NOT SUP-
POSED BY CONTINUAL USE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE
PEOPLE, AS THEY HAVE THEM WITHOUT BOOK, WHEREBY
THE SOUND HURTETH NOT THE UNDERSTANDING, AND
THOSE WHICH CANNOT READ UPON THE BOOK, ARE YET
PARTAKERS OF THE SENSE AND MAY FOLLOW IT WITH
THEIR MIND. SO AGAIN, AFTER THE READING OF THE
WORD OF GOD, IT WAS THOUGHT FIT THERE SHOULD BE
A PAUSE FOR HOLY MEDITATION, BEFORE THEY PRC-
CEEDED TO THE REST OF THE SERVICE; WHICH PAUSE
WAS THOUGHT FIT TO BE FILLED RATHER WITH SOME
GRAVE SOUND, THAN WITH A STILL SILENCE, WHICH
WAS THE REASON OF THE PLAYING UPON THE ORGANS
AFTER THE SCRIPTURES READ. ALL WHICH WAS DE-
CENT AND TENDING TO EDIFICATION. BUT THEN THE
CURIOSITY OF DIVISION AND REPORTS AND OTHER
FIGURES OF MUSIC, HATH NO AFFINITY WITH THE

I~\l ‘P‘Y‘

REASONABLE SERVICE OF GOD, BUT WERE ADDED IN
MORE POMPOUS TIMES.)

LIIHISTERS OF GOD, LIKE OTHER MORTALS, ARE NOT IMMUNE To
114E TEMPTATION TO MAKE THEIR SERVICES JUST A LITTLE MORE
IIMPRESSIVE THAN THOSE OF A BROTHER WHOSE CHURCH IS DOWN
‘TIHE STREET. THE PROBLEM OF DETERMINING THE LINE BETWEEN
FtELlGIOUS AND SENSUOUS DELIGHT IS NOT AN EASY ONE IN THOSE
ICISURCHES FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO POSSESS REAL MUSICAL TALENT.
NIUSIOIANS ARE CLANNISH AND PROUD PEOPLE WHO, EVEN IN A

CHURCH SERVICE, TEND TO CREATE THEIR OWN RULES OF CONDUCT.

 

ESACONIS POSITION Is VERY NEARLY THAT OF HOOKER, WHO, IN

ONE OF THE TRULY MELODIOUS SECTIONS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL

 

PKDLITY, AFFIRMS THAT MUSIC HAS POWER TO MOVE THE SOUL (To
[DELIGHT OR SORROW) AS No OTHER SINGLE TEMPORAL INSTRUMENT,
BlJT HE IS CAUTIOUS TO WARN THAT WORSHIP MUST NOT BECOME
TFIE SLAVE OF MUSIC.38

THIS BRINGS US TO THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, AND I THINK
TIIAT BAOONIS REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE TREATED SUM-

'“AFIILY. TOWARD THE END OF THE ESSAY HE EXPANDS HIS EARLIER

37. IBID., P. II7.

553. E. P. V, XXXVIII; VOL. II, I59-I62. REFORMED OPINIONS
VARTED A GOOD DEAL, ALL THE WAY FROM NARROW To RATHER
LIBERAL VIEWPOINTS. A NOTABLE ONE FROM THE FIRST AD-
MONITION FOLLOWS: "AS FOR ORGANS AND CURIOUS SINGTNG,
TRBUEfi-THEY BE PROPER TO POPISH DENS, I MEAN TO CATHED-
RAL CHURCHES, YET SOME OTHERS MUST ALSO HAVE THEM.

THE QUEEN'S CHAPEL, AND THESE CHURCHES MUST BE PAT-
TERNS AND PRECEDENTS TO THE PEOPLE OF ALL SUPERSTI-
TIONS.“ SEE WHITGIFTIS WORKS, III, 592.

 

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I28

(>OMMENT ON EXCOMMUNIOATION, ABOUT WHICH HE HAS TWO ADDI-
T IONAL RECOMMENDATIONS: THE FIRST THAT EXCOMMUNICATION BE
FzESTORED TO ITS FORMER DIGNITY As A PUNISHMENT OF THE

H IGHEST ORDER, AND NOT "AN ORDINARY PROCESS TO LAOKEY UP
AIND DOWN FOR FEES"; AND THE SECOND THAT IT BE EXECUTED
c>NLY BY A BISHOP (WHO, WE RECALL, IS TO SEEK COUNSEL IN
SIJOH MATTERS).

A SUBJECT ALWAYS GOOD FOR A FEW ANNOTATIONS WAS PLURAL-
ITIES AND NONRESIDENCE. BACONIS ADVICE ON PLURALITIES Is
BIRIEF AND CLINICAL,59BUT IF ANY SECTION OF THE ESSAY COMES
F’ROM HIS CHRISTIAN BREAST, THE DISCUSSION OF NONRESIDENCE
EJOES. FIERCELY CANDID, AND USING THE PROBATIVE STYLE WITH
<3REAT_PRECISION, HE GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CORE OF NONRESI-

DENCE:

FOR NON-RESIDENCE, EXCEPT IT BE IN A CASE
OF NECESSARY ABSENCE, IT SEEMETH AN ABUSE DRAWN
OUT OF COVETOUSNESS AND SLOTH; FOR THAT MEN
SHOULD LIVE OF THE FLOCK THAT THEY Do NOT FEED,
OR OF THE ALTAR AT WHICH THEY DO NOT SERVE, Is
A THING CAN HARDLY RECEIVE JUST DEFENCE. . . .Ll'O

FIE WILL.EXTEND HIS CENSURE TO THE SANCTITY OF THE COURT

lTSELF:

359. HE SAYS THAT PLURALITIES ARE "IN NO SORT TOLERABLE"
WHEN THERE Is A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MINISTERS. How-
EVER, WHEN THERE IS NOT, LITTLE CAN BE DONE. WHERE
POSSIBLE, UNION OF BENEFICES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED;
THERE SHOULD BE AN EFFORT TO MAKE BENEFICES MORE
COMPATIBLE (GEOGRAPHICALLY); AND IT MIGHT BE WELL TO
CONSIDER GIVING LIBERAL STIPENDS TO PREACHERS TO SUP-
PLY PLACES WITHOUT SUFFICIENT PASTORS. (IBID., PP.

I25‘21I.)
L“). IBID., P. I22.

 

/./

I29

FOR THE CASE OF CHAPLAINS, LET ME SPEAK IT WITH
YOUR MAJESTYIS PARDON, AND WITH DUE REVERENCE
TOWARDS OTHER PEERS AND GREAT PERSONS WHICH

ARE BY STATUTE PRIVILEGED, I SHOULD THINK THAT
THE ATTENDANCE USED AND GIVEN IN YOUR MAJESTY'S
COURT, AND IN THE HOUSES AND FAMILIES OF THEIR
LORDS, WERE A JUSTER REASON WHY THEY SHOULD
HAVE NO BENEFICE, THAN WHY THEY SHOULD BE
QUALIFIED TO HAVE TWO. '

I N AN INTERESTING PASSAGE WHICH NO GRADUATE STUDENT CAN E
FREMD WITHOUT SOME TWISTED DELIGHT, BACON SUGGESTS THAT
BENEFICES BE NOT ABANDONED FOR "INTENDING STUDIES IN THE
UNIVERSITIES": HE RATHER FAVORS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING:

"IUEITHER DO I SEE BUT THAT THEY PROCEED RIGHT WELL IN ALL I

 

‘3'

KIMOWLEDGE WHICH DO COUPLE STUDY WITH THEIR PRACTICE, AND
DC) NOT FIRST STUDY ALTOGETHER, AND THEN PRACTICE ALTO—
(SETHER; AND THEREFORE THEY MAY VERY WELL STUDY AT THEIR
iBEhmFlcEsonuz BACON CLOSES THE DISCUSSION OF NONRESIDENCE
“IITH TWO CONCESSIONS: A PERSON ON SOME "EXTRAORDINARY SER-
VIICE OF THE CHURCH" (FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SENT TO ATTEND A
GENERAL COUNCIL) MAY BE SUSTAINED FOR A TIME; AND ONE SUB-
dEICTED TO "INFIRMITY OF THE BODY AND THE LIKE" MAY LIKEWISE
BE: EXCUSED. OBVIOUSLY HE HAS LITTLE CHARITY TO EXTEND TO
TFIE NONRESIDENTS, BUT FEW MEN DID.

THE ESSAY IS CONCLUDED WITH A DISCUSSION "TCUCHING
TFiE PROVISION FOR THE SUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE OF THE CHURCH."

BACON COMMENTS FREQUENTLY ON THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF CHURCH

LI-l. IBID., pp. 122-25. 12. IBID., P. I25.

 

I50

F'INANCES IN THE TRACT, BUT HE DOES NOT PROCEED BEYOND THE
(SENERALIZATION THAT THE sTATE--ESPECIALLY THROUGH IMPRo-
F’RIATIONs--HAS TAKEN AN UNJUST SHARE OF THE CHURCHIS
FIEVENUE. AND, HE SAYS, SINCE THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE
T'HE AUTHORITY OR CAPACITY TO FILL ITS OWN COFFERS, IT FOL-
L.0WS THAT THE STATE HAS THE OBLIGATION TO ASSIST IT. THIS
I:s A RECOMMENDATION BACON MADE SEVERAL TIMES DURING JAMESI
FIEIGN, BUT THE KING, CONSTANTLY IN NEED OF MONEY HIMSELF,
D ID NOT FIND IT POSSIBLE T0 SPONSOR A REDISTRIBUTION OF
WEALTH.

IN THE CLOSING LINES OF THE TRACT, LINES WHICH ARE
IALMOST LITURGICAL IN TONE, BACON MAKES A COMMENT ON CHURCH
LJNITY WHICH MUST BE AS IRONIC AS ANY EXTANT ON THE HOUSE

OF STUART:

. . . I END WITH MY DEVOUT AND FERVENT PRAYER
TO GOD, THAT AS HE HATH MADE YOUR MAJESTY THE
CORNERSTONE IN JOINING TWO KINGDOMS, SO You
MAY BE ALSO As A CORNERSTONE To UNITE AND
KNIT TOGETHERhTHESE DIFFERENCES IN THE CHURCH

OF GOD. . . .

IT Is INTERESTING TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED To BAOON'S
AIJVIOE TO KING JAMES, THOUGH ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE
B<30K OF COMMON PRAYER KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO MOST OF IT.
111E HAMPTON COURT CONFERENCE, IN WHICH JAMES SPOKE WITH
TliE BISHOPS AND THE PURITAN LEADERS, OPENED JANUARY Ih,

Ieflh,uhAND INSIDE OF TWO DAYS THE ANGLICANS AND PURITANS

1H5. IBID., P. I26. I uh. FRERE, P. 296.

 

I5I

liAD A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE NEW KING'S ECCLESIASTICAL
F>CLITY. DURING THE FIRST DAY, JAMES MET WITH THE BISHOPS
AIND THE LORDS OF HIS COUNCIL, AND AN EYE-WITNESS SUMMARIZED
1'HE PROCEEDINGS As FOLLOWS:

THE KING ASSEMBLING ONLY THE LORDS OF HIS COUN-
CIL AND THE BISHOPS, MYSELF DR. MONTAGUE, THE KINGIS
CHAPLAI£7 HAD THE FAVOUR TO BE PRESENT BY THE KING
HIS COMMAND. THE COMPANY MET, AND HIMSELF SATE IN
HIS CHAIR. HE MADE A VERY ADMIRABLE SPEECH, OF AN
HOUR LONG AT LEAST. . . . .

HIS M. PROPOUNDED SIX POINTS UNTO THEM. THREE
IN THE COMMON PRAYER BOOK, TWO FOR THE BISHOPS!
JURISDICTION, AND ONE FOR THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND.

IN THE PRAYER-BOOK HE NAMED THE GENERAL ABSOLu-
TION, THE CONFIRMATION OF CHILDREN, AND THE PRIVATE
BAPTISM BY WOMEN. IN THE CONCLUSION, THE KING WAS
WELL SATISFIED IN THE TWO FORMER, SO THAT THE MANNER
MIGHT BE CHANGED, AND SOME THINGS CLEARED. FOR THE
PRIVATE BAPTISM, IT HELD THREE HOURS AT LEAST; THE
KING ALONE DISPUTING WITH THE BISHOPS, SO WISELY,
WITTILY, AND LEARNEDLY, WITH THAT PRETTY PATIENCE,
As I THINK NEVER MAN LIVING HEARD THE LIKE. IN
THE END HE WON THIS OF THEM, THAT IT SHOULD ONLY
BE ADMINISTERED BY MINISTERS, YET IN PRIVATE HOUSES,
IF OCCASION REQUIRED; AND THAT WHOSOEVER ELSE
SHOULD BAPTIZE SHOULD BE UNDER PUNISHMENT.

FOR THE COMMISSARIESI COURTS AND THE CENSURES
OF EXCOMMUNICATION AND SUSPENSION, THEY SHALL BE
MENDED, AND THE AMENDMENT IS REFERRED TO THE LORD
CHANCELLOR AND THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE. BUT FOR
THEIR COMMON AND ORDINARY EXCOMMUNICATION FOR
TRIFLES, IT SHALL BE UTTERLY ABOLISHED. THE
FIFTH POINT WAS ABOUT THE SOLE JURISDICTION OF
BISHOPs; SO HE GAINED THAT OF THEM, THAT THE
BISHOPS, IN ORDINATION, SUSPENSION, AND DEGRADA-
TION, AND SUCH LIKE, THEY SHALL EVER SOME GRAVE
MEN To BE ASSISTANTS WITH THEM IN ALL CENSURES.

FOR IRELAND, THE CONCLUSION WAS (THE KING
MAKING A MOST LAMENTABLE DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE
THEREOF), THAT IT SHOULD BE REDUCED TO CIVILITY,
PLANTED WITH SCHOOLS AND MINISTERS, AS MANY AS
COULD BE GOTTEN.

THESE THINGS DONE, HE PROPOUNDED MATTERS
WHEREABOUT HE HOPED THERE WOULD BE NO CONTROVERSY;
AS TO HAVE A LEARNED MINISTRY, AND MAINTENANCE FOR

 

 

 

I52

THEM AS FAR AS MIGHT BE. AND FOR PLURALITIES
AND NON-RESIDENCE, TO BE TAKEN AWAY, OR AT
LEAST MADE SO FEW AS POSSIBLE MIGHT s:.h5

IT Is DIFFICULT TO KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT JAMES HAD BEEN IN-
FLUENCED BY BACONIS ADVICE, FOR THE SUBSTANCE OF BAOON'S
OWN PROPOSALS HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO THE KING BY THE PURI-
TANS IN THE so-CALLED MILLENARY PETITION WHILE JAMES WAS
STILL IN PROGRESS.u6 AND THE PROBLEMS WERE, As I HAVE AT-
TEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE, SEVERAL DECADES OLD. BUT IN ANY
CASE WE SEE THAT THE BISHOPS WERE AMENABLE To SEVERAL OF
BAOON'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT THESE WERE NOT THE TRULY IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND
WHEN JAMES MET WITH THE PURITANS ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MOOD DOMINATEO THE PROCEEDINGS. DR.
MONTAGUE, PRESENT ALSO AT THIS MEETING, REPORTED:

THEY [FHE PURITANS7 PROPOUNDED FOUR POINTS:
THE FIRST, PURITY OF DOCTRINE. SECONDLY, THE
MEANS TO MAINTAIN IT, AS GOOD MINISTERS, ETC.
THIRDLY, THE COURTS OF BISHOPS, CHANCELLORS,
AND COMMISSARIES. FOURTHLY, THE COMMON-PRAYER
BOOK.

FOR DOCTRINE, IT WAS EASILY AGREED UNTO
BY ALL. FOR MINISTERS ALSO: FOR JURISDICTION
LIKEWISE.

FOR THE BOOK OF COMMON-PRAYER, AND SUB-
SCRIPTIONS To IT, THERE WAS MUCH STIR ABOUT
ALL THE CEREMONIES AND EVERY POINT IN IT.
THE KING PLEADED HARD TO HAVE GOOD PROOF
AGAINST THE CEREMONIEs; AND IF THEY HAD EITHER
THE WORD OF GOD AGAINST THEM, OR GOOD AUTHORITY,
HE WOULD REMOVE THEM: BUT IF THEY HAD NO WORD

US. QUOTED FROM BACON'S WORKS, x, I28-29.

U6. ABBOTT, P. I07.

 

 

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'35

OF GOD AGAINST THEM, BUT ALL AUTHORITY FOR
THEM, BEING ALREADY IN THE CHURCH, HE WOULD
NEVER TAKE THEM AWAY: FOR HE CAME NOT TO
DISTURB THE STATE, NOR TO MAKE INNOVATIONS,
BUT TO CONFIRM AND CORRECT WHAT WAS COR-
RUPTED BY THEM. THEY ARGUED THIS POINT VERY
LONG. THE BISHOPS OF WINCHESTER AND LONDON,
WHO OF ALL THE BISHOPS WERE PRESENT, LABOURED
THIS POINT HARD, AND DIVERS OF THE DEANs;

BUT AT LENGTH THE KING UNDERTOOK THEM HIM-
SELF, AND EXAMINED THEM BY THE WORD AND BY
THE FATHERS. THERE WAS NOT ANY OF THEM THAT
THEY COULD PROVE TO BE AGAINST THE WORD, BUT
ALL OF THEM CONFIRMED BY THE FATHERS, AND
THAT LONG BEFORE POPERY. SO THAT, FOR THE
CEREMONIES, I SUPPOSE NOTHING WILL BE ALTERED.
AND TRULY THE DOCTORS ARGUED BUT WEAKLY
AGAINST THEM: SO THAT ALL woaeERED THEY HAD
NO MORE To SAY AGAINST THEM.

"Fri-I

THERE IS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE DOCTORS HAD NO MORE TO SAYI
WHAT MORE WAS THERE FOR THEM TO SAY? THE KING'S VERY LINE
OF QUESTIONING AND HIS DEFENSE OF THE STATUS QUO HAD MADE
THEIR POSITION BRUTALLY CLEAR; AND IF THIS WERE NOT ENOUGH,
JAMES, AFTER BEING ASKED BY THE PURITANS HOW FAR THE
CHURCH'S AUTHORITY EXTENDED IN THE PRESCRIPTION OF CERE-
MONIES, DEMONSTRATED HIS UNCOMPROMISING ALLEGIANCE TO THE
EPISCOPACY:
THIS. . . Is LIKE MR. JOHN BLACK, A BEARDLESS
BOY, WHO TOLD ME, THE LAST_CONFERENCE IN SCOT-
LAND, THAT HE SHOULD HOLD CONFORMITY WITH HIS‘
MAJESTY IN MATTERS OF DOCTRINE; BUT EVERY MAN,
FOR CEREMONIES, WAS TO BE LEFT TO HIS OWN
LIBERTY. BUT I WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT, I WILL
HAVE ONE DOCTRINE, ONE DISCIPLINE, ONE RELI-

GION, IN SUBSTANCE AND CEREMONY. NEVER SPEAK

MORE fig THAT POINT"HOW FAR YOU ARE BOUND TO
OBEY .

M7. WORKS, x, I29-50. U8. IBID., PP. I27-28.

Bu

NEVER IS A LONG TIME, BUT JAMES MEANT WHAT HE SAID, As THE
COURSE OF HIS REIGN WAS TO TESTIFY.

BACON MUST HAVE BEEN DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WHEN HE
LEARNED OF JAMESI ACTIONS, FOR THE KING HAD MADE TWO
TRAGIC MISTAKES IN THE CONDUCT OF HIS OFFICE. THE FIRST
WAS TO DESCEND FROM THE LOFTY REACHES OF THE THRONE TO
DEBATE LIKE A COMMON MORTAL. BUT THIS WAS AN ERROR WHICH
MIGHT HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED HAD JAMES MANAGED To SAY THE
RIGHT THINGS. HE HAD NOT, HOWEVER, AND RATHER THAN ADOPT
A COURSE OF nGOLDEN MEDIOCRITY"--FEIGNED_OR REAL--HAD BE-
COME AN OUTRIGHT PARTISAN OF THE BISHOPS. FURTHERMORE, HE
HAD STATED HIS CASE IN TERMS so UNEQUIVOOAL THAT NO ROAD
REMAINED OPEN FOR SUBSEQUENT COMPROMISE. THE PURITANS
NOW HAD TWO CHOICES: THEY COULD EITHER ABANDON THEIR DEEP-
EST CONVICTIONS AND SOMEHOW SERVE GOD SUFFICIENTLY WITHIN
THE CONFINES OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, OR THEY COULD BRING THE
KING TO HIS KNEEs.

. CUSTOMARILY, BACONIS ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY DRAWS ABOUT
As MUCH SCHOLARLY ATTENTION AS DO ALL THE WORKS OF JOHN

TAYLOR, THE WATER POET, BUT THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFICA-

 

TION, COMING AS IT DOES AT THE BEGINNING OF JAMES' REIGN,
AND REPRESENTING AS IT DOES BAOONIS LENGTHIEST COMMENTARY
ON THE CHURCH, Is FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED BY SCHOLARS. USUALLY

THEIR COMMENTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A GRACICUS INDIFFERENCE,

BUT OCCASIONALLY SOMEONE IS INSPIRED TO PRESENT A THESIS;

- 1““

 

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'55

AND BEFORE PROCEEDING TO MY OWN CONCLUSIONS (THOSE WHICH
HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLIED ALREADY), I SHOULD LIKE TO REVIEW
A FEW OF THE MORE NOTEWORTHY COMMENTARIES.

RICHARD W. CHURCH,h9A MAN WHO CERTAINLY KNEW HIS WAY
AROUND IN RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES, SELECTED THE TRACT DIS—

CUSSED IN THE LAST CHAPTER, THE ADVERTISEMENT TOUCHIN§_THE

 

CONTROVERSIES 2: THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, TO EXPOUND BACONIS

 

 

RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY. THOUGH STRESSING BACON'S"FAIRNESS"

 

IN THE ADVERTISEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGING BACONIS SEVERE CRITI-
CISMS OF THE POLICIES OF THE BISHOPS, DEAN CHURCH CONCLUDED
THAT THE TRACT HAD BEEN WRITTEN BY A MAN WITH A DEEP FEAR
THAT "THE PURITANS WERE AIMING AT A TYRANNY WHICH, IF THEY
ESTABLISHED IT, WOULD BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE, MORE SEARCH-
ING, AND MORE CRUEL THAN THAT OF THE OLDER SYSTEM. . . .“50
NOT COMMITTED TO DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE--As HOOKER WAS
AT TIMEs--BACON, CONTINUED CHURCH, COULD CRITICIzE BOTH
CAMPS. BUT THROUGH PERSONAL OBSERVATION HE HAD SEEN "THE
INSIDE OF PURITANISM" AND REMAINED FUNDAMENTALLY SYMPATHETIC
WITH THE CHURCHMEN. CHURCH PRAISED BACONIS CAPACITY TO
ELEVATE RELIGIOUS WRANGLINGS TO A HIGHER PLANE OF ARGUMENTA-
TION, BUT ORITICIZED HIM FOR REDUCING MAJOR CONFLICTS To
FACILE FIRST PREMISES WHICH NEEDED THE TEST OF nWELL-PROVED
AND ASCERTAINED MINORS."5I IN OTHER WORDS, BAOON HAD OVER-

SIMPLIFIED THE SPIRIT OF THE CONTROVERSIES.

M9. BACON (NEW_YORK, HARPER & BROTHERS, I88U).

50. IBID., P. I5. 5|. IBID., P. Ih.

 

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I36

EVIDENTLY CHURCH FELT HE HAD MADE HIS POINT ABOUT

BAOON'S FAITH AND THEREFORE DISPOSED OF THE PACIFICATION

 

AND EDIFICATION IN THIS FASHION: "THE HAMPTON COURT CON-

 

FERENCE BETwEEN THE BISHOPS AND THE PURITAN LEADERS wAs
AT HAND, AND ZEAOON7’DREW UP A MODERATING PAPER ON THE

PACIFICATION 25 THE CHURCH."52 EDNIN ABBOTT FOUND DEAN

 

CHURCH'S FLIPPANT DISPOSAL OF THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFI-

 

CATION HIGHLY UNSOHOLARLY. ABBOTT, IT WILL BE RECALLED,

HAD FOUND IT “HARD TO DETECT PARTIALITY" IN THE ADVERTISE~

 

MENT, A POSITION WHIOH SHOULD FAIRLY WELL PREPARE US FOR
HIS EVALUATION OF THE LATER TRACT:

THIS TREATISE COMPLETELY DISPOSES OF THE
NOTION THAT BACON HAS A SOUND ANGLICAN AND AN
APPROVER OF WHITGIFT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE
PURITANS. ALL THE REFORMS HE ADVOCATES, THE
ADOLUTION OF PRIVATE BAPTISM BY LAYMEN, THE
DISOONTINUANCE OF THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION,

OF THE RING IN THE MARRIAGE SERVIGE, OF THE
CAR AND SURPLICE, AND OF ORNATE CHURCH MUSIC,
wERE DEMANDED IN THE PETITION PRESENTED TO
JAMES, ON HIs PROGRESS TO LONDON IN I603 BY
PURITAN MINISTERS, AND COMMONLY CALLED THE
MILLENARY PETITION. AS FAR AS REGARDS RELI-
GIOUS CEREMONIAL, BACON WAS HIMSELF AT THIS
TIME (IOOL) A PURITAN IN HIS PERSONAL INCLINA-
TIONS, THOUGH NOT A PURITAN IN THE SENSIBLE,
STATESMANLIKE BREADTH OF MIND HITH WHICH HE
REGARDED THE BITTER CONTROVERSIES OF THE Ex-
TREME PARTIES CONCERNING MATTERS IN THEMSELVES
PETTYO53

ABBOTT WENT SO FAR AS TO ASSERT THAT THE PACIFICATION AND

 

ggIFICATION HAD A UNIQUE CLAIM TO REPRESENT BAOONIS TRUE

 

52. IBID., P. 65. 55. FRANCIS BACON, P. I07 (I885).

 

 

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FEELINGS "BECAUSE HERE, AND HERE ALONE, HE IS SPEAKING HIS
OWN MIND, FREED FROM EXTERNAL PRESSURE."5u ABBOTT WAS
PARTICULARLY ATTRACTED BY BACON'S SUGGESTION THAT A CHURCH,
LIKE A STATE, IS IN CONSTANT NEED OF INTERNAL ADJUSTMENT.

W. H. FRERE,55|N WHAT IS STILL PROBABLY THE BEST SINGLE
VOLUME ON THE CHURCH IN THE REIGNS OF ELIZABETH AND JAMES,
GAVE TO BACON A VERY SMALL ROLE IN THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF
ENGLAND. FRERE MAINTAINED THAT THERE WERE THREE BASIC AT-
TITUDES TOWARD PURITANISM IN THE EARLY PART OF JAMESI REIGN.
THOSE SYMPATHETIC TO WHITGIFT‘S POLICIES WERE COMMITTED TO
THE THEORY THAT PURITANISM WAS TO BE SEEN ONLY AS A THREAT
TO THE ESTABLISHMENT, AS A PLAN TO REPLACE THE CHURCH WITH
A "NEW PRESBYTERIAN BODY." THIS GROUP, WHILE CONSCIOUS OF
THE VALIDITY OF CERTAIN PURITAN COMPLAINTS, BELIEVED THE
REFORMERS WERE TO BE SUPPRESSED WITH ALL THE POWER THE
CHURCH COULD MUSTER. FRERE PLACES BACON IN THE saxmo
GROUP:

BACON MAY BE TAKEN AS THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE
OF THOSE WHO REGARDED (PURITANISM FROM THE
POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW, AND WHO HAD NOT MUCH
INSIGHT AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE CHURCH
PRINCIPLES, WHICH WERE REALLY THE POINTS AT
STAKE, ALTHOUGH TO ALL APPEARANCE THE FIGHT
WAS ABOUT TRIVIAL MATTERS. THESE SAW IN THE

PURITAN PARTY A BODY OF EARNEST MEN, WHO HAD
MANY REAL GRIEVANCES MIxED UP WITH SOMEWHAT

SI—I- IBID., P. I07.

55. A_HISTORY 3: THE ENGLISH CHURCH IN THE REIGNS 2:
ELIZABETH AND JAMES l_(I90u; I92ET}

 

 

 

 

 

\V/

I38

MINUTE AND TIRESOME SCRUPLES, AND WHO, HAVING AT-
TRACTED TO THEMSELVES A LARGE SECTION OF THE BEST
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE OF THE TIME, DESERVED RATHER TO
BE MET AND CONCILIATED THAN TO BE REPRESSED AND
SILENCED. THE EDIFICATION TRACT7 WHICH BACON
PLACED IN THE KING'S HANDS AT Hl- FIRST COMING,
THOUGH LACKING_IN PENETRATION, lfiAS FULL OF THE
RIGHT SPIRIT OF CONCILIATION. WHILE MAINTAINING
STOUTLY THE EPISCOPAL AND HISTORICAL HIERAROHY,
HE WISHED TO SEE MORE LIBERTY IN CHURCH POLICY,
BUT HE WISELY ABSTAINED FROM ANYTHING BUT GEN-
ERALITIES, WHICH SOUNDED WELL, BUT WERE USELESS.
ON OTHER POINTS HE WAS MORE EXPLICIT, AND HIS
RECOMMENDATIONS To RESTRICT THE ABSOLUTISM OF
BISHOPS, TO INCREASE THE POWER OF CONVOCATION,
TO RESTORE THE PROPHESYINGS AS TRAINING GROUNDS
FOR PREACHERS, AND TO REFORM THE TENURE OF BENE-
FICES AND ENDOWMENTS, DESERVED MORE ATTENTION
THAN THEY SECURED. JAMES' POINT OF VIEW [FHIS
IS THE THIRD GROUP, COMPOSED OF ONE, I TAKE [:7
. . . WAS NEITHER OF THESE; IT AGREED WITH THE
LATTER IN BEING BASED ON POLITICAL, NOT ECCLESI-
ASTICAL CONSIDERATIONS, BUT W TH THE FORMER IN
BEING ADVERSE TO PURITANISM.

PROFESSOR JORDAN, TO WHOSE ORIENTATION I AM GREATLY

INDEBTED, ADOPTED SEVERAL OF FRERE'S RESERVATIONS ABOUT

THE TRACT BUT WAS MORE WILLING TO GIVE BACON CREDIT FOR

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE NATURE OF PURITANISM. JORDANIS

MAJOR THESIS IAS THAT BACON POSSESSED AN UNCANNY CAPACITY

TO STAND TO THE SIDE OF HIS AGE AND VIEW RELIGIOUS CON“

TROVERSIES

IN THEIR LARGEST PERSPECTIVES. JORDAN MEN-

TIONED THE SAGACITY OF BACONIS ORGANIC VIEW OF CHURCH AS

EXPRESSED

56.

IN THE PACIFICATION ESSAY, AND WENT ON TO SAY:

IBID., PP. 29I-92. IT IS INTERESTING THAT FRERE,
WORKING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CHURCH HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, DID NOT LIST BAOONIS SUGGESTION CONCERNING
VESTMENT AMONG THE ESSAYIS MORE ENLIGHTENING OB-
SERVATIONS.

 

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'39

WITH CRITICAL DISCERNMENT BACONIS COLDLY ERASTIAN
INTELLIGENCE SWEPT THROUGH ALL OF THE CONTROVER-
SIES WHICH LOOMED SO LARGE IN THE ENGLISH RELI-
GIOUS SCENE. THE LITURGY SHOULD BE EMPLOYED TO
GAIN UNITY OF FAITH RATHER THAN TO SECURE A
SUPERSTITIOUS UNIFORMITY IN OUTWARD CEREMONIES.
IT SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY REFORMED IN ORDER TO
MEET THE JUST DEMANDS OF THOSE WHO CANNOT IN
CONSCIENCE ACCEPT MANY OF ITS DETAILS.57
THESE SAMPLES SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE THAT A
MAN WHO IS DESIGNEDLY MODERATE AND INDIFFERENT RUNS THE
RISK OF BEING ADOPTED BY ANY PARTY CONVINOED OF ITS OWN
INDEFATIGABLE LIBERALITY. THAT IS WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS
TO MODERATES, OR To PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE MODER-
ATES. BUT I THINK BACON'S PARTY LINE CAN BE FAIRLY WELL
DETERMINED FROM THE FACTS, WHICH I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PRE-
SENT IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL. WE SHALL LEARN SHORTLY THAT
BAGON'S SUBSEQUENT REMARKS ON PURITANS AND THE CHURCH SHOW
LITTLE OF THE LIBERALITY EXPRESSED IN THIS TRACT, BUT THEY
ARE COLORED BY THE TIMES AND MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THEIR
PROPER MILIEux. HOWEVER, THE MAJOR LINES ARE DRAWN. DEAN
CHURCH, IN SPITE OF HIS UNCONSCIONABLE NEGLECT OF THE EDI-

FICATION TRACT, WAS RIGHT ABOUT BACON'S ALLEGIANCE. AB-

BOTT'S ERROR WAS TO IMAGINE THAT THE TRACT IS A CONFESSION

57. THE QEVELOPMENT g: RELIGIOUS TOLERATION l! ENGLAND II,
E7I (I956). MARY STURT, IN HER TENDER AND LOVING
BIOGRAPHY OF BACON, DESCRIBED THE ESSAY AS A "LITTLE
TRACT. . . SO CHARACTERISTIC OF BAOON,” HER MAJOR
THESIS BEING THAT BACON HAD APPROACHED THE PROBLEM OF
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES LIKE A SENSIBLE LAWYER INTENT
ON DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT BY EVERYONE. SEE IN PARTlou-
LAR CHAPTER IX, nCHURCH AND UNION."

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OF FAITH, A CANDID DECLARATION MADE WHEN BACONIS MIND WAS
"FREED FROM EXTERNAL PRESSURE." ACTUALLY BACONIS GOAL WAS
TWOFOLD: I) CONVINCE A MAN KNOWN TO DETEsT PRESBYTERIAN-
ISM THAT FRANCIS BACON WAS WORTHY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN
OFFICE IN A NEW GOVERNMENT; AND 2) SUGGEST WHAT MEASURES

WERE BEST SUITED TO THE PACIFICATION AND EDIFICATION OF A

L l"

GREAT NUMBER OF ENGLISHMEN WHOSE RELIGIOUS DISSATISFACTION
MADE THEM POTENTIAL THREATS T0 NATIONAL UNITY. RARELY DO
WE HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT BACONIS RECOMMENDATIONS PRC-
CEED FROM ANY MOTIVE DEEPER THAN THE DESIRE TO SEE HIS NA- ’
TION UNIFIED BEHIND JAMES, BUT THIS IS NOT, AFTER ALL, A
SHABBY MOTIYE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A RUNNING COM-
MENTARY ON HIS INCAPACITY TO FEEL PURITANISM. HE WAS NOT
ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN THE SPIRIT OF THE REFORMATION TO
JAMES: HE WAS ONLY SUGGESTING HOW THIS SPIRIT MIGHT BE
DEALT WITH.

I AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO
ENGLAND IF ALL OF BACONIS RECOMMENDATIONS HAD FOUND THEIR
WAY INTO ENGLISH LAW. WOULD THE CIVIL WAR HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED? wE MAY AS WELL ASK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF
LAUD HAD DIED OF THE PLAGUE OR IF CHARLES I HAD MARRIED A
GOOD ENGLISH GIRL. BUT IF PURITANISM HAD TO HAVE ITS DAY,

BAOON'S ORGANIC VIEW OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE WAS FORMED ON

AN UNNORKABLE HYPOTHESIS. TWO TOTALLY IRRECONCILABLE

PRINCIPLES ARE AT WORK WITHIN IT: ONE THAT THE ULTIMATE

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CONTROL OF THE CHURCH IS TO BE IN THE HANDS OF THE EPISCO‘
PACY AND THE CROWN, AND THE OTHER THAT CONSTANT CONCESSIONS
ARE TO BE MADE TO THE DISCONTENTEDC THIS IS A PROCESS
WHICH MAY WORK FOR A TIME, OF COURSE, BUT THE DAY MUST
COME-”UNLESS PEOPLE SIMPLY CEASE TO CARE--WHEN ONE PARTY
FEELS IT CAN NO LONGER ENDURE THIS HARMONY. IT IS UNLIKELY
THAT BACON WAS UNAWARE OF THE PARADOX INHERENT IN HIS THEORY,
BUT PROBLEMS ARE TO BE SOLVED ONE STEP AT A TIME, AND HE
EVIDENTLY FELT THAT THE FIRST STEP WAS TO GIVE THE PURITANS
CONFIDENCE IN THE NEW KING. BY HIS OWN ADMISSION HIS REC-
OMMENDATIONS ARE DOMINATED BY REFORMATIONS WHICH WILL GO

“SINE STREPITU, WITHOUT ANY PERTURBATION AT ALL," AND HIS

 

SYMPATHY FOR THE PURITANS REALLY DOES NOT EXTEND FAR BEYOND
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. ABOVE ALL REFORM, HE PLACES THE
INVIOLATE CHURCH HIERAROHY, AN ORGAN WHICH IS THE NATURAL
EXTENSION OF THE MONARCHY ITSELF. BACON'S WHOLE IDEA OF
THE STATE, HIS WHOLE IDEA OF THE INCAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS
T0 GOVERN THEMSELVES, DENIES THE PURITANS THE RIGHT TO CON-
DUCT THEIR OWN REFORMATION, AND IF THEY COULD NOT DO THAT,
THEY COULD NOT BE PURITANS.

BACON'S COURSE NOW LAY BEFORE HIM IN PERFECT CLARITY:
HE COULD EITHER ADOPT THE KING'S ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY AND
ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT WORK, OR HE COULD TAKE HIS GOLDEN MEDIOC~
RITY WITH HIM AND PERISH IN THE OBLIVION OF HIS PHILOSOPHI-

CAL COGITATIONS. ANYONE INTERESTED IN PROVING THAT BACON

 

ILZ

WAS NOT A VERY GOOD MAN, OR AT LEAST NOT A VERY HEROIO MAN,
IS NATURALLY INCLINED TO SAY THAT THE ONLY RESPECTABLE
THING FOR HIM TO HAVE DONE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO DISASSOCIATE
HIMSELF FROM JAMES, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST TO HAVE ATTEMPTED
TO CONVERT THE KING To MODERATION. HIS DECISION, AND ITS

AMPLIFICATIONS WILL BE OUR NEXT CONCERN.

 

AFTER ICON BACONIS REFLECTIONS ON PURITANISM AND THE
CHURCH ARE FRAGMENTARY AND ARE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
HEAVILY COLORED BY THE DEMANDS OF PARTICULAR POLITICAL
SITUATIONS. BACON DID NOT AGAIN OPEN THE QUESTION OF
ORGANIC REFORM, NOR DID HE FROM THIS TIME UNTIL HIS DEATH
WRITE A SIGNIFICANT TREATISE ON THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF
THE ESTABLISHMENT, EITHER AS A STATESMAN, PHILOSOPHER, OR
INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN. SUCH A WORK AS "OF UNITY IN RELI-
GION" Is DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFICACY OF CHURCH
UNITY AND DEALS ONLY IN VERY GENERAL TERMS WITH DISCIPLINE.
THE LARGELY POLITICAL NATURE OF HIS COMMENTS WILL BE BEST
ILLUSTRATED LATER IN OUR DISCUSSION OF CATHOLICISM DURING
THE REIGN OF JAMES, BUT EVEN IN HIS BRIEF REMARKS ON PURI-
TANISM WE OBSERVE THAT BACON SAW THE REAL IMPLICATIONS OF
JAMESI ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY AND DECIDED TO MAKE THE BEST
OF DOCTRINAL INFLEXIBILITY. HIS POLITICAL MANEUVERINGS

WITH THE PURITANS IS A MATTER FAR TOO COMPLEX TO RECORD IN

 

 

 

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IN;

THIS STUDY, BUT THEY ARE GUIDED BY ONE PRINCIPLE: FIND
WAYS TO CONVINCE THE PURITAN COMMONS THAT JAMES, WHAT-
EVER HIS PERSONAL FAILINGS, REPRESENTS AN IDEA OF GOVERN-
MENT WHICH THE NATION CANNOT AFFORD TO ABANDON; IT IS THE
IDEA WHICH BROUGHT ORDER OUT OF CHAOS AND GAVE THE ENGLISH-
MAN DECADES OF PROSPERITY UNDER THE TUDORs; AND IT IS THE
IDEA WHICH GAVE ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL RESPECTABILITY.

ABOVE ALL, BACON'S POLITICAL ADVICE IS DOMINATED BY
AN EFFORT TO GIVE THE CROWN BARGAINING POWER WITH THE COM-
MONS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS END--AN END WHICH HE ASSOCIATES
DIRECTLY WITH NATIONAL SURVIVAL--HE USES WHATEVER DEVICES
ARE AT HAND. HE KEEPS THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL THREAT
OF CATHOLICISM BEFORE THE EYES OF HIS COUNTRYMEN; HE COUN-
SELS JAMES TO AVOID DIRECT APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF;
AND HE LOOKS CONTINUALLY FOR MEANS TO FILL THE ROYAL
TREASURY WITHOUT THE AID OF SUBSIDIES. BUT HE DOES NOT--
AND HE COULD NOT--BARGAIN WITH THE PURITANS ON RELIGIOUS
GROUNDS, AT LEAST NOT ON THEIR RELIGIOUS GROUNDS.

IN I6II (HE IS NOW SOLICITOR GENERAL) WE FIND BACON
HOPEFUL THAT THE KING HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THE ENDURING NEED
TO FUNNEL MONEY INTO DEPRESSED AREAS, AND WE FIND HIM
ANXIOUS TO HAVE THE CROWN SPONSOR ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL
STRENGTHEN ENGLAND'S DEFENSE OF HER CHURCH, BOTH BY CREAT-
ING A "COLLEGE OF CONTROVERSIEs" AND BY OPENING HER DOORS

TO THOSE IN OTHER NATIONS WHO ARE STRUGGLING SO VALIANTLY

IIILI

AGAINST SUPERSTITION AND OTHER FORMS OF SPIRITUAL CORRUP-
TION.58 HE APPEARS CONCERNED THAT THE CHURCH DOES "STILL
PROCEED SINGLE," AND HE SUGGESTS THAT ENGLAND, IN BEING A
REFUGE FOR RELIGIOUSLY DISPLACED PERSONS (OF THE RIGHT

KIND), MIGHT ADD NEW DIMENSIONS TO HER UNDERSTANDING OF

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIANITY:

FOR I DOUBT NOT BUT THERE ARE IN SPAIN, ITALY,
AND COUNTRIES OF THE PAPISTS, MANY WHOSE HEARTS
ARE TOUCHED WITH A SENSE OF THOSE CORRUPTIONS
AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A BETTER WAY; WHICH
GRACE IS MANY TIMES SMOTHERED AND CHOKED THROUGH
A WORLDLY CONSIDERATION OF NECESSITY; MEN NOT
KNOWING WHERE To HAVE SUCCOUR AND REFUGE. THIS
LIKEWISE I HOLD A WORK OF GREAT PIETY AND A
WORK OF GREAT CONSEQUENCE, THAT WE MAY ALSO BE
WISE IN OUR GENERATION, AND THAT THE WATCHFUL
AND SILENT NIGHT MAY BE USED AS WELL FOR sow-
ING OF GOOD SEED AS OF TARES.

THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS IN WHICH BACON SPEAKS

OF HIS HOMELAND AS A FORTRESS OF THE REFOWWATION IN TRULY

PIOUS TERMS.

58. SIMPLY STATED, THE OCCASION OF THIS ADVICE WAS THAT
THE WEALTHY THOMAS SUTTON HAD DIED LEAVING A CON-
SIDERABLE FORTUNE To VARIOUS CHARITIES~~TOWARD THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A MAGNIFICENT HOSPITAL (WHICH WAS
To BECOME THE ENGLISH CHARTERHOUSE), TOWARD THE AD-
VANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, AND TOWARD THE FURTHERINS
OF RELIGION. THE WILL WAS CONTESTED BY A PRETENDED
HEIR, AND WHILE THE DECISION (ULTIMATELY GRANTED IN
FAVOR OF THE WILL) WAS PENDING, BACON SUGGESTED To
THE KING HOW THE MONEY MIGHT BEST BE USED.

59. WORKS, XI, 25h. SPEDDINGIS DISCUSSION OF THE TRACT
is ON PAGES 2h7-h9.

 

{I

ILLS

NEXT WE ENCOUNTER A DARK AND A BRIGHT EPISODE, ONE IN
WHICH BACON PARTICIPATES IN THE TORTURE OF A PURITAN MIle-
TER, AND THE OTHER IN WHICH HE PERSONALLY RECOMMENDS THAT
A SILENCED PURITAN BE PERMITTED To PREACH AGAIN. THE FIRST
EPISODE, WHICH DETRACTORS OF BACON FIND GLORIOUSLY SUITED
TO HIS DEFAMATION, CONCERNS THE FATE OF EDMUND PEACHAM.60
IHILE THIS PURITAN MINISTER WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR
CHARGES HE ALLEGEDLY MADE AGAINST THE BISHOP OF BATH AND
WELLS, HIS HOUSE WAS SEARCHED, AND AMONG HIS PAPERS WAS A
SERMON--READY TO BE PREACHED--WHICH NOT ONLY REITERATED
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE BISHOP BUT ALSO CONTAINED VIOLENT
INVECTIVES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SOMBER PREDIC~
TION THAT GREAT CATASTROPHES WERE IN STORE FOR THE KING,
AMONG THEM AN UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE. DURING HIS FIRST
EXAMINATION, WHICH WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL, PEACHAM
FAILED TO GIVE THE INFORMATION WHICH THE EXAMINERS FELT
HE HAD, PARTICULARLY THAT CONCERNING THE POPULAR REVOLT.
TO FIND A SOLUTION TO HIS OBSTINACY, THE COUNCIL ISSUED
A WARRANT WHICH COMMISSIONED EIGHT EXAMINERS TO QUESTION
60. SPEDDING'S DEFENSE OF BACON'S ROLE IN THE INVESTIGA—

TION, TRIAL, AND CONVICTION OF PEACHAM IS A KEY CHAP-

TER IN HIS VINDICATION OF BACON'S CHARACTER. HIS

ARGUMENT, WHICH ONE MUST READ FULLY TO EVALUATE, Is

DESIGNED TO PROVE THREE THINGS: I) PEACHAM WAS

GUILTY; 2) BACON WAS NOT A PRIME MOVER IN THE IN-

VESTIGATION; AND 5) THE METHODS USED IN THE INVESTI-
GATION WERE FULLY SANCTIONED BY THE TIMES. (WORKS,
XI I, 90 FF.)

Ihé

PEACHAM, "AND IF YOU FIND HIM OBSTINATE AND PERVERSE AND
NOT WILLING OR READY TO TELL THE TRUTH, THEN. o o PUT HIM
TO THE MANAOLES, AS IN YOUR DISCRETION YOU SHALL SEE 00'

"6‘

CASION. BACON WAS ONE OF THE EXAMINERS AND WAS PRESENT
WHILE PEACHAM, WHO REMAINED ADAMANT, WAS TORTURED.
THE KING (WHOSE SUMMARY OF THE EPISODE Is THE LENGTHI-
EST EXTANT) WAS ANXIOUS T0 PROSECUTE PEACHAM, BUT To AVOID
POPULAR DISAPPROVAL HE WANTED TO BE ASSURED THAT THE JUDGES
OF THE KING'S BENCH WERE OF HIS PERSUASION. BACON, THERE-
FORE, WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF ASKING EACH JUDGE To RENDER A
SEPARATE DECISION. ALL CONCURRED BUT COKE (BACON'S ARCH-
ENEMY), WHO, AFTER MANY DELAYS MAINTAINED THAT THE KING
WAS NOT WITHIN HIS RIGHTS To ASK FOR A PRE-JUDGMENT. MEAN-
WHILE, As THE KING PROCEEDED IN HIS INVESTIGATION OF
PEACHAM, BACON MADE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTION: "I THINK
ALSO IT WERE NOT AMISS TO MAKE A FALSE FIRE, As IF ALL
THINGS WERE READY FOR HIS GOING DOWN To HIS TRIAL, AND
THAT WE WERE UPON THE VERY POINT OF BEING CARRIED DOWN,
To SEE IF THAT WILL WORK WITH HIM-“62
WE NEXT LEARN THAT PEACHAM SOON BECAME SO INCONSISTENT

IN HIS TESTIMONY THAT NO ONE LONGER DOUBTED HIS BUILT. IN

SPITE OF COKE, HE WAS CONVICTED, AND THOUGH HE WAS NOT Ex-

ECUTED HE DIED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS IN JAIL. BY SPEDDING'S

6|. IBID., P. 9|. 62. IBID., P. I25.

 

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CAREFUL COMPUTATION, THE WORST WE CAN SAY OF BACONIS ROLE
IN THIS INVESTIGATION Is THAT IT WAS THOROUGHLY IN KEEPING
WITH THE METHODS OF THE TIMES. THE BEST WE CAN SAY IS THAT
PEACHAMIS GUILT WAS SO UNPROBLEMATICAL THAT PROCURING A
CONFESSION WAS WARRANTED BY THE NATURE OF HIS OFFENCE--HIGH
TREASON. IN ANY CASE, IF WE ASSUME THAT BACON BELIEVED
PEACHAM GUILTY, HE WAS DEALING'WITH A MAN WHO HAD MADE
CONSCIENCE A MATTER OF TREASONABLE FACTION, AND FOR THIS
BRAND OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY HE NEVER SHOWS THE SLIGHTEST
SYMPATHY.

THE NEXT EPISODE CONCERNS THE FAMOUS PURITAN PREACHER
DR. BURGESS, AND ITS DETAILS REMIND US OF THE POWER OF AN
INDIVIDUAL MINISTER TO GATHER A FLOCK IN SPITE OF THE LAWS
OF A LAND. BURGESS, WHO HAD BEEN CENSURED AND FORBIDDEN
To PREACH, HAD TURNED HIS TALENTS To MEDICINE. WHILE AD-
MINISTERING TO THE PHYSICAL INFIRMITIES OF LUCY, COUNTESS
OF BEDFORD (AN INTIMATE OF THE QUEENts), DR. BURGESS HAD,
IN sPEDDINGIS WORDS, "TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY To MINISTER TO
HER MIND.“ THE COURT PHYSICIAN, MAYERNE, HAD BEEN SO TAKEN
WITH LUCY'S PHYSICAL RECOVERY THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A
~PERSONAL FAVOR To RECOMMEND THE WORTHY DOCTOR TO THE KING
HIMSELF. JAMES, NEEDLESS To SAY, DID NOT SHARE MAYERNEIS
ENTHUSIASM AND PLACED BURGESS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE
AROHBISHOP, WITH THE RESULT THAT BURGESS WAS REMOVED FROM

THE COURT. BUT LADY BEDFORD RETAINED HER DEVOTION TO

 

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BURGESS, AND, MOREOVER, SHE HAD MANY IMPORTANT FRIENDS,
AMONG THEM LADY WINWOOD, WIFE OF RALPH WINWOOD (SECRETARY
OF STATE). SIX MONTHS AFTER BURGEss! EXILE FROM THE COURT
WE FIND THE WINWOODS MOVED To BURGESS' NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
AND RENTING A RESIDENCE AT AN EXORBITANT RATE.65 BEFORE
LONG, BURGESS HAD ASSEMBLED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ADMIR-
ERS, WHO HAD_CONVINCED HIM TO TEMPER HIS NONCONFORMITY AND

REGAIN HIS LICENSE TO PREACH.

AT THIS POINT BACON WROTE A LETTER To GEORGE VILLIERS,
THE KINBIS FAVORITE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST THE PURITAN

DOCTOR:

THERE IS A PARTICULAR WHEREIN I THINK YOU
MAY 00 YOURSELF HONOUR, WHICH As I AM INFORMED
HATH BEEN LABORED BY MY LADY OF BEDFORD AND PUT
IN GOOD WAY BY THE BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS,
CONCERNING THE RESTORING To PREACH OF A FAMOUS
PREACHER, ONE DOCTOR BURGEss; WHO THOUGH HE
HATH BEEN SILENCED A GREAT TIME, YET HE HATH
NOW MADE SUCH A SUBMISSION TCUCHING HIS CON-
FORMITY AS GIVETH SATISFACTION. IT IS MUCH
DESIRED ALSO BY GRAY'S-INN-(IF HE SHALL BE
FREE FROM THE STATE) To CHOOSE HIM FOR THEIR
PREACHER: AND CERTAINLY IT Is SAFER To PLACE
HIM THERE THAN IN ANOTHER AUDITORY, BECAUSE
HE WILL BE WELL WATCHED, IF HE SHOULD ANY WAYS
FLY FORTH IN HIS SERMONS BEYOND DUTY. THIS
MAY SEEM A TRIFLE; BUT I ASSURE YOU, IN OPENING

65. EVIDENTLY THESE GOINes-ON DREW A GOOD DEAL OF POPULAR
INTEREST. MUCH OF SPEDOING'S INFORMATION IS TAKEN
FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN JOHN CHAMBE LAIN
(I555-I627) AND SIR DUDLEY cARLETON (I575-I 32).
CHAMBERLAIN, AN ACCOMPLISHED SCHOLAR AND LETTER-
WRITER, HAD MANY FRIENDS AMONG THE EMINENT MEN OF
HIS DAY. CARLETON, A MEMBER OF JAMES! FIRST PARLIA-
MENT, SERVED IN SEVERAL GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES AND
SHARED IMPORTANT REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS WITH

CHAMBERLAIN. SEE WORKS, XII, 57I-72 FOR SPEDDING'S
DISCUSSIONS.

 

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THIS MAN'S MOUTH TO PREACH, YOU SHALL OPEN VERY
MANY MOUTHS To SPEAK HONOUR OF YOU; AND I CON-
FEss I WOULD HAVE A FULL CRY OF PURITANS, OF
PAPISTS, OF ALL THE WORLD TO SPEAK WELL OF
You; AND BESIDES I AM PERSUADED (WHICH IS
ABOVE ALL EARTHLY GLgEY) YOU SHALL DO GOO GOOD
SERVICE IN IT. . . .
THIS IS A VARIATION ON A REFRAIN WHICH WE HAVE NOW LEARNED
TO RECOGNIZE WHEN ITS FIRST NOTE IS STRUCK. A PURITAN,
EVEN ONE WHO HAS RECEIVED ECCLESIASTICAL CENSURE, IS A
FITTING AGENT To SERVE GOD, PROVIDED OF COURSE THAT HIS
SERMONS Do NOT FLY BEYOND DUTY.
THE BOUNDS OF CHRISTIAN DUTY ARE EXPLAINED IN A LET-
TER WHICH WAS COMPOSED TO vILLIERS LATER IN THE SAME YEAR
(I6I6), A LETTER WHICH CONSTITUTES BACONIS LENGTHIEST
(AND VERY NEARLY HIS LAST) ANALYSIS OF THE INTERNAL STRuc-
TURE OF THE CHURCH COMPOSED AFTER THE EDIFICATION TRACT.
THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BACON AN) VILLIERS (EXTANT
FROM I6I5) IS A RECORD OF DELIGHTS AND SORROWS, OF SUPREME
WISDOM AND UTTER MADNESS, EXTENDING FROM BACON'S RISE To
THE PINNACLE OF HIS PROFESSION To THE AFTERMATH OF HIS IN-
GLORIOUS FALL. DURING THIS TIME VILLIERS ROSE RAPIDLY IN

THE ESTIMATION OF THE KING AND WAS EVENTUALLY CREATED DUKE

OF BUCKINGHAM. AS THE KING'S "FAVORITE" HE OCCUPIED THAT
ENVIABLE POSITION--WHICH so MANY OOURTIERS HAVE STRIVEN
FOR--NEXT TO THE SOVEREIGNIS EAR. FROM THIS HAPPY VANTAGE

POINT HE FREQUENTLY ACTED IN BACONIS BEHALF, BUT IN HIS

6h. IBID., PP. 572'750

 

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DEALINGS WITH BACON HE COULD BE CONSUMMATELY PETTY TOO.
FOR BACON HE OBVIOUSLY HAD THE DEEPEST RESPECT: HE ASKED
FOR ADVICE, RECEIVED GRACICUSLY WHAT WAS GIVEN, AND ON
OCCASION EVEN MANAGED TO TAKE IT TO HEART. BACONIS OWN
ATTITUDE TOWARD VILLIERS IS COMPOUNDED OF MANY THINGS:

A KIND OF CURIOUS ADMIRATION, A KIND OF LOVE HE COULD SHOW
FOR ANOTHER MAN, AND THE DEEP-SEATED FEAR THAT GEORGE WAS
IN THE WRONG BUSINESS. PERHAPS THE MOST INTERESTING THING
ABOUT BACON'S ADVICE To VILLIERS IS THAT IT USUALLY PRC-
OEEDS FROM THE NOTION THAT THE FAVORITE DOES NOT REALLY
KNOW ANYTHING. THE ADVICE IS, IF YOU WILL, REMEDIAL; BUT
IT IS ENVELOPED SO MANY VARIETIES OF APPROBATION THAT IG-
NORANCE SEEMS ALMOST A VIRTUE. VILLIERS Is A VIRGIN FIELD
INTO WHICH BACON CAN SOW SOME OF THOSE SEEDS HE HAS BEEN
SO ANXIOUS TO SEE GERMINATE.

.I MENTION ALL OF THIS TO EXPLAIN WHY THE FOLLOWING
TRACT APPEARS To HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY ARCHBISHOP LAUD IN
ONE OF HIS MORE CONSERVATIVE FITS. ITs BACKGROUND CAN BE
SKETCHED IN BRIEFLY. VILLIERS HAD BEEN RECENTLY ELEVATED
To THE PEERAGE, AND IT HAD BEEN GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT HE WAS NOW THE KING'S FAVORITE. BACON HAD THOUGHT
IT WISE TO SUGGEST HOW HE MIGHT CONDUCT HIMSELF IN HIS NEW
ROLE AND THEREFORE SENT HIM A LETTER OF ADVICE. VILLIERS
RESPONDED WITH A REQUEST THAT BACON EXPAND HIS FIRST LET-

TER, WHICH HE DID. THE EXPANDED VERSION HAS EIGHT HEADINGS,

 

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DEALING WITH A LARGE RANGE OF GOVERNMENTAL PROBLEMS. ONE
DIVISION CONCERNS THE COMPLEX RELIGIOUS PROBLEM, AND SINCE
THE SHORTER VERSION CONTAINS OPINIONS NOT INCLUDED IN THE

LONGER, I QUOTE BOTH IN FULL:

I. FOR RELIGION, IF ANY THING BE OFFERED TO
YOU TCUCHING IT OR TCUCHING THE CHURCH OR CHURCH
MEN, OR CHURCH GOVERNMENT, RELY NOT UPON YOURSELF,
BUT TAKE THE OPINION OF SOME GRAVE AND EMINENT
DIVINEs; ESPECIALLY SUCH AS ARE SAD AND DISCREET
MEN, AND EXEMPLARY FOR THEIR LIVES.

2. IF ANY QUESTION BE MOVED CONCERNING THE

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND EXPRESSED IN THE
59 ARTICLES, GIVE NOT THE LEAST EAR TO THE MOVERS
THEREOF. THIS Is SO SOUNDLY AND SO ORTHODOXALLY
SETTLED AS CANNOT BE QUESTIONED WITHOUT EXTREME
DANGER To THE HONOUR AND STABILITY OF OUR RELIGION,
WHICH HATH BEEN SEALED WITH THE BLOOD OF so MANY
MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS, AS ARE FAMOUS THROUGH THE
CHRISTIAN WORLD. THE ENEMIES AND UNDERMINERS
THEREOF ARE THE ROMISH CATHOLIQUES (SO STILING
THEMSELVES) ON THE ONE HAND, WHOSE TENENTS ARE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE TRUTH OF RELIGION, PRo-
FESSED AND PROTESTED BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
(WHENCE WE ARE CALLED PROTESTANTS) AND THE ANA-
BAPTISTS AND SEPARATISTS, AND SECTARIES ON THE
OTHER HAND, WHOSE TENENTS ARE FULL OF SCHISM,
AND INCONSISTENT WITH MONARCHY. FOR THE REGULAT-
ING OF EITHER, THERE NEEDS NO OTHER COERCION THAN
THE DUE EXECUTION OF THE LAWS ALREADY ESTABLISHED
BY PARLIAMENT.

3. IF ANY ATTEMPT BE MADE TO ALTER THE Dls-
CIPLINE OF OUR CHURCH, ALTHOUGH IT BE NOT AN Es-
SENTIAL PART OF OUR RELIGION, YET IT IS SO NECEs-
SARY NOT TO BE RASHLY ALTERED, AS THE VERY SUB-
STANCE OF RELIGION WILL BE INTERESSED IN IT:
THEREFORE I DESIRE YOU BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT BE MADE
OF AN INNOVATION BY YOUR MEANS, OR BY ANY INTER-
CESSION TO HIS MAJESTY CALL TO MIND, THAT WISE AND
WEIGHTY PROCLAMATION, WHICH HIMSELF PENNED, AND
CAUSED TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS
REIGN, AND Is PREFIXED IN PRINT BEFORE THE BOOK
OF COMMON PRAYER (OF THAT IMPRESSION); IN WHICH

YOU WILL FIND SO PRUDENT, SO WEIGHTY REASONS, NOT

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To HEARKEN TO INNOVATIONS, AS WILL FULLY SATISFY
YOU THAT IT Is DANGEROUS TO GIVE THE LEAST EAR TO
SUCH INNOVATORS, BUT IT IS DESPERATE TO BE Mls-
LED BY THEM: BUT TO SETTLE YOUR JUDGMENT, MARK
BUT THE ADMONITION OF THE WISEST OF MEN, KING
SOLOMON, PROV. 27. v. MY SON, FEAR GOD AND THE
KING, A D MEDDLE 52: WTTHTITOSE mE—GTVE-rm
CHANGES

 

 

 

FOLLOWING IS THE EXPANDED VERSION:

I. IN THE_FIRST PLACE, BE YOU RIGHTLY PER-
SUADED AND SETTLED IN THE TRUE PROTESTANT RELI-
GION, PROFESSED BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; WHICH
DOUBTLESS Is AS SOUND AND ORTHODOX IN THE 000-
TRINES THEREOF, AS ANY CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE
WORLD.

2. AND IN THIS YOU NEED NOT BE A MONITOR TO
YOUR MASTER THE KING. THE CHIEFEST OF HIS IMPERIAL
TITLES IS TO BE THE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, AND HIS
LEARNING IS EMINENT, NOT ONLY ABOVE OTHER PRINCES,
BUT ABOVE OTHER MEN; BE BUT HIS SCHOLAR, AND YOU
ARE SAFE IN THAT.

5. FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
BY BISHOPS, ETC., I WILL NOT POSITIVELY SAY THAT IT
IS JURE DIVINo; BUT THIS I SAY AND THINK, El ANIMO,
THA IT Is NEAREST TO THE APOSTOLICAL TRUTH; AND I
SHALL CONFIDENTLY SAY, IT IS FITTEST FOR MONARCHY
OF ALL OTHER. I WILL USE NO OTHER AUTHORITY UNTO
YOU, THAN THAT EXCELLENT PROCLAMATION SET OUT BY
THE KING'S MAJESTY HIMSELF IN THE FIRST YEAR OF
HIS REIGN, AND PREFIXED BEFORE THE BOOK OF COMMON
PRAYER, WHICH I DESIRE You TO READ; AND (IF AT ANY
TIME THERE SHOULD BE THE LEAST MOTION MADE FOR IN-
NOVATION), TO PUT THE KING IN MIND To READ IT HIM-
SELF. FOR IT IS MOST DANGEROUS IN A STATE TO GIVE
EAR To THE LEAST ALTERATION OF GOVERNMENT.

h. TAKE HEED, I BESEECH YOU, THAT YOU BE NO
INSTRUMENT To COUNTENANCE THE ROMISH CATHOLICS,
NOR THE RELIGION PROFESSED BY THEM. I CANNOT
FLATTER You; THE WORLD, SIR, BELIEVES THAT SOME
NEAR IN BLOOD To YOU ARE TOO MUCH OF THAT PER-
SUASION; YOU MAY USE THEM WITH FIT RESPECTS,

65- WORKS, XIII, I7-I8.

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ACCORDING TO THE BOND OF NATURE; YOU ARE OF KIN,
AND SO MUST BE A FRIEND OF THEIR PERSONS, BUT
NOT OF THEIR ERRORS.

5. 'THE ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS, NEXT UNDER
THE KING, HAVE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH AND
AFFAIRS ECCLESIASTICAL: BE NOT, SIR, A MEAN TO
PREFER ANY TO THOSE PLACES FOR ANY BY-RESPECT;
BUT ONLY SUCH AS FOR THEIR LEARNING, GRAVITY,
AND WORTH ARE DESERVING: AND WHOSE LIVES AND Doc-
TRINES ARE AND OUGHT TO BE EXEMPLARY. -

6. THE DEANS, CANONS, AND PREBENDS OF CATHEDRAL
CHURCHES, IN THEIR FIRST INSTITUTION, WERE OF GREAT
USE IN THE CHURCH; AND THEY WERE NOT ONLY TO SE OF
COUNSEL WITH THE BISHOP FOR HIS REVENUE, BUT CHIEFLY
FOR HIS GOVERNMENT IN CAUSES ECCLESIASTICAL: USE
YOUR BESj MEANS TO PREFER SUCH TO THOSE PLACES As
ARE FIT FOR THAT PURPOSE; MEN EMINENT FOR THEIR
LEARNING, PIETY, AND DISCRETION; AND PUT HIS
MAJESTY OFTEN IN MIND THEREOF; AND LET THEM BE RE-
DUCED AGAIN To THE PRIMITIVE INSTITUTION.

7. YOU WILL BE OFTEN SOLICITED, AND PERHAPS
IMPORTUNED, TO PREFER SCHOLARS TO CHURCH LIVINGS.
YOU MAY FURTHER YOUR FRIENDS IN THAT WAY, CAETERIS
PARIBUS; OTHERWISE, I PRAY, REMEMBER THAT THESE"—'
ARE PLACES NOT MERELY OF FAVOUR; THE CHARGE OF
SOULS LIES UPON THEM; THE GREATEST ACCOUNT WHEREOF
WILL BE REQUIRED AT THEIR OWN HANos; BUT THEY WILL
SHARE DEEPLY IN THEIR FAULTS THAT ARE INSTRUMENTS
OF THEIR PREFERMENTS.

8. BESIDES THE ROMAN CATHOLICS, THERE ARE A
GENERATION OF SECTARIES, THE ANABAPTISTS, BROWN-
ISTS, FAMILISTS, SORIPTURISTS, AND MANY OTHER OF
THAT KIND. THEY HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES VERY
BUSY IN THIS KINGDOM, UNDER THE COLOURABLE PRETEN-
SIONS OF ZEAL FOR THE REFORMATION OF RELIGION. THE
KING YOUR MASTER KNOWS THEIR DISPOSITIONS VERY WELL;
A SMALL THING WILL PUT'HIM IN MIND OF THEM; HIS
MAJESTY HAD EXPERIENCE OF THEM IN SCOTLAND, I HOPE
HE WILL BEWARE OF THEM IN ENGLAND; A LITTLE COUNTEN-
ANCE OR CONNIVANCE SETS THEM ON FIRE.

. ORDER AND OEOENT CEREMONIES IN THE CHURCH
ARE NOT ONLY COMELY BUT COMMENDABLE; BUT THEN THERE

MUST BE GREAT CARE TAKEN NOT TO INTRODUCE INNOVA-
TIONS. THEY WILL QUICKLY PROVE SCANDALOUS. MEN

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ARE NATURALLY OVER-PRONE To SUPERSTITION; THE TRUE

PROTESTANT RELIGION Is SETTLED IN THE GOLDEN MEAN
NOT QUITE BACON'S "GOLDEN MEDIOCRITYKS7; THE ENE-

'MIES UNTO HER ARE THE EXTREMES ON EITHER HAND.

I0. THE PERSONS OF CHURCH-MEN ARE TO BE HAD
IN DUE RESPECT FOR THEIR WORKIS SAKE, AND PROTECTED;
BUT IF A CLERGYMAN BE LOOSE AND SCANDALOUS, HE MUST
NOT BE PATRONIZED NOR WINKED AT; THE EXAMPLES OF
BUT A FEW THAT ARE SUCH CORRUPT MANY.

II. GREAT CARE'MUST BE TAKEN THAT THE PATRI-
MONY OF THE CHURCH BE NOT SACRILEGIOUSLY DIVERTED
TO LAY USES: HIS MAJESTY IN HIS TIME HATH MOST
RELIGIOUSLY STOPPED A LEAK WHICH DID MUCH HARM,
AND WOULD ELSE HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL MORE. BE
SURE, As MUCH AS IN YOU LIES, To STOP THE LEAK ON
ALL OCCASIONS.

I2. COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS OF LEARNING ARE To
BE CHERISHED AND ENCOURAGED, FOR THERE Is THE
SEMINARY TO BREED UP A NEW STOCK To FURNISH THE
CHURCH AND COMMONWEALTH WHEN THE OLD STORE IS DEAD
OR TRANSPLANTED. THIS KINGDOM HATH IN THIS LATER
AGE BEEN FAMOUS FOR GOOD LITERATURE; AND IF PRE-

FERMENT SHALL gZTEND DESERVERS, THERE WILL NOT
WANT SUPPLIES.

I THINK IT IS ACCURATE To SAY THAT THIS ADVICE Is
INTENDED FOR A MAN WHO, IN BAOON'S MIND, SHOULD DO NOTHING
BEFORE ASKING SOMEONE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. IN THESE LET-
TERS WE SEE MOST OF BAOON'S RELIGIo-POLITICAL THEMES COM-
PRESSED INTO A FORM WHICH Is ADMIRABLY SUITED TO READY
REFERENCE AND THEREFORE DECEPTIVELY UNYIELDING. THE AD-
VICE IS LAID OUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT vILLIERs NEED ONLY RUN
HIS FINGER DOWN A COLUMN OF NUMBERS TO FIND THE KEY TO ANY
RELIGIOUS QUESTION WHICH MIGHT CONFRONT HIM, BUT THE KEY

FREQUENTLY OPENS THE SAME DOOR: THE DOOR TO SOMEONE ELSE'S

66. IBID., PP. 30-52.

 

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JUDGMENT.

"FULL OF SCHISM AND INCONSISTENT WITH MoNARCHY" MIGHT
SERVE AS A MOTTO FOR BACONIS RELIGIo-POLITICAL THOUGHT IN
THE REIGNS OF BOTH ELIZABETH AND JMAES. IN THIS ADVICE
To VILLIERS BACON ADDS No NEW DIMENSIONS TO HIS PREVIOUS
REFLECTIONS, BUT THERE IS PERHAPS SOME INDICATION THAT A
CONSERVATIVE INCLINATION HAS DEVELOPED INTO A CONSERVAe
TIVE HABIT. THE ADVICE IS FILLED, HOWEVER, WITH COMMON
SENSE, WITH THE DESIRE TO SEE THE CHURCH STAFFED BY RES—
PONSIBLE MEN WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR FLOCKS. THE OLD
ANXIETY ABOUT FACTION IS PRESENT, OF COURSE, BUT BACON
CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATES NO MALICE TOWARD PURITANISM; RATHER,
IT IS CATHOLICISM AND THE MANIACAL ELEMENT OF PROTESTANT-
ISM WHICH HE CENSURES. BUT MY OWN OPINION IS THAT To Ex-
TRAPOLATE BACONIS FAITH FROM THESE LETTERS WOULD BE A
HIGHLY VENTURESOME PROCESS. PROPERLY THEY BELONG TO THE
BIOGRAPHY OF VILLIERS.

To COMPLETE THIS SECTION ON PURITANISM AND THE CHURCH
WE SHALL CONSIDER ANOTHER LETTER OF ADVICE FROM BACON To
VILLIERS. THOUGH VERY SHORT, IT REVEALS A GOOD DEAL MORE
ABOUT BAOONIS ATTITUDE TOWARD PURITANISM THAN Do THE
ORACLES ABOVE.

THE CLANDESTINE PILGRIMAGE OF PRINCE CHARLES AND VIL-
LIERS TO SPAIN (I625) TO SETTLE WITH THE SPIRIT OF YOUTH

WHAT THE SAGEST AND MEANEST COUNSELLORS OF ENGLAND AND

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SPAIN COULD NOT CONCLUDE HAD THE EFFECT OF MAKING VILLIERS,
FOR A MOMENT, A NATIONAL HERO. BACON (SEE CHAPTER VII),
LIKE MOST ENGLISHMEN, WAS OPPOSED To THE SPANISH MATCH,
AND WHEN CHARLES AND VILLIERS RETURNED To ENGLAND WITH THE
NEWS THAT THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE PRINCE AND THE INFANTA
WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY, BACON NO DOUBT FOUND OCCASION TO RE-
JOICE, THOUGH FALLEN. THE DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR--WHAT VIL-
LIERS AND CHARLES HAD REALLY LEARNED AND WHAT THE KING
PLANNED To Do--WERE KEPT SECRET, BUT THE COMMON BRUIT (ALL
THAT BACON HAD ACCESS TO APPARENTLY) HAD IT THAT VILLIERS
WAS THE NEW CHAMPION OF PROTESTANT ENGLAND AGAINST POPISH
SPAIN. IN OCTOBER OF I623 CHAMBERLAIN WROTE TO CARLETON:

THE DUKE OF BUOKINGHAM'S CARRIAGE IN ALL THE

BUSINESS IS MUCH APPLAUDED AND COMMENDED; AND

SURE IF IT WERE ALTOGETHER AS Is REPORTED, IT

WAS BRAVE AND RESOLUTE. . . . THE EARL OF

BRISTOL AND THE SPANIARDS GIVE OUT THAT IF IT

HAD NOT BEEN FOR HIS IMPATIENCE THE MARRIAGE

HAD BEEN CONSUMMATED BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY. . .

O O 0 O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O 0 O O O 0

THIS JOURNEY HATH WROUGHT ONE UNEXPECTED EF-

FECT, THAT WHEREAS IT WAS THOUGHT THE SPANIARDS

AND WE SHOULD PIECE AND GROW TOGETHER, IT SEEMS

WE ARE GENERALLY MORE DISJOINfioéAND FURTHER

ASUNDER IN AFFECTION THAN EVER. 7

IT IS EVIDENT FROM HIS LETTER THAT AT THIS TIME BACON,

THOUGH BY HIS OWN ADMISSION LIVING IN DARKNESS As TO PAR-
TICULARS, BELIEVED THE DUKE HAD BECOME THE SYMBOL OF ENG-
LISH RESISTANCE To SPAIN AND CATHOLICISM. THIS MEANT THAT
6?. QUOTED FROM BACON'S WORKS, XIV, LAO, N. 2. FOR BIC-

GRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON CHAMBERLAIN AND CARLETON
SEE NOTE 63, PAGE IhB.

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I57

VILLIERS WAS SUDDENLY THE HEAD OF A SPIRITUAL CAUSE WHICH
HE HAD NEVER TAKEN MUCH TROUBLE TO UNDERSTAND. BACON'S
ADVICE--AND IT SHOWS THE WEIGHT OF MANY YEARS OF GOVERN-
MENTAL SERVICE--IS A SHARP WARNING THAT VILLIERS HAD BETTER
SET HIS SPIRITUAL HOUSE IN ORDER AND MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
HIS COUNTRYMEN THAT HE IS A GOOD PROTESTANT. HE IS PAR-
TICULARLY CONCERNED To ALERT THE DUKE To THE STRENGTH OF
PURITANISM, WHOSE DEVOTEES MUST NOT BE MISHANDLED OR UNDER-

ESTIMATED. BUT I WILL LET A PORTION OF THE LETTER SPEAK

FOR ITSELF:

YOUR GRACE IS TO MAINTAIN YOURSELF FIRM AND
CONSTANT IN THE WAY WHICH YOU HAVE BEGUN; WHICH
IS, IN BEING AM) SHEWING YOURSELF TO BE A TRUE
AND SOUND PROTESTANT. THIS IS YOUR SOUL'S
HEALTH. THIS IS WHAT YOU OWE GOD ABOVE FOR
HIS SINGULAR FAVOURS, AND THIS IS THAT WHICH
HATH BROUGHT YOU INTO THE GOOD OPINION AND
GOOD WILL OF THE REALM IN GENERAL. SO THAT
AS YOUR CASE DIFFERETH. . . FROM THE CASE OF
OTHER FAVOURITES, IN THAT YOU HAVE BOTH KING
AND PRINCE; SO IN THIS THAT YOU HAVE ALSO,
NOW, THE HEARTS OF THE BEST SUBJECTS (FOR I
DO NOT LOVE THE WORD PEOPLE), YOUR CASE DIF-
FERETH FROM YOUR OWN AS IT STOOD BEFORE.

AND BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE YOUR REPUTATION
IN THIS POINT COMPLETE; LET ME ADVISE YOU
THAT THE NAME OF PURITANS, IN A PAPIST'S
MOUTH, DO NOT MAKE YOU TO WITHDRAW YOUR FAVOUR
FROM SUCH AS ARE HONEST AND RELIGIOUS MEN, (SO
AS THEY BE NOT OF TURBULENT AND FACTIOUS
SPIRITS, NOR ADVERSE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
CHURCH), THOUGH THEY BE SOMETIMES TRADUCED BY
THAT NAME. FOR OF THIS KIND IS THE GREATEST
PART OF THE BODY OF THE SUBJECTS, AND BESIDES
(WHICH IS NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN), IT IS SAFEST
FOR THE KING AND HIS SERVICE, THAT SUCH MEN
HAVE THEIR DEPENDENCE UPON YOUR GRACE (WHO

ARE INTIRELY Tgé KINGIS) RATHER THAN UPON ANY
OTHER SUBJECT.

68. IBID., PP. NAB-M9.

I58

THIS OBJECTIFICATION OF THE SPIRITUAL FORCES WITHIN THE
NATION, THIS CONVERSION OF THEM INTO POLITICAL FORCE, IS
THOROUGHLY BACONIAN. VILLIERS! OBLIGATION TO GOD "FOR HIS
SINGULAR FAVOURS" IS REALLY AN OBLIGATION TO THE EXIGENCES
OF SELF-PRESERVATION.

] HOPE WE ARE NOW SOMEWHAT CLOSER TO AN UNDERSTANDING
OF BACONIS IDEA OF PURITANISM AND THE CHURCH. IMPROMPTU
COMMENTS, WHICH MIGHT TELL US IN A FEW WORDS MORE THAN
LETTERS AND FORMAL ESSAYS CAN, ARE UNFORTUNATELY LACKING
IN THE BACON CANON, BUT I VENTURE TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD
BE DOMINATED BY THE FEAR THAT ENGLAND IS NOT YET READY FOR
ANY REAL DEGREE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. HE SHOWS ABSOLUTELY
NO MALICE FOR THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF PURITANISM, NOR DOES HE,
I THINK, PAY IT ANY REAL HOMAGE. BACON WAS NOT A DEMOCRATIC
MAN ("I DO NOT LOVE THE WORD PEOPLE"), AND THE GENEROSITY
FOR THE GOOD IN PURITANISM MUST ALWAYS BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT
OF HIS DEEP DISTRUST FOR THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO Do
MORE THAN THEY ARE LED TO DO BY THE BEST OR WORST MEN IN
THEIR SOCIETY. CONSEQUENTLY THE CHURCH MUST PURIFY ITS
FORMS FROM WITHIN WHILE PRESERVING ITS BASIC STRUCTURE.
THE CHURCH HIERAROHY, PROPERLY STAFFED, REPRESENTS THE
MOST EFFICIENT AND REASONABLE MEANS WHEREBY THE BEST THAT
IS THOUGHT AND SAID ABOUT RELIGIOUS MATTERS MAY BE TRANs-

MITTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN. RELIGION IN BACON'S

 

I59

MIND I8 PRIMARILY A DIVISION OF EDUCATION RATHER THAN A
SEPARATE DISCIPLINE WHICH MAKES ITS OWN RULES. RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION, LIKE ALL OTHER FORMS OF LEARNING AND ALL OTHER
FORMS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, MUST BE IN THE HANDS OF
THE LEARNED AND SKILLED. THIS IS A POSITION WHICH BACON

FINDS BOTH REASONABLE AND RELIGIOUS.

 

 

 

CHAPTER V
ELIZABETH AND THE CATHOLICS

IN THE WORKS WHICH WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED TO THIS POINT
WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT BACON, ALTHOUGH A CONFIRMED PROTEs-
TANT, HAD DEMONSTRATED VERY LITTLE OUTWARD HOSTILITY To-
WARD THE CHURCH OF ROME; AND I THINK IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY
THAT HE--IN COMPLETE CONTRAST TO HIS MOTHER--BELIEVED THAT
INDIVIDUAL CATHOLICS HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD CHANCE TO MAKE
THEIR PEACE WITH GOD. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD CATHmJCISM IS,
HOWEVER, FAR REMOVED FROM THE UNCOMMONLY CHARITABLE POSI-
TION OF THOMAS BROWNE, A MAN WHO, ALTHOUGH "OF THAT RE-
FORMED NEw-CAST RELIGION,“' COULD OPEN HIS ARMS TO THE
CATHOLICS, COULD PRAY FOR THEM OR WITH THEM, AND COULD

WEEP REAL TEARS AT THEIR SOLEMN PROCESSIONS.2

BROWNE,
THAT IS, COULD VIEW CATHOLICISM SOLELY IN TERMS OF FAITH.
BACON, ON THE OTHER HAND, ALWAYS LOOKED UPON ROME AS A
VAST RELIGIo-POLITICAL ORGANISM WHOSE GROWTH, UNLESS
CHECKED, WOULD EVENTUALLY COVER THE WHOLE OF WESTERN Eu-
ROPE. IN HIS MIND THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF THE CATHOLIC

FAITH COULD NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM THE POLITICAL AGGRES"

SIVENESS OF VARIOUS CATHOLIC STATES.

I. RELIGlo-MEDICI, P. 5. QUOTED FROM THE EVERYMAN EDI-
TION TLONDON, J. M. DENT, I906-I959).

 

2. IBID., PP. h-S.

I60

16!

IN THIS CHAPTER WE SHALL CONSIDER THOSE OF BACONIS
WORKS WHICH DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH A DEFENSE OF ELIZABETHIS
ENGLAND AND ELIZABETH HERSELF AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF ROME:

THE OBSERVATIONS 25‘: LIBEL (I595), 13 FELICEM MEMORIAM

 

 

ELIZABETHAE (I606), AND A LETTER WRITTEN OUT OF ENGLAND 12
A_GENTLEMAN REMAINING £1 PADAU (I599). AS USUAL, BACON
AVOIDS ANY SIGNIFICANT INVOLVEMENT IN DOCTRINAL ISSUES,
BUT I BELIEVE THESE TRACTS WILL GIVE US AN IMPORTANT IN-
SIGHT To HIs COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF CATHOLICISM.

IN MANY WAYS THE QBSERVATIONS ON‘A LIBEL Is ELIGIBLE

 

TO BE CALLED BACONIS MOST IMPORTANT OCCASIONAL PIECE. IT
Is, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HIS LENGTHIEST TRACT DEALING SPECI-
FICALLY WITH A VINDIOATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT ON AN IN~
TERNATIONAL LEVEL, AND IT DEMONSTRATES How AN INDIFFERENT
MAN MIGHT GO ABOUT JUSTIFYING ENGLAND'S BRAND OF PROTEs-
TANTISM To THE REST OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD. BAOON'S OPTIP
MISM, HIs DEDICATION TO ORDER, HIS DESTESTATION OF IMPAs-
SIONED DEBATES AND RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA, HIS DREAM OF A
RATIONAL UNIVERSE--ALL OF THESE ATTITUDES AND CONCEPTS
FUNDAMENTAL TO HIS VIEW OF THE GOOD LIFE SERVE AS A BACK-
GROUND FOR HIS DEFENSE OF THE ENGLISH NATION, HER GOVER-
NORS, AND HER FAITH.

THE TRACT WAS WRITTEN IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE

I62

RESPONSIO AE'EDIOTUM REGINAE ANGLIAE (I592),5 AN EMBITTERED

 

 

INVECTIVE BY THE JESUIT FATHER PARSONS WHICH ATTEMPTED To
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT, HELD CAPTIVE SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF ELIZABETHIS REIGN BY THE HIGHLY EVIL AND
SELF-SEEKING WILLIAM CECIL, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE
ILLS 0F CHRISTENDOM. SINCE BACON REVIEWS THIS ESSAY IN
GREAT DETAIL, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO SPEAK BRIEFLY 0F PAR-

SONS HIMSELF AND TO OUTLINE THE MAJOR THEMES OF THE RESPONSIO.

 

PROFESSOR JORDAN MAINTAINS THAT FATHER PARSONS, THE
LEADING ENGLISH JESUIT OF HIS TIME, WAS OPPOSED To THE POSI-
TION--TAKEN BY THE MAJORITY OF JESUITs--THAT THE ENGLISH
CATHOLICS SHOULD NEVER BE CONTENT To BE A MINORITY GROUP AND
THAT THEY SHOULD REFUSE To ACCEPT ANY DEGREE OF RELIGIOUS
TOLERATION WHICH WAS GRANTED UNDER THE STIPULATION THAT THEY

WOULD GIVE THEIR UNQUALIFIED POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE TO THE

 

CROWN. THE MAJORITY OF JESUITS, THAT IS, IN THEIR CHARACT‘

ERISTICALLY UNCOMPROMISING WAY, LOOKED FORWARD TO THE DAY

5. BACON GAVE THE ENGLISH TITLE OF THE TRACT: A DECLARATION
OF THE TRUE CAUSES OF THE GREAT TROUBLES PRESUPPOSED To
BE INTENDED AGAINST THE BEALM OF ENGLAND. THIS LED SPED-
DING To SUPPOSE THAT AN ENGLISH VERSION OF THE TRACT HAD
APPEARED IN I592, THOUGH HE COULD NOT LOCATE A COPY.

HIS OONJECTURE WAS CORRECT, AND I GIVE THE LONG TITLE:
A_DECLARATION 2£_THE TRVE CAVS§§_2£_IHE GREAT TROVBLEsJ
PRESVPPOSED 12.35 INTENDED AGAINST THE REALME 25 ENGLAND.
yyHEREIN THE INDIFFERENT READER SHALL MANIFESTLY PERCEAUE,
BY WHOME, AND BY WHAT MEANES, THE REALME IS BROUGHT INTO
THESE PRETENDED PERILLS. A COPY OF THE ENGLISH EDITION

IS AT THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY. MY REFERENCES ARE To UNI-
VERSITY MICROFILMS, NO. 5E6 5. WITH OBVIOUS EXCEPTIONS I
HAVE MODERNIZED THE TEXT. BACONIS TRACT WAS WRITTEN EARLY
IN I595 BUT WAS NOT PUBLISHED DURING HIS LIFETIME. SPED-
DING SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXISTENCE OF SEVERAL MANu-
SCRIPTS TESTIFIES TO A WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK.

SEE WORKS, VIII, IU5-208. THE TRACT ITSELF IS SIXTY-Two
PAGES IN LENGTH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHEN ENGLAND MIGHT AGAIN PAY HOMAGE TO THE CATHOLIC GOD.
PARSONS, HOWEVER, TO USE JORDAN'S SUMMARY:

PLEADED FOR AN EQUAL STATUS OF CATHOLICISM WITH
THE OTHER MINORITY RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN ENGLAND.
HE DID NOT DEMAND EQUALITY WITH ANGLICANISM;
ONLY TOLERATION. HE PROTESTED LOYALTY OF
CATHOLIC SUBJECTS AND DEMANDED A CLOSER DIF-
FERENTIATION BETWEEN TREASON AND THE EXERCISE

OF FAITH. HE URGED THAT THE RESOLUTE CONSCIENCE
CANNOT BE FORCED, AND THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO COM-
PEL IT IS BRUTAL, DANGEROUS AND SINFUL. . . .

HE DISCLAIMED THE AUTHORITY OF THE CIVIL GOVERN-
MENT IN AFFAIRS OF RELIGION. HIS POSITION, IN
FINE, SHOWS THAT EVEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH MUST
INEVITABLY MODIFY ITS TEACHINGS AND EMBRACE TO

A LIMITED DEGREE THE CAUSE OF TOLERATION IN
THOSE COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT FINDS ITSELF IN THE
UNUSUAL ROLE OF A PERSECUTED MINORITY GROUP.H

THE ARGUMENTS OF THE RESPONSIO ARE HEAVILY AD HOMINEM

 

 

AND DO NOT REPRESENT FAIRLY THE BODY OF PARSONS‘ WORKS,

BUT THEY DO-'IN QUIETER MOMENTs-“DEMONSTRATE HIS DESIRE

TO TESTIFY TO THE PATRIOTISM OF THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS.
ALTHOUGH THE ESSAY IS RATHER HAPHAZARDLY ORGANIZED, ITS
ARGUMENTS GENERALLY REVOLVE AROUND FOUR MAJOR ISSUES, WHICH,
AFTER A LENGTHY INTRODUCTION WHICH CONSUMES FULLY HALF OF
THE SEVENTY’SEVEN PAGES OF THE TRACT, PARSONS ANNOUNCES:

THE FIRST SHALL BE, TCUCHING THE MATTERS OF FAITH
AND RELIGION, WHEREIN THERE WAS NEVER SUCH GREAT
AND WONDERFUL CONFUSION. THE SECOND, TCUCHING
EXTERIOR ENEMIES, WHEREOF THE REALM HAD NEVER

SO MANY NOR NONE SO IPUISANT.‘ THE THIRD, OF

THE SUNDRY COMPETITORS FOR THE CROWN, AND THE
UNCERTAINTY OF THE SUCCESSOR. THE FOURTH AND

D. THE DEVELOPMENI_OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION 12 ENGLAND, I,

551;.

 

 

 

I6u

LAST SHALL CONCERN THE OVERTHROW OF THE NOBILITY,
AND THE GENERAL OPPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE.5

IN THE INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL PARSONS INSISTS THAT THE ENG-
LISHMAN IS LIVING IN THE WORST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS, A
WORLD IN WHICH THE MULTITUDES CRY FOR RELIEF FROM THEIR OP-
PRESSION, THEIR POVERTY, AND THEIR DISEASE. THE "SUNDRY
ADVERSITIES SUSTAINED BY THE INHABITANTS" EXCEED THE AD-
VERSITIES "OF ALL AGES PAST, IN THE MEMORY OF MAN."6 CON-
CERNED TO ESTABLISH A RELIGIOUS FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR HIS
ARGUMENTS, PARSONS USES AN EXPANSIVE METAPHOR OF A NEW
GARDEN OF EDEN--ENGLAND BEFORE THE PROTESTANT FALL, ENGLAND
IN PRISTINE PURITY READY To BE LED ALONG THE MARIAN PATH
BY THE NEW VIRGIN QUEEN, "A PRINCESS YONGE AND BEAUTIFULL,
AND ABOUNDANTLY ADORNED WITH THE GIFTES OF NATURE,“ A Wo-
MAN WHO WOULD SURELY HAVE CONTINUED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH
HAD SHE NOT BEEN SEDUCED BY THE SUBTLE SERPENT CECIL, A
"SLY SICOPHANT" INTENT ON HIS OWN ADVANCEMENT AT ALL COSTS,
A MAN-LOW BORN--WHO FOUND DURING MARY'S REIGN THAT NO "CREEP-
ING TO THE CRoss" OR SHOW OF EXTERNAL DEVOTION COULD OBTAIN
HIM THE HIGH PLACE DENIED HIM BY HIS LOW BIRTH.

AFTER SEDUCING ELIZABETH WITH THE DARKSOME ARGUMENT

THAT SHE COULD RETAIN HER CROWN ONLY IF SHE CHANGED HER

FAITH--PARSONS CONTINUEs--CECIL CHOSE AS HIS RIGHT-HAND

5. RESPONSIO, P. 59. 6. IBID., P. 5.

 

I

IIII

".IT
T

I 65

MAN NICHOLAS BACON, ALSO OF MEAN BIRTH, AND OF "AN ExCED-
ING CRAFTIE WITT."7 NOT CONTENT WITH DECREEING THAT THE
ENGLISH FAITH WOULD BE CHANGED, CECIL DECIDED ALSO WHAT
THE CHANGES THEMSELVES WOULD BE. HE JAILED OR ExILED THE
MARIAN BISHOPS AND FILLED THEIR PLACES WITH "THE VERY RIF
RAF AND REFUSE OF THE WORLD." THE RESULT OF THIS SERPENTINE
REFORMATION WAS A FAITH UNLIKE ANY OTHER ON THE FACE OF THE
EARTH.

AFTER THESE REMARKS, PARSONS SPEAKS OF A NUMBER OF
CECIL-INSPIRED INVASIONS OF SPANISH TERRITORIES AND Pos—
SESSIONS, INVASIONS MARKED BY BRUTALITY, WASTE, AND SELF-
INTEREST. IN THE FACE OF SUCH FLAGRANT PROVOCATION, THE
SPANISH HAVE REMAINED PATIENT BEYOND ALL COMPUTATION, BUT
THE ENGLISH HAVE BEEN FORCED To SUFFER FOR THEIR WICKED
DEEDS AND ARE NOW DANGEROUSLY CLOSE To INTERNAL COLLAPSE.

IN HIS DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST OF THE FOUR ISSUES
LISTED ABOVE ("TOUCHING THE MATTERS OF FAITH AND RELIGION")
PARSONS EXPANDS HIS COMMENTS ON THE WONDROUS NATURE OF THE
NEW ENGLISH FAITH, OBSERVATIONS WHICH I THINK ARE WORTH
QUOTING:

THE PROTESTANTIZED CALVINISM BEING BUT OF 55
YEARS ANTIQUITY, AND PECULIARLY CHOSEN AND

COMPOUNDED OF MANY, AND FULLY AGREEING WITH
NONE, Is NOW GROWN UNTO SUCH DIVISION IN IT-

SELF, AS IS VERY WONDERFUL: AN) BEING ESTAB'
LISHED BY AUTHORITY OF A PARLIAMENTAL SYNOD

 

7. IBID., P. I00

.TVI‘I

I

l

T I
I I

I66

AND ADVANCED UNTO THE HIGH TITLE, OF THE GLORIOUS
GOSPEL OF CHRIST, HATH NOT YET BEEN ABLE SO FEW
YEARS, TO RETAIN THAT CREDIT AND ESTEEM, BUT IS
GROWN CONTEMPTIBLE, DETECTED G7 IDOLATRY, HERESY,
AND MANY SUPERSTITIOUS ABUSES BY A PURIFIED SORT
OF POSSESS RS OF THE SAME GOSPELLERS NOW CALLED
BROWNISTS.

BUT, PARSONS CONTINUES, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF
THESE "PURIFIED SORT," DIRECTED BY "THE GREATER FERVOR OF
THE UNHOLY GHOST," HAVE AFFIRMED THAT THE REFORMATION WILL
NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL THE PEOPLE EXECUTE THE QUEEN AND
TAKE THE REFORMATION IN THEIR OWN HANDS, IT HAS BEEN THE
CATHOLICS IN THE REALM, PERSONS "OF GREAT VIRTUE, MODESTY,
AND PATIENCE," WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED AND HAVE NOT BEEN
GIVEN A CHANCE To VOICE THEIR OPINIONS. CERTAINLY THEY
HAVE NEVER GONE SO FAR AS TO SAY A MONARCH MIGHT BE OVER-
THROWN.9 PARSONS RESENTS THE EQUATION OF ENGLISH CATHOLIc-
ISM WITH TREASON:

AND THE ADVERSARY IN so MUCH LABORING To DETAIN

FROM CATHOLICS, THE DESERVED HONOR AND GLORY OF

THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY SUFFER, [DOES7'THEREBY
PROCLAIM HIS OWN INIQUITY AND INJUSTICE, TO ALL

THE WORLD, MAKING THAT To BE NEW TREASON, WHICH
IS NOTHING ELSE BUT OLD FAITH AND-REITETON.I0
EARLIER IN THE ESSAY HE HAD SAID ABOUT THE SAME THING:
"ZFHE GOVERNMEME7 DIRECTLY SEEKING THE LIVES AND GOODS OF
CATHOLICS, FOR THEIR CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION, LABORETH BY

ALL MEANS POSSIBLE, TO MAKE THE CAUSE OF THEIR SUFFERANOE

TO SEEM To BE FOR TREASON.""

8. IBID., P. 14.0. I0. IBID., P. Lu.

9. IBID., PP. HO’HI. Il. IBID., P. H.

 

«4

I67

IN THE THREE REMAINING DIVISIONS OF THE ESSAY PARSONS
CHARGES UP AND DOWN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, OVERTURNING
WITH HIS PIOUS SPADE A MULTITUDE OF BLEMISHES IN THE ENG-
LISH NATION AND CHARACTER. ENGLAND, HE SAYS, HAS NOT
FOUGHT FOR A NOBLE CAUSE IN THIRTY-THREE YEARS. SHE HAS
NO FRIENDS EXCEPT THE TURK AND OTHER "MAHOMETANS AND MOORES
OF BARBARIE"-—ALL PROFESSED ENEMIES OF CHRIST. IN SO FAR
As THE ROYAL OFFICE IS CONCERNED, SHE HAS COMMITTED HERSELF
TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE CROWN BELONGS TO ANYONE WHO CAN
WIN AND HOLD IT. IT MAY BE, IN FACT, THAT "ENGLAND MAY
HAPPEN TO HAVE A KING CECIL THE FIRST, THAT IS SUDDENLY
METAMORPHOSED FROM THE GROOM OF THE WARDROBE, TO THE WEAR-
ING OF THE BEST ROBE WITHIN THE WARDROBE."‘2 MUCH MORE IS
WRONG. ENGLAND'S NOBILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS ALL BUT DISAP-
PEARED. ELIZABETH'S MINISTERS ARE EXECRABLE CHARACTERS,
UNPRINCIPLED MEN WHO SEND THE COMMONERS TO FIGHT UNJUST
WARS AND THEN ABANDON THEM WHEN THEY RETURN FROM BATTLE.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN STARVE. THE NUMBER OF MERCHANTS HAS
DECLINED; THERE Is NO JUSTICE; THE PRISONS ARE FULL, THE
HIGHWAYS FRAUGHT WITH ROBBERS. THE COUNTRYSIDE Is FILLED
WITH BEGGARs--ONLY LAWYERS AND USURERS SEEM TO BE THRIVING.
A TWENTY-TWO PAGE INVECTIVE ON CECIL HIMSELF BRINGS THIS

REMARKABLE ESSAY TO A RAUCOUS CLOSE.

I2. IBID., PP. 55-56.

I68

BACON'S REACTION TO THE RESPONSIO, TO ITS PROGRESS AND

 

ITS CONCLUSIONS, IS THOROUGHLY PREDICTABLE IN THE LIGHT OF
HIS REMARKS TO THIS POINT. FOR THE AUTHOR HIMSELF HE HAS
NOTHING BUT THE CONTEMPT HE ALWAYS SHOWS TOWARD MEN WHO
SHED MORE HEAT THAN LIGHT, AND BEFORE HE TURNS TO THE

RESPONSIO ITSELF, HE EXPLORES THE MOTIVES AND TECHNIQUES

 

OF THE WHOLE CLASS OF PROFESSIONAL LIBELLERS. REPEATING
ONE OF ELIZABETH'S CREDOS, BACON MAINTAINS THAT HOWEVER
IMPASSIONED DEBATES BETWEEN HOSTILE STATES MAY BECOME, EVEN
IF THEY LEAD TO WAR, THE PERSONS OF PRINCES ARE NOT TO BE
MALIGNED. WAR BETWEEN NATIONs--EITHER ON A VERBAL OR A
MILITARY LEVELé-IS A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST HONOR, NOT AN
EXERCISE IN MASSACRE AND CONFUSION. BOTH THE LAW OF NATIONS
AND THE LAW OF HONOR HAVE ALWAYS PRONOUNCED CONSPIRATORS
AGAINST THE LIVES OF SOVEREIGNS, AND LIBELLERS AGAINST
THEIR NAMES, To BE THE COMMON ENEMIES OF SOCIETY. BACON
SPEAKS OF THE NOBLE WAY IN WHICH ELIZABETH HAS CONDUCTED
HERSELF IN HER DEALINGS WITH PHILIP OF SPAIN. WITH THE
EXCEPTION THAT SHE HAS ALLOWED COMMENTS ON PHILIPIS AMBI-
TION, SHE HAS NOT PERMITTED ANY DEFAMATION OF HIS CHAR-
ACTER. AND ELIZABETH'S WARS HAVE BEEN GROUNDED ON "JUST
AND HONOURABLE CAUSES."

BUT, BACON CONTINUES, IF ONE LOOKS TO THE "OTHER PART"
HE WILL BE ASTONISHED AT THE NUMBER OF CUNNING, DEFAMATORY

WRITINGS WHICH HAVE PASSED "THROUGH THE WORLD IN ALL

 

'—

I69

LANGUAGES AGAINST HER MAJESTY AND HER GOVERNMENT." THESE
LIBELS HAVE PARADED AS CHURCH STORIES~~TO EXCITE FAITH--
AS "REMONSTRANCES AND ADVERTISEMENTS OF ESTATE, TO MOVE
REGARD"; THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AS TRAGEDIES OF THE
PERSECUTION OF CATHOLlcs--TO MOVE PITY--ANO SOMETIMES
THEY HAVE BEEN USED AS "PLEASANT PASQUILS AND SATIRES, To
I
MOVE SPORT." 5 THE AUTHORS OF THESE INFAMOUS TRACTS, BACON
CONTINUES, ARE THOSE "EAGER AND UNQUIET SCHOLARS" WHO HAVE
LEFT ENGLAND TO FIND A MORE CONGENIAL GROUND UPON WHICH TO
EXERCISE THEIR "TURBULENT AND HUMOUROUS" NATURES. ONCE
ABROAD, THEY ABANDON LEARNING AND TURN To AMPLIFYING Gos-
SIP. WHEN NECESSITY OR AMBITION CALLS THEM
THEY FALL ON DEVISING HOW TO DO SOME ACCEPTABLE
SERVICE To THAT SIDE WHICH MAINTAINETH THEM; SO
AS EVER WHEN THEIR CREDIT WAXETH COLD WITH
FOREIGN PRINCES, OR THAT THEIR PENSIONS ARE
ILL PAID, OR SOME PREFERMENT IS IN SIGHT AT
WHICH THEY LEVEL, STRAIGHTWAYS OUT COMETH A
LIBEL, PRETENDING THEREBY TO KEEP IN LIFE THE
PARTY OF ILL SUBJECTS WITHIN THE REALM (WHEREIN
THEY ARE AS WISE As HE THAT THINKETH TO KIND E
A FIRE BY BLOWING IN THE DEAD ASHES). . . .|
IF ONE SIMPLY REFLECTS ON THE MOTIVES OF THESE MEN, BACON
CONTINUES, HE NEED NOT MARVEL AT THE NUMBER OF LIBELS PRo-
DUCED.

AFTER THESE COMMENTS, BACON TURNS DIRECTLY TO THE

RESPONSIO AND ITS AUTHOR. ALTHOUGH, HE SAYS, THE LIBEL

 

I5. WORKS, VIII, Ih7-h8.
Ih. IBID., PP. IDS-N9.

 

 

I70

ITSELF NEED GIVE PLACE TO "NONE OF THE REST IN MALICE AND
UNTRUTHS," ITS STYLE IS NOTABLY INFERIOR. ALSO, HE CON-
TINUES, THE ATTACKS ON LORD BURGHLEY MERELY SERVE AS A
CLOAK FOR A BROADER MALICE WHICH EXTENDS TO THE QUEEN HER-
SELF. BUT BACON WILL HEED THE COUNSEL OF SOLOMON, NOT TO
ANSWER "A FOOL IN HIS OWN KIND, LEST THOU ALSO BE LIKE HIM."
HE WILL CONCERN HIMSELF ONLY WITH UNCOVERING THE MALICE AND
UNTRUTHS OF THE LIBEL.

NOT ALL OF THE EIGHT MAJOR OBSERVATIONS BACON MAKES
ON THE LIBEL'SARE STRICTLY RELEVANT TO THIS STUDY, BUT
HIS ADVERTIZEMENT OF ENGLISH PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING IS

HIGHLY GERMANE, FOR THE FIRST PREMISE OF THE RESPONSIO IS

 

THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT THE LOOUST TO ENGLAND As AN AWFUL
TESTIMONY OF HIS DISAPPROVAL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. BACON

IS THEREFORE CONCERNED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE FACTS SUGGEST

I5. I. "OF THE SCOPE OR DRIFT OF THE LIBELLER"; 2. "OF
THE PRESENT ESTATE OF THIS REALM OF ENGLAND, WHETHER
IT MAY BE TRULY AVOUCHED TO BE PROSPEROUS OR AF-
FLICTED"; 3. "OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PRE-
TENDED CATHOLICS, WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN VIOLENT OR
MODERATE AND NECESSARY"; h. "OF THE DISTURBANCE OF THE
QUIET OF CHRISTENDOM, AND TO WHAT CAUSES IT MAY BE
JUSTLY IMPUTED"; 5. "OF THE CUNNING OF THE LIBELLER,
IN PALLIATION OF HIS MALICIOUS INVECTIVE AGAINST HER
MAJESTY AND THE STATE WITH PRETENSE OF TAXING ONLY
THE ACTIONS OF LORD BURGHLEY"; 6. "CERTAIN TRUE GEN-
ERAL NOTES UPON THE ACTIONS OF LORD BURGHLEY"; 7. "OF
DIVERSE PARTICULAR UNTRUTHS AND ABUSES DISPERSED
THROUGH THE LIBEL"; 8. "OF THE HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCY
THAT THESE MEN ARE GROWN UNTO IN PUBLISHING AND AVOUCH-
ING UNTRUTHs; WITH PARTICULAR RECITAL OF SOME IN AN As-
SAY." IBID., P. SI.

 

 

I7I

GOD'S OVERWHELMING APPROVAL OF THE ENGLISH VERSION OF HIS

CHURCH:

THE BENEFITS OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THIS LAND,
SINCE THE TIME THAT IN HIS SINGULAR PROVIDENCE HE
LED AS IT WERE BY THE HAND AND PLACED IN THE KING-
DOM HIS SERVANT OUR QUEEN ELIZABETH, ARE SUCH AS,
NOT IN BOASTING OR IN CONFIDENCE OF OURSELVES BUT
IN PRAISE OF HIS BLESSED NAME, ARE WORTHY TO BE
BOTH CONSIDERED AND CONFESSED, YEA AND REGISTERED

IN PERPETUAL MEMORY. NOTWITHSTANDING, I MEAN NOT
AFTER THE MANNER OF A PANEGYRIO TO EXTOL THE PRE-
SENT TIME. IT SHALL SUFFIOE ONLY THAT THOSE MEN

THAT THROUGH THE GALL AND BITTERNESS OF THEIR OWN
HEART HAVE LOST THEIR TASTE AND JUDGMENT, AND
WOULD DEPRIVE GOD OF HIS GLORY AND US OF OUR
SENSES IN AFFIRMING OUR CONDITION To BE MISERABLE
AND FULL OF TOKENS OF THE WRATH AND INDIGNATION
OF GOD, BE REPROVED.I6
BACON BALLASTS THESE GENERALIzATIONS WITH A SERIES OF STATls-
TICAL FACTS. THE THREE BENEDICTIONS OF GOD--PEACE, PLENTY,
AND HEALTH--HAVE BEEN BESTOWED UPON THE ENGLISH PEOPLE AS
NEVER BEFORE, HE AFFIRMS. |N "FIVE HUNDRED FOUR SCORE AND
MORE YEARS," DURING WHICH TIME TWENTY-TWO RULERS HAVE COME
TO ENGLAND, THE QUEEN HAS ALREADY OUTLASTED SIXTEEN. HER
MAJESTY'S REIGN HAS BEEN PEACEFUL TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE
YEARS, AND WARS HAVE NOT "CONSUMED PAST TWO OF ANY NOBLE
HOUSE. . . AND VERY FEW BESIDES OF QUALITY OR APPEARANCE.
THEY HAVE SCARCE MOWED DOWN THE OVERCHARGE OF THE PEOPLE

WHICH HAVE BEEN BRED WITHIN THE REALM."l7 FURTHERMORE, THE

FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF THE PLAGUE HAVE DIMINISHED MARKEDLY

I60 IBID., PP. '55-5’4.
I7. IBID., P.I57.

I72

DURING ELIZABETH'S REIGN, SO MUCH IN FACT THAT MEN HAD BEGUN
TO MARVEL AT THE NATIONAL HEALTH UNTIL "IT PLEASED GOD TO
TEACH US THAT WE OUGHT TO ASCRIBE IT ONLY TO HIS MERCY, BY
TCUCHING US A LITTLE THIS PRESENT YEAR."I8
WHEN BACON DISCUSSES THE BENEDICTION OF PLENTY, WHICH

IS ONE OF HIS MOST INTERESTING COMMENTS ON THE "GOOD LIFE,"
THE STUDENT OF LITERATURE CANNOT HELP BEING REMINDED OF THE
"NEGATIVE FORMULA" WHICH FREQUENTLY WARMED THE MEDIEVAL
HEART. BACON, SO MUCH A DEVOTEE OF THIs—WORLD, PLACES HIS
HEAVEN ON EARTH; AND ONE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE TO CROSS A STREAM
TO GET TO IT:

FOOD: . . . WHEREAS ENGLAND WAS WONT TO BE FED

BY OTHER COUNTRIES FROM THE EAST, IT SUFFICETH

NOW To FEED OTHER COUNTRIES.

REAL ESTATE: THERE WAS NEVER THE LIKE NUMBER OF

FAIR AND STATELY HOUSES AS HAVE BEEN BUILT AND

SET UP FROM THE GROUND SINCE HER MAJESTY'S REIGN;

INSOMUCH THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECKONED IN ONE

SHIRE THAT IS NOT GREAT TO THE NUMBER OF THREE

AND THIRTY, WHICH HAVE BEEN ALL NEW BUILT FOR
TWO THOUSAND POUNDS.

 

LANDSCAPE: THERE WAS NEVER THE LIKE PLEASURES OF
GOODLY GARDENS AND ORCHARDS, WALKS, POOLS, AND
PARKS, AS DO ADORN ALMOST EVERY MANSION HOUSE.

 

TOMBSTONES AND MONUMENTS: THERE WAS NEVER THE
LIKE NUMBER OF BEAUTIFUL AND COSTLY TOMBS AND
MONUMENTS, WHICH ARE ERECTED IN SUNDRY CHURCHES
IN HONOURABLE MEMORY OF THE DEAD.

 

 

LUXURIES: THERE WAS NEVER THE LIKE QUANTITY OF
PLATE, jEWELS, SUMPTUOUS MOVABLES AND STUFF,
AS IS NOW WITHIN THE REALM.

 

I8. IBID., P. I56. SPEDDING NOTES (P. I56) THAT THE
"SICKNESS OF I592 BEGAN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST."

 

 

 

I75

RECLAMATICN: THERE WAS NEVER THE LIKE QUANTITY
OF WASTE AND UNPROFITABLE GROUND INNED, RE-
CLAIMED, AND IMPROVED.

 

HUSBANDRY: THERE WAS NEVER THE LIKE HUSBANDING
OF ALL SORTS OF GROUNDS BY FENCING, MANURING,
AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD HUSBANDRY.

 

URBANIZATION AND FAIR-GOING: THE TONNS WERE
NEVER BETTER BUILT NOR PEOPLED; NOR THE
PRINCIPAL FAIRS AND MARKETS NEVER BETTER
CUSTOMED OR FREQUENTED.

 

WATERWAYS: THE COMMODITIES AND EASES OF RIVERS
OUT BY THE HAND AND BROUGHT INTO A NEW CHAN-
NEL, OF PIERS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT, OF WATERS
THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED AND BROUGHT AGAINST THE
GROUND, WERE NEVER SO MANY.

 

MANUFACTURE: THERE WAS NEVER SO MANY ExCELLENT
ARTIFICERS, NOR MANY NEW HANDICRAFTS USED AND

EXERCISED, NOR NEW COMMODITIES MADE WITHIN THE
REALM; AS SUGAR, PAPER, GLASS, COPPER, DIVERS

SILKS, AND THE LIKE.

 

ORDNANCE: THERE WAS NEVER SUCH COMPLETE AND
HONOURABLE PROVISION OF ORSE, ARMOUR, WEAPON,
OR ORDNANCE OF THE WAR.l

 

WE SEE IN THIS TESTIMONY TO THE BENEDICTION OF PLENTY
THE WISDOM OF PROFESSOR TAWNEY'S THESIS THAT MANY ENGLISH"
MEN DEVELOPED A REMARKABLE CAPACITY TO EQUATE THEIR REFORMA-
TION WITH TEMPORAL PROSPERITYozo THE PROTESTANT ETHIO IS
STRONGLY AT WORK IN BAOON-“AS WE MIGHT EXPECT--AND ALTHOUGH
HE TAKES GREAT CARE TO WARN AGAINST THE TRAPS OF COVETOUS“

NESS, THE EVIDENCE IS INESCAPABLE THAT HE BELIEVED A LITTLE

I9. IBID., PP. I58-59. THE ITALICIZED HEAD-WORDS ARE MINE.

20. RELIGION AND THE RISE OF CAPITALISM (NEW YORK, HAR-
COURT BRACE & CO., I923T. SEE ESPECIALLY CH. III,
"THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND." MY REFERENCES ARE To THE
NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY EDITION (NEW YORK, I9h7; I955).

 

 

rm

CASH IN THE HAND NEVER HURT ANYONEIS CHANCE FOR SALVATION.
HOW CLOSELY HE ASSOCIATED SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL WELL-BEING
CAN BE SEEN AS HE EXTENDS HIS LIST OF THE BENEDICTIONS OF
GOD UPON THE ENGLISH PEOPLE. AMONG THESE BOUNTIES HE GIVES
"PURITY OF RELIGION" A PROMINENT PLACE. THIS IS A BENEFIT,
HE SAYS, WHICH IS INESTIMABLE, A BENEFIT "UNTIL THE DAYS OF
HER MAJESTYIS FATHER OF FAMOUS MEMORY, UNHEARD OF."2| PRIN-
CIPALLY, IT HAS BROUGHT THE "TRUE KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP OF
GOD," BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN "THREE POINTS OF GREAT CON-
SEQUENCE UNTO THE CIVIL ESTATE":

ONE, THE STAY OF A MIGHTY TREASURE WITHIN THE

REALM, WHICH IN FORETIMES WAS DRAWN FORTH To

ROME I.E., PETERIS PENCE7: ANOTHER, THE DIS—

PERSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE REVENUES

(AMOUNTING To A THIRD PART OF THE LAND OF THE

REALM, AND THAT OF THE GOODLIEST AND RICHEST

SORT) WHICH HERETOFORE WAS UNPROFITABLY SPENT

IN MONASTERIES, INTO SUCH HANDS AS BY WHOM

THE REALM RECEIVETH AT THIS DAY SERVICE AND

STRENGTH, AND MANY GREAT HOUSES HAVE BEEN

SET UP AND AUGMENTED: THE THIRD, THE MANu-

MIZING AND ENFRANCHISING OF THE REGAL DIGNITY

FROM THE RECOGNITION OF A FOREIGN SUPERIOR.2
TAWNEY MAINTAINS THAT THE ENGLISHMAN WAS QUICK TO LEARN
THAT A POORLY RUN MONASTIC ENCLOSURE WAS OF CONSIDERABLE
MORE USE To THE COMMUNITY THAN THE SAME LAND RUN BY A
SELF-SEEKING "ABBEY-LUBBER,"25BUT--AT LEAST FOR THE SAKE

OF THIS ARGUMENT-“BACON HAS THE HIGHEST PRAISE FOR HENRY'S

2Io WORKS, VIII, I590 220 IBID., PP. “59"600

25. RELIGION AND THE RISE OF CAPITALISM, PP. II8-28.

 

 

I75

REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. TYING UP ALL OF THAT LAND FOR

THE CATHOLIC GOD WAS NO WAY TO DEVELOP NATURAL RESOURCES.
BAOON PROCEEDS FROM THIS ADVERTIZEMENT OF THE FELICITY

OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE TO AN EXAMINATION OF THE MAJOR DIVI-

SIONS OF THE RESPONSIO. HE ANSWERS PARSONS' ATTACKS ON THE

 

ENGLISH FAITH IN TWO SEPARATE SECTIONS, OWE DEALING WITH
THE "PRETENDED CALAMITIES" WITHIN THE CHURCH ITSELF, AND
THE OTHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S TREATMENT OF THE CATHOLICS.
|T WILL BE RECALLED THAT PARSONS DESCRIBED THE CHURCH AS
"PROTESTANTIZED CALVINISM," AS A BODY "PECULIARLY CHOSEN
AND COMPOUNDED OF MANY, AND FULLY AGREEING WITH NONE."
BEFORE ANSWERING THIS CHARGE DIRECTLY, BACON ASSERTS THAT
A STATE MAY MAKE TWO MAJOR ERRORS IN ITS ECCLESIASTICAL
POLITY: THE ONE Is TO PERMIT THE EXERCISE OF MORE FAITHS
THAN ONE (THAT IS, ON EQUAL TERMS) WITHIN ITS BORDERS, AND
THE OTHER IS THE "ENTERING AND SIFTING INTO MEN'S CON-
SCIENCES WHEN NO OVERT SCANDAL IS GIVEN, WHICH IS A RIGOR-
OUS AND STRAINABLE INQUISITION. . . ."2u WHAT EACON IS
SAYING HERE, AND THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF HIS IDEA OF RELI-
GIOUS TOLERATION, IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTEREST
IN FOROING THE CONSCIENCES OF MEN WHO DO NOT MAKE THEIR
FAITH A MATTER OF STATE.

To PARSONSI CHARGE THAT THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH

2L. WoRKs, VIII, Iéu.

I76

DISCORD, CONFUSION, AND HERESY, BACON REPLIES WITH THE
SAME ARGUMENT HE USE; EARLIER AGAINST THE ANGUISHED MAR-
TIN. IT IS, HE SAYS, A NATURAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH
OF CHRIST TO EXPERIENCE CONTENTIONS. DISAGREEMENT, AFTER
ALL, IS A SIGN OF VITALITY, A SIGN THAT MEN BELIEVE THEIR
FAITH IS WORTH "FALLING OUT FOR." HE WILLINGLY ADMITS
THAT CERTAIN ENGLISH PROTESTANTS HAVE BASED THEIR FAITHS
ON CONTRARIES AND HAVE EMULATED FOREIGN CHURCHES To EX—
OESS, BUT, HE CONTINUES,

NEITHER HAVE THE GROUNDS OF THE CONTROVERSIES
EXTENDED UNTO ANY POINT OF FAITH; NEITHER HATH
THE PRESSING AND PROSECUTION EXCEEDED, IN THE
GENERALITY, THE NATURE OF SOME INFERIOR CON-
TEMPTs; SO AS THEY HAVE BEEN FAR FROM HERESY
AND SEDITION, AND THEREFORE RATHER OFFENSIVE
THAN DANGEROUS TO THE CHURCH OR STATE.
IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT BACON CONSIDERED THESE LINES TO
BE AN ACCURATE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ANGLICAN-PURITAN
DEBATE, BUT THE REMARKS ARE ADMIRABLY SUITED TO INTERNA-
TIONAL CONSUMPTION. BACON FOLLOWS HIS OWN ADVICE TO MAR-
TIN-~THAT THE "DANGEROUS AMPLIFICATIONs" OF ANNOUNCING
DISCORD ARE TO BE CAREFULLY AVOIDED.
To CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF, EXPORTABLE DEFENSE OF THE
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, BACON COMMENTS

ON PARSONSt ACCUSATION THAT THE CHURCH HAS BEEN DANGER-

OUSLY CHALLENGED (AND THE CROWN ITSELF) BY THE MANIACAL

25. IBID., P. I65.

177

ELEMENT OF REFORM, PARTICULARLY BY THE BROWNISTS AND THE
"FANATICAL PAGEANT OF HACKETT."26 BACONIS CURT ANSWER IS
THAT THE BROWNISTS, "A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VERY SILLY AND
BASE PEOPLE," HAVE BEEN FAIRLY WELL DISPERSED AND THAT THEY
ARE NOT MUCH HEARD OF ANY MORE. CONCERNING HACKETT, BACON
REMARKS IRONICALLY THAT A MAN MUST BE CONSIDERED A VERY
DANGEROUS HERETIC WHO COULD NEVER MUSTER MORE THAN Two
DISCIPLES, AND THOSE MADMEN.27

THE THIRD DIVISION OF THE OBSERVATIONS IS A DEFENSE

 

OF ELIZABETH'S POLICIES INVOLVING THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS,
POLICIES WHICH PARSONS FELT HAD BEEN GROSSLY UNJUST SINCE
THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF THE QUEEN'S REIGN. SINCE THIS DE-
FENSE IS PERHAPS BACON'S MOST IMPORTANT ANALYSIS OF THE
TREATMENT OF HIS CATHOLIC COUNTRYMEN, I QUOTE A CONSIDER-

ABLE PART OF IT:

26. IN JULY OF I59! HACKETT, IN LONDON, PROCLAIMED THAT
HE WAS CHRIST. HIS CONTEMPORARIES THOUGHT THAT HE
WAS MAD, WHICH I SUPPOSE HE WAS (UNLESS HE WAS
CHRIST) AND HE WAS EXECUTED IN JULY. HE HAD PLOT-
TED To REMOVE ELIZABETH FROM OFFICE, ALONG WITH HER
BISHOPS, AND To ESTABLISH HIS CNN CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
HE HAD A VERY SMALL FOLLOWING, COMPOSED FOR THE
MOST PART, APPARENTLY, OF UNSTABLE ZEALOTS. SEE
fiROOK, WHITGIFT AND THE ENGLISH CHURCH, PP. I59-

0.

 

27. WORKS, VIII, I65-66.

I78

I FIND HER MAJESTY'S PROCEEDINGS GENERALLY
TO HAVE BEEN GROUNDED UPON Two PRINCIPLEs;

THE ONE, THAT CONSCIENCES ARE NOT To BE
FORCED, BUT TO BE WON AND REDUCED BY THE FORCE
OF TRUTH, BY THE AID OF TIME, AM) THE USE OF
ALL GOOD MEANS OF INSTRUCTION OR PERSUASION;

THE OTHER, THAT CAUSES OF CONSCIENCE WHEN
THEY EXCEED THEIR BOUNDS AND GROW TO BE A MATTER
OF FACTION, LEESE THEIR NATURE; AND THAT SOVEREIGN
PRINCES OUGHT DISTINCTLY To PUNISH THE PRACTICE OR
CONTEMPT, THOUGH COLOURED WITH THE PRETENCES OF
CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION.

ACCORDING TO THESE TWO PRINCIPLES, HER MA-
JESTY AT HER COMING To THE CROWN, UTTERLY Dls-
LIKING OF THE TYRANNY OF THE CHURCH OF ROME,
WHICH HAD USED BY TERROR AND RIGOUR TO SEEK COM-
MANDMENT OF MEN'S FAITHS AND CONSCIENCES, AL-
THOUGH AS A PRINCE OF GREAT WISDOM AND MAGNA-
NIMITY SHE SUFFERED BUT THE EXERCISE OF ONE RELI-
GION, YET HER PROCEEDINGS TOWARDS THE PAPISTS
WAS WITH GREAT LENITY, EXPECTING THE GOOD EFFECTS
WHICH TIME MIGHT WORK IN THEM.

AND THERE ORE HER MAJESTY REVIVE NOT THE
LAWS MADE IN ZfHE 28TH AND 55TH YEAR %'OF HER
FATHER'S REIGN, WHEREBY THE OATH OF SUPREMACY
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OFFERED AT THE KING'S PLEASURE
TO ANY SUBJECT, THOUGH HE KEPT HIS CONSCIENCE
NEVER so MODESTLY TO HIMSELF, AND THE REFUSAL
To TAKE THE SAME OATH WITHOUT FURTHER CIRCUM-
STANCE WAS MADE TREASON. BUT CONTRARIWISE HER
MAJESTY (NOT LIKING TO MAKE WINDOWS INTO MEN'S
HEARTS AND SECRET THOUGHTS, EXCEPT THE ABUNDANCE
OF THEM DID OVERFLOW INTO OVERT AND EXPRESS ACTS
AND AFFIRMATIONS,) TEMPERED HER LAW so, AS IT
RESTRAINETH ONLY MANIFEST DISOBEDIENCE IN IM-
PUGNING AND IMPEACHING ADVISEDLY AND MALICIOUSLY
HER MAJESTY'S SUPREME POWER, AND MAINTAINING
AND EXTOLLING A FOREIGN JURISDICTION. AS FOR
THE OATH, IT WAS ALTERED BY HER MAJESTY INTO A
MORE GRATEFUL FORM; THE HARSHNESS OF THE NAME
AND APPELLATION OF SUPREME HEAD WAS REMOVED

IT WAS CHANGED To 'SUPREME GOVERNOR' ; AND
THE PENALTY OF THE REFUSAL THEREOF TURNED ONLY
INTO A DISABLEMENT TO TAKE ANY PROMOTION OR To
EXERCISE ANY CHARGE; AND YET THAT WITH A LIBERTY
OF BEING REVESTED THEREIN, IF ANY MAN SHALL Ao-
CEPT THEREOF DURING HIS LIFE.

BUT AFTER MANY YEARS' TOLERATION OF A MULTI-
TUDE CF FACTIOUS PAPISTS, WHEN PIUS QUINTUS HAO

.r

I79

EXCOMMUNICATED HER MAJESTY, AND THE BULL OF Ex-
COMMUNICATION WAS PUBLISHED IN LONDON [TN I5707’
WHEREBY HER MAJESTY WAS IN A SORT PROSCRIBED,-'
AND ALL HER SUBJECTS DRAWN UPON PAIN OF DAMNA-
TION FROM HER OBEDIENCE; AND THAT THEREUPON,

As UPON A PRINCIPAL Ma'IVE 0R PREPARATIVE, FOL-
LOWED THE REBELLION IN THE NORTH; YET NOTWITH-
STANDING, BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE EVIL HUMOURs
WERE BY THAT REBELLION PARTLY PURGED, AND THAT
SHE FEARED AT THAT TIME NO FOREIGN INVASION,

AND MUCH LESS THE ATTEMPTS OF ANY WITHIN THE
REALM NOT BACKED BY SOME SUCCOURS FROM WITH-
OUT, SHE CONTENTED HERSELF To MAKE A LAW AGAINST
THAT SPECIAL CASE OF BRINGING IN OR PUBLISHING
OF BULLS OR THE LIKE INSTRUMENTs; WHEREUNTO WAS
ADDED A PROHIBITION, NOT UPON PAIN OF TREASON,
BUT OF AN INFERIOR DEGREE OF PUNISHMENT, AGAINST
BRINGING IN OF AGNUS DEIIS, HALLOWED BEADS, AND
SUCH OTHER MERCHANDISE Cr ROME AS ARE WELL KNOWN
NOT To BE ANY ESSENTIAL PART OF THE ROMAN RELI-
GION, BUT ONLY TO BE USED IN PRACTICE As LOVE
TOKENS To ENCHANT AND BEWITCH THE PEOPLE'S AF-
FECTIONS FROM THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THEIR NATURAL

SOVEREIGN. IN ALL OTHER POINéS HER MAJESTY
CONTINUED HER FORMER LENITY.2

BACON CONTINUES EXAMINING THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH NECEs-
SITATED NEW AND FIRMER LAWS AGAINST THE RECUSANTS. THE
BLOSSOMING OF THE SEMINARIES, THE INTENDED INVASION OF

THE REALM BY SPAIN, AND THE ATTEMPTS ON HER MAJESTY'S PER-
SON--ALL THESE COMPLICATIONS MADE NEW LAWS IMPERATIVE.
AGAINST DIFFICULT RECUSANTS THERE WERE ADDED PECUINARY
PUNISHMENTS, "NOT To ENFORCE COVSCIENCES, BUT To EN-
FEEBLE AND IMPOVERISH THOSE WITH WHOM IT RESTED INDIFFER-
ENT AND AMBIGUOUS WHETHER THEY WERE RECONCILED OR No."29

FINALLY, TO STEM THE DISSEMINATION OF SEDITIOUS PROPAGANDA,

28. IBID., PP. I77-79. 29. IBID., P. 80.

 

YT

I80

"PRIESTS OF THE NEW ERECTION WERE EXILED, AND THOSE THAT
WERE AT THE TIME WITHIN THE LAND SHIPPED OVER, AND so COM-
MANDED TO KEEP HENCE UPON THE PAIN OF TREASON."5O

BACONIS ARGUMENT, AND IT Is THE ARGUMENT BOTH ELIZA-
BETH AND JAMES USED CONSISTENTLY TO DEFEND THEIR ANTI-
CATHOLIC LEGISLATION, IS BASED ON THE SUPPOSITION THAT THE
CATHOLICS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AS MUCH LIBERTY AS THEY DESERVE
AND THAT RESTRICTIONS HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED OVERT ACTS To
UNDERMINE THE PROTESTANT STABILITY OF THE ENGLISH NATION.
DETERMINING THE JUSTICE OF A GOVERNMENTIS POLICIES OF RELI-

GIOUS TOLERATION Is, OF COURSE, LARGELY A MATTER OF WHOSE

50. IBID., P. I80. THIS SECTION OF THE OBSERVATIONS (BE-
GINNING ABOVE ON PAGE I77) HAS AN INTERESTING AND
PERPLEXING HISTORY. IT FIRST APPEARED As THE FIRST
HALF OF A LETTER ADDRESSED To MONSIEUR CRITOY, SEC-
RETARY OF FRANCE, OVER THE SIGNATURE OF SIR FRANCIS
WALSINGHAM, ONE OF ELIZABETH'S LEADING MINISTERS.
SPEDDING BELIEVED THAT BACON WAS CONTRACTED TO WRITE
A SUMMARY OF ELIZABETH'S RELIGIOUS POLICIES IN OR-
DER To ASSURE HENRY OF NAVARRE, NEWLY CROWNED KING
OF FRANCE (I589), THAT THE QUEEN WAS A GOOD PROTES—
TANT. HENRY, ACCORDING TO SPEDDING, WAS A PROFES—
SED PROTESTANT, AND ENGLAND WAS ANXIOUS To GAIN
FRANCEIS FRIENDSHIP AT THE TIME. THE LETTER, IN AD-
DITION.TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE CATHOLICS, CONTAINS
A FEW REMARKS ON THE PURITANS. SEE WORKS, VIII,

95 FF., FOR SPEDDINGIS DISCUSSION AND THE TEXT.
OCCASIONALLY I HAVE FOUND A RELUCTANCE TO ATTRIBUTE
THE WORK TO BACON (FOR EXAMPLE SEE JORDAN, RELI-
GIOUS TOLERATION, I, 200 FF.), BUT TO THE BEST OF
MY KNOWLEDGE NO ONE HAS REFUTED SPEDDING'S CAREFUL
ARGUMENT WITH ANY SUCCESS. IF ONE WISHES To ATTRI-
BUTE THE WORK To WALSINGHAM, HE IS FACED WITH Ex-
PLAINING WHY BAOON WOULD HAVE LIFTED THIS SECTION,
WORD FOR WORD, FROM WALSINGHAM'S LETTER AND PLACED
IT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS OWN DISCOURSE. FURTHERMORE,
AS WE SHALL SEE LATER, HE USED A VARIATION OF THE
PASSAGE IN I606,‘WHEN HE WROTE IN FELICEM MEMORIAM
ELIZABETHAE. -—'

 

 

 

 

I8I

SIDE ONE IS ON, AND WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT BACONIS EXPLANA-
TION OF ELIZABETH'S POLICIES TO BE PARTICULARLY SATISFYING
TO A CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC. THE BASIC PROBLEM WAS THAT
THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS, HOWEVER READY THEY AS INDIVIDUALS
MIGHT BE To ACCEPT ELIZABETH'S PLATFORM, WERE BOUND BY
CONSCIENCE To SUBSCRIBE TO THE DICTATES Cr ROME. THIS
DUAL ALLEGIANCE, WHOSE COMPLICATIONS WE SHALL OBSERVE AT
LENGTH IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, PLACED THE RECUSANT IN THE
VIRTUALLY HOPELESS POSITION OF BEING A TRAITOR EITHER To
HIS COUNTRY OR TO HIS SOUL. FURTHERMORE, EVEN IF IT WERE
POSSIBLE FOR HIM To STRIKE A SATISFACTORY COMPROMISE BE-
TWEEN THE DEMANDS OF THE POPE AND THE QUEEN, HE WAS CON-
STANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH ALL ATTEMPTS BY OTHER CATHOLICS,
OF WHATEVER NATIONALITY, TO WEAKEN THE ENGLISH FAITH AND
NATION. GUILT BY ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE MOST DURABLE
TYRANNIES OF SOCIETY, AND MANY A PATRIOTIC ENGLISH CATHOLIC
HAD To SUFFER FOR THE RASH ACTS OF HIS ZEALOUS BROTHERS.

IT IS PROFESSOR JORDANIS CONVICTION THAT THE GOVERN-
MENT'S POSITION, AS EXPRESSED HERE BY BACON, WAS AS LIBERAL
AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTE005| CERTAINLY IT WAS To BE
DEMONSTRATED LATER IN JAMES! REIGN THAT LEGISLATIVE OR
OTHER GENEROSITY TOWARD THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS WAS IMMEDI-
ATELY ATTENDED BY GREAT STIRRINGS WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE
5|. THIS IS A MAJOR THEsls OF VOL. I. JORDAN'S DISCUSSION

OF THE CATHOLIC IDEA OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION IN ELIZA-
BETHIS REIGN CAN BE FOUND IN PP. 505 FF.

STATE, MOTIONS WHICH WARNED OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF
TOLERATING TWO FAITHS. AS LONG AS ROME CHERISHED ITS VI-
SION OF A CATHOLIC ENGLAND, THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO MAKE RECUSANOY HIGHLY UNOOMFORTABLE. AS HER REIGN
PROGRESSED, ELIZABETH WAS EVENTUALLY FORTIFIED BY A BODY
OF LEGISLATION WHICH MUST HAVE CHILLED THE CATHOLIC IN THE
READING,528UT IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT HER ORIGINAL LIB-
ERALITY PROVED UNREALISTIC AND HAZARDOUS, THE QUEEN WAS
CONSISTENTLY FAR MORE TOLERANT THAN THE LETTER OF HER LAW
MIGHT SUGGEST. JUDGED BY THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS SET BY
HER FATHER AND SISTER, SHE WAS INDEED A CHARITABLE SOVER-

EIGN. BACON'S SUBSCRIPTION TO HER POLICIES, AND HIS DE-

VOTED DEFENSE OF THEM, IS THOROUGHLY IN KEEPING WITH HIS
IDEA OF THE STATE. THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE
WAS FREE TO ROAM THE EARTH IN ANY GUISE IT CHOSE AS LONG
AS IT POSED NO THREAT TO THE ESTABLISHED CIVIL AND ECCLE-
SIASTICAL GOVERNMENTS OF A NATION.

IT WILL BE NOTED THAT IN BACONIS ACCOUNT THE "PRINCESS
YONGE AND BEAUTIFULL, AND ABOUNDANTLY ADORNED WITH THE
GIFTES OF NATURE" HAS PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY AND ENTHUSI-
ASTICALLY IN THE RELIGIo-POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF HER NATION,
AN INCONTESTABLE FACT WHICH ANY PURITAN LEGISLATOR MIGHT

HAVE TOLD PARSONS.

52. A USEFUL "ANTHOLOGY" OF TUDOR LEGISLATION INVOLVING
RELIGION IS CONTAINED IN GILBERT W. CHILD'S QHURCH
AND STATE UNDER THE TUDORS (LONDON, LONGMANS GREEN,
{890). I HAVE FOUND BACONIS REFERENCES To CONTEM-
PORARY LAWS THOROUGHLY RELIABLE.

I85

IN THE REMAINING PAGES OF THE OBSERVATIONS THERE ARE

 

A FEW REFLECTIONS WHICH DESERVE OUR ATTENTION. AMONG THEM
IS BACON'S EXOULPATION OF LORD BURGHLEY, A DEFENSE WHICH
IS VERY NEARLY A PANEGYRIO ON THE BRILLIANT AND DURABLE
STATESMAN. PARSONS, WE MAY REMEMBER, ACCUSED BURGHLEY

OF BEING A TEMPORIZER IN MATTERS OF FAITH. BACON REPLIES
THAT THE LORD WAS "NEVER NO BREWER OF HOLY WATER IN COURT"

DURING MARY'S REIGN, NOR HAS HE BEEN THE PRIMUM MOBILE OF

 

THE CONTROVERSIES IN THE CHURCH (WHICH, BACON SAYS, ARE
ONLY ABOUT INDIFFERENTS ANYWAY). QUITE TO THE CONTRARY,
BURGHLEY HAS BEEN "A MOST RELIGIOUS AND WISE MODERATOR IN
CHURCH MATTERS TO HAVE UNITY KEPT. . . ."53 AND AS AN IN-
DIVIDUAL, BACON CONTINUES, THE STATESMAN "EVER BARE HIMSELF
REVERENTLY AND WITHOUT SCANDAL IN MATTERS OF RELIGION, AND
WITHOUT BLEMISH IN HIS PRIVATE COURSE OF LIFE. . . ."5h
To THE CHARGE THAT HIS LORDSHIP PRESCRIBED THE FORM AND
CONTENT OF ELIZABETH'S CHURCH, BACON REPLIES:
THE SAME FORM, NOT FULLY SIX YEARS BEFORE, HAD
BEEN RECEIVED IN THIS REALM IN KING EDWARD'S
TIME: SO AS HIS LORDSHIP, BEING A CHRISTIAN
POLITIG COUNSELLOR, THOUGHT IT BETTER TO FOL-
LOW A PRECEDENT DIAN TO INNOVATE, AND TO

CHOOSE A PRECEDENT RATHER AT HOME THAN ABROAD.55

BACONIS PRAISE GOES TO BURGHLEY AS THE GREAT EXPONENT OF

53. WORKS, VIII, I99. 550 IBID., PC 2050
5’40 IBID., Po ZOIO

I8u

UNITY, NOT, IT WILL BE OBSERVED, AS THE CHAMPION OF RE-

FORM056

IN ADDITION To THIS DEFENSE OF BURGHLEY, BAOON DE-
NIES PARSONS' ASSERTION THAT NO CATHOLIC HAS EVER ATTEMPTED

T0 MURDER ANY MEMBERS OF ELIZABETHIS COURT. QUITE TO THE

CONTRARY:

OF CATHOLICS (I MEAN THE TRAITOROUS SORT OF
THEM) A MAN MAY SAY AS CATO SAID SOMETIMES
OF CAESAR, EUM_AE_EVERTENDAM REMPUBLICAM
SOBRIUM AOCESSISSE: THEY COME SOBER AND WELL
ADVISED To THEIR TREASONS AND CONSPIRACIEs;
AND COMMONLY THEY LOOK NOT 80 Low AS THE
COUNSELLORS, BUT HAVE BENT THEIR MUDEROUS
ATTEMPTS IMMEDIATELY AGAINST HER MAJESTY'S
SACRED PERSON (WHICH GOD HAVE IN HIS PRE-
CIOUS CUSTODY); As MAY APPEAR BY THE CON-
SPIRACY OF SOMERVILE, PARRY, SAVAGE THE
SIX, AND OTHERs; NAY (WHICH IS MORE) THEY
HAVE DEFENDED IT IN THESI TO BE A LAWFUL
ACT 05

36. BACONIS DEFENSE OF HIS OWN FATHER IS VERY BRIEF:
"FOR ALL THE WORLD NOTED SIR NICHOLAS BACON TO BE A
MAN PLAIN, DIRECT, AND CONSTANT, WITHOUT ALL FINENESS
OR DOUBLENEss; AND ONE THAT WAS OF THE MIND THAT A
MAN IN HIS PRIVATE PROCEEDINGS, AND A STATE IN THE
PROCEEDINGS OF STATE, SHOULD REST UPON THE SOUNONESS
AND STRENGTH OF THEIR OWN a>URSES, AND NOT UPON PRAC—
TICE TO CIRCUMVENT OTHERs; ACCORDING To THE SENTENCE
OF SALOMON, vIR PRUDENS ADVERTIT £2 GRESSUS SUOS,
STULTUS AUTEM'EIVERTIT AEDDOLos; INSOMUCH THAT THE
BISHOP OF Ross, A SUBTLE AND OBSERVING MAN, SAID
OF HIM THAT HE COULD FASTEN NO WORDS UPON HIM, AND
THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE To COME WITHIN HIM, BECAUSE
HE OFFERED No PLAY; AND QUEEN-MOTHER OF FRANCE, A
VERY POLITIG PRINCESS, SAID OF HIM THAT HE SHOULD
HAVE BEEN OF THE COUNCIL G" SPAIN, BECAUSE HE
DESPISED THE OCCURRENCES, AND RESTED UPON THE FIRST

PLOT. SO THAT IF HE WERE CRAFTY IT IS HARD TO SAY
WHO IS WISE." IBID., PP. 202-5.

 

57. IBID., P. 205.

I85

PARSONS HAD ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE METHOD OF EXECUTING OF-
FENDING CATHOLICS WAS EXTREMELY BRUTAL (WHICH INDEED IT WAS),
TO WHICH BACON REPLIES THAT THE "CUSTOM OF THE LAND FROM ALL
ANTIQUITY" HAS PRESCRIBED BOWELLING AND THE CONSUMING OF
ENTRAILS WITH FIRE TO BE THE INSTRUMENT OF DEATH IN TREA-
SONABLE CASES. IN ANY CASE, HE SAYS, THIS METHOD IS FAR
MORE HUMANE THAN THE WHEEL, FORCIPATION, OR EVEN "SIMPLE
BURNING." WE MAY REJOICE THAT THE LOGIC OF BACONIS ARGU~
MENT ON THIS GRUESOME ISSUE PARTIALLY ESCAPES US.

THE OBSERVATIONS ON 1 LIBEL CONTAINS MUCH MORE THAT
MIGHT INTEREST US, BUT I THINK THAT THIS SAMPLING IS SUF-
FICIENT TO INDICATE HOW BACON CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN A SPECIES
OF DEBATE WHICH FREQUENTLY ATTRACTED MEN WHO WERE VERY
LITTLE INTERESTED IN THE FACTS OF A CASE. AFTER THE 35-

SPONSIO THE OBSERVATIONS MAKES RATHER SLOW READING, BUT

 

ONE LEAVES IT WITH THE CONVICTION THAT IF THESE DEBATES

MUST BE, THIS IS THE WAY THEY OUGHT TO BE CONDUCTED. BACON
WASTES LITTLE TIME ON THE LIBELLER HIMSELF; RATHER, HE FILLS
ENGLANDIS RIVERS WITH SHIPS, HER OOFFERS WITH GOLD, AND HER
FIELDS WITH CORN. HE COUNTS HER BUILDINGS AND TELLS US HOW
SPLENDID THEY ARE, GLORIFIES IN HER LANDSCAPE, BOASTS OF

HER LUXURIES, HER FAIRS, MARKETS, MANUFACTURE, AND HER
WEAPONS. HE COUNTS THE YEARS OF HIS QUEEN'S REIGN AND
HELPFULLY GIVES US THE MATHEMATICAL-HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

»OF HER LONGEVITY. IF HE ACCUSES THE CATHOLICS (THE

I86

TRAITOROUS SORT) OF PLOTTING THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH, HE
TELLS US WHO THESE CONSPIRATORS ARE, AND IF HE DEFENDS
INDIVIDUALS, HE GIVES US THE NAMES OF NOTABLES WHO HAVE
PRAISED THEIR SAGACITY AND VIRTUE. IF WE DOUBT BACON'S
VERACITY, WE ARE OBLIGED To GO OUT TO DO SOME COUNTING,
SOME MULTIPLYING, AND SOME DIVIDING FOR CURSELVES. IN A
WORD, BACON IS CONCRETE, AND IT IS CONCRETENESS WHICH Is

SO FREQUENTLY LACKING IN RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES.

 

IN FELICEM MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE

 

IN FELICEM MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE, A WORK OF WHICH BACON

 

WAS PARTICULARLY FOND, IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE OBSERVA‘

TIONS AND IS ITS AUTHOR'S SINGLE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO

 

THE ERUPTION OF INTERNATIONAL DEBATES WHICH FOLLOWED THE GUN-
POWDER PLOT OF I605. THE SEVERE ANTI-CATHOLIC LAWS PASSED
BY PARLIAMENT IN I606, AS A RESULT OF THE PLOT, SHARPENED

MANY A CATHOLIC PEN, AND AMONG THE TRACTS TO APPEAR WAS ONE

 

 

ENTITLED EXAMEN CATHOLICUM EDICTI ANGLICANI, QUOD CONTRA

CATHOLICOS EST LATUM, AUCTORITATE PARLIAMENTI ANGLIAE. AC”

 

 

 

CORDING TO SPEDDING, THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS WORK CONTAINS
A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF DEFAMATORY REMARKS MADE AGAINST

THE QUEEN, WITH A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ADDITIONS BY THE

I87

LIBELLER HIMSELF.58 SPEDDING CJNJECTURES THAT IT WAS THIS
WORK, OR ONE VERY LIKE IT, WHICH LED BACON TO COMPCSE HIS
RETALIATORY TREATISE, WHOSE VINDICATION OF THE QUEEN AND
HER RELIGIOUS POLICIES FOLLOWS THE GENERAL LINES LAID DOWN

IN THE OBSERVATIONS, THOUGH CONSIDERABLY MORE EMPHASIS IS

 

PLACED UPON THE QUEEN'S PERSONAL CHARACTER IN THE LATER E8-
SAY.

THIS WAS A CHARACTER WHICH BACON HAD SEEN A GOOD DEAL
OF AND ONE WHICH HE HAD NEVER CEASED TO ADMIRE, WHATEVER
THE STATE OF HIS OWN FORTUNES WITH THE QUEEN HAD BEEN.

TO BACON SHE WAS THE GLORIOUS PRIMUM MOBILE OF HER PROTES'

 

TANT NATION IN TIMES OF INCOMPARABLE PERIL. SHE WAS, HE
SAYS, TUTORED IN ADVERSITY BY THE PERSONAL HAND OF DIVINE
PROVIDENCE, COMING TO THE THRONE AT THE PRIME AGE OF TWENTY“
FIVE AND REIGNING WITH HER FACULTIES WHOLE FOR FORTY’FOUR

MAGNIFICENT YEARS. PEACE OHARAOTERIZED HER REIGN, A FACT

ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE IF ONE REMEMBERS THAT IN ADDITION

TO HER FOREIGN ENEMIES SHE HAD TO CONTEND WITH THE NATURAL
INCLINATION OF THE ENGLISHMAN To BE "EVER EAGER FOR WAR AND

IMPATIENT OF PEACE."59

58. WORKS, XI, I07-8. SPEDDING DISCUSSES THE BACKGROUND
OF THIS ESSAY IN WORKS XI, I07 FF. BUT THE TEXT WILL
BE FOUND IN VOL. VI, 28I-5I8. BACON WROTE HIS ANSWER
IN LATIN; THE TRANSLATION IS SPEDDING'S.

59. WORKS, VI, 508. CONTRARY TO WHAT IT MIGHT SEEM, THIS
IS PRAISE OF THE HIGHEST SORT FOR THE ENGLISHMAN. I
SHALL DISCUSS BELOW BACONIS IDEAS ON WAR AND PEACE,
BUT IT IS NECESSARY To SAY AT THIS POINT THAT BACON

I88

HE WILL GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THIS INNATE BELLIGERENCE
WAS ABETTED BY INTERNAL STRIFE OF A RELIGIOUS NATURE: "FOR
IN A KINGDOM LABOURING WITH INTESTINE FACTION ON ACCOUNT
OF RELIGION, AND STANDING AS A SHIELD AND STRONGHOLD OF
DEFENSE AGAINST THE THEN FORMIDABLE AND OVERBEARING AMBI-
TION OF SPAIN, MATTER FOR WAR WAS NOWISE WANTING. . . ."LIO
APPARENTLY BACON FELT THE TIMES WERE SUFFICIENTLY REMOVED
FROM ELIZABETHIS REIGN TO ALLOW THIS ADMISSION OF RELIGIOUS
DISCORD, FOR WHAT IS NOW "INTESTINE FACTION" WAS IN THE

CBSERVATIONS A FEW DYSPEPTIC SQUABBLES ABOUT INDIFFERENTS.

 

BEFORE DISCUSSING THE DETAILS OF ELIZABETH'S ECCLESIAs-
TICAL POLITY, BACON MAKES THIS IMPORTANT COMMENT ON THE
QUEEN'S PERSONAL FAITH:

(IN RELIGION ELIZABETH WAS PIOUS AND MODERATE,
CONSTANT, AND ADVERSE To INNOVATION. OF HER
PIETY, THOUGH THE PROOFS APPEAR MOST CLEARLY
IN HER ACTIONS, YET NO SLIGHT TRAOES WERE To
BE FOUND LIKEWISE IN HER GIDINARY WAY OF LIFE
AND CONVERSATION. PRAYERS AND DIVINE SERVICE,
EITHER IN HER CHAPEL OR CLOSET, SHE SELDOM
FAILED TO ATTEND. OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE
WRITINGS OF THE FATHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF
ST. AUGUSTINE, SHE WAS A GREAT READER. SOME
PRAYERS UPON PARTICULAR OCCASIONS SHE HERSELF
COMPOSED. IF SHE CHANGED EVEN IN COMMON TALK
To SPEAK OF GOD, SHE ALMOST ALWAYS GAVE HIM
THE TITLE OF MAKER, AND COMPOSED HER EYES AND
COUNTENANCE To AN EXPRESSION OF HUMILITY AND
REVERENCE' A THING WHICH I HAVE MYSELF OFTEN
OBSERVED.

GREATLY ADMIRED THE MILITARY PROWESS OF HIS COUNTRY“
MEN. A MILITARY POTENTIAL HELD IN CHECK BY A WISE
SOVEREIGN WAS HIS IDEA OF THE PROPER MARTIAL POSTURE
OF A NATION.

LO. IBID., p. 509. MI. IBID., P. 5I2.

I89

MODERATE, CONSTANT, ADVERSE TO INNOVATION~~THESE ARE THE

 

 

 

CARDINAL VIRTUES IN BACON'S CONCEPT OF CHURCH AND STATE.
WE MIGHT ASK IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE MODERATE AND ADVERSE
TO INNOVATION AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I THINK BACON SAW NO
FUNDAMENTAL CONTRADICTION IN TERMS, JUST AS HE SAW NO CON-
TRADICTION IN COUNTENANCES WHEN THE PROUD QUEEN CHANCED IN
COMMON TALK OF GOD TO COMPOSE HERSELF IN AN EXPRESSION OF
HUMILITY AND REVERENCE, "ALMOST ALWAYS."

IF WE COMPARE BACON'S ANALYSIS OF ELIZABETHIS TREAT-

MENT OF THE CATHOLICS IN THE OBSERVATIONS (PP. I78-79 ABOVE)

 

WITH THAT OF IN FELICEM MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE, WE WILL NOTICE
IDENTICAL FRAMEWORKS, BUT IN THE LATTER PIECE THE ENGLISHMAN
HAS BEEN GIVEN A NEW VOLATILITY:

WITH REGARD TO HER MODERATION IN RELIGION
THERE MAY SEEM To BE A DIFFICULTY, ON ACCOUNT
OF THE SEVERITY OF THE LAWS MADE AGAINST POPISH
SUBJECTS. BUT ON THIS POINT I HAVE SOME THINGS
TO ADVANCE WHICH I MYSELF CAREFULLY OBSERVED
AND KNOW TO BE TRUE.

HER INTENTION UNDOUBTEDLY WAS, ON THE ONE
HAND NOT TO FORCE CONSCIENCES, BUT ON THE OTHER
NOT TO LET THE STATE, UNDER PRETENCE OF CONSCIENCE
AND RELIGION, TO BE BNJUGHT IN DANGER. UPON THIS
GROUND SHE CONCLUDED AT THE FIRST THAT, IN A PED-
PLE COURAGEOUS AND WARLIKE AND PROMPT TO PASS
FROM STRIFE OF MINDS TO STRIFE OF HANDS, THE FREE
ALLOWANCE AND TOLERATION BY PUBLIC AUTHORITY OF
TWO RELIGIONS WOULD BE CERTAIN DESTRUCTION. SOME
OF THE MORE TURBULENT AN) FACTIOUS BISHOPS ALSO
SHE DID, IN THE NEWNESS OF HER REIGN WHEN ALL
THINGS WERE SUBJECT To SUSPICION,--BUT NOT WITHOUT
LEGAL WARRANT--RESTRAIN AND KEEP IN FREE CUSTODY.

THE REST, BOTH CLERGY AND LAITY, FAR FROM TROUBL-
ING THEM WITH ANY SEVERE INQUISITION, SHE SHELT-

ERED BY A GRACICUS CONNIVENCY. THIS WAS THE CON‘
DITION OF AFFAIRS AT FIRST. NOT EVEN WHEN PROVOKED

I90

BY THE EXCOMMUNICATION PRONOUNCED AGAINST HER
BY PIUS QUINTUS (AN ACT SUFFICIENT NOT ONLY
TO HAVE ROUSED INDIGNATION BUT TO HAVE FUR-
NISHED GROUND AND MATTER FOR A NEW COURSE OF
PROCEEDING), DID SHE DEPART ALMOST AT ALL FROM
THIS CLEMENCY, BUT PERSEVERED IN THE COURSE
WHICH WAS AGREEABLE TO HER OWN NATURE. FOR
BEING BOTH WISE AND OF HIGH SPIRIT, SHE WAS
LITTLE MOVED WITH THE SOUND OF SUCH TERRORs;
KNOWING SHE COULD DEPEND UPON THE LOYALTY AND
LOVE OF HER OWN PEOPLE, AND UPON THE SMALL
POWER OF THE POPISH PARTY WITHIN THE REALM
HAD TO DO HARM, AS LONG A THEY WERE NOT SEC—
ONDED BY A FOREIGN ENEMY.

AS HE DOES IN THE OBSERVATIONS, BAOON PROCEEDS FROM THIS

 

POINT TO A DISCUSSION OF THE BLOSSOMING OF SEMINARIES,

OF THE "PRIESTS. . . SENT OVER INTO ENGLAND FOR THE PUR-
POSE OF KINDLING AND SPREADING ZEAL FOR THE ROMISH RELI-
GION. . . ." HE SPEAKS OF "WICKD LIBELS," THE ATTEMPTED
INVASION OF IRELAND BY SPAIN, AND OF A SERIES OF OTHER
FERMENTS WHICH MADE NEW LAWS IMPERATIVE. YET, HE INSISTS,

IN SPITE OF NEW LITIGATION, ELIZABETH REMAINED TRUE TO HER

FORMER LIBERALITY:

AND YET WHAT HER OWN NATURAL DISPOSITION
WAS APPEARS PLAINLY IN THIS, THAT SHE SO BLUNTED
THE LAWIS EDGE THAT BUT A SMALL PROPORTION OF
THE PRIESTS WERE CAPITALLY PUNISHED. ALL WHICH
I SAY NOT BY WAY OF APOLOGY; FOR THESE PROCEED-
INGS NEED NO APOLOGY; SINCE THE SAFETY OF THE
KINGDOM TURNED UPON THEM, AND ALL THIS SEVER-
ITY BOTH IN MANNER AND MEASURE OF IT CAME FAR
SHORT OF THE BLOODY EXAMPLES SET BY THE PRIEST-
HOOD. . . . BUT I CONCEIVE THAT I HAVE MADE
GOOD MY ASSERTION, AND SHOWN THAT IN THE CNISE
OF RELIMCI SHE WAS INDEED MODERATE, AND THAT
WHAT VARIATION TH RE WAS WAS NOT IN HER NATURE
BUT IN THE TIMES.

AZ. IBID., P. 5I5. ha. IBID., PP. 5I5-I6.

I9I

IN THE OBSERVATIONS BACON SAID VERY LITTLE ABOUT ELIZA“

 

BETH'S REASON FOR ADOPTING THE EDWARDIAN DISCIPLINE (HE WAS

CONCERNED ONLY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE DISCIPLINE WAS NOT

SOMETHING CECIL HAD ENGENDERED), BUT HERE HE EXPLORES HER

MOTIVES DIRECTLY:

OF HER CONSTANCY IN RELIGION AND WORSHIP THE
BEST PROOF IS HER DEALING WITH POPERY: WHICH
THOUGH IN HER SISTER'S REIGN IT HAD BEEN ESTAB-
LISHED BY PUBLIC AUTHORITY AND FOSTERED WITH
GREAT CARE AND LABOUR, AND HAD TAKEN DEEP ROOT
IN THE LAND, AND WAS STRENGTHENED BY THE CONSENT
AND ZEAL OF ALL WHO WERE IN AUTHORITY AND POWER;
YET BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AGREEABLE EITHER TO THE
WORD OF GOD OR TO THE PRIMITIVE PURITY OR TO HER
OWN CONSCIENCE, SHE AT ONCE WITH GREATEST COUR‘
AGE AND FEWEST HELPS PROCEEDED TO UPROOT AND
ABOLISH. AND YET SHE DID IT NOT PRECIPITATELY
OR UPON EAGER IMPULSE, BUT PRUDENTLY AND ALL IN
DUE SEASON. . . .HH

BUT LEST HE HAS MADE THE QUEEN SEEM A BIT TOO TEMPERATE AND

CAUTIOUS,

MI-

As

BACON ADDS:

AND YET SHE DID NOT INTRODUCE THESE CHANGES
TIMIDLY EITHER, NOR BY STARTs; BUT PROCEEDING
IN DUE ORDER, GRAVELY AND MATURELY, AFTER CON-
FERENCE HAD BEEN FIRST HAD BETWEEN THE PARTIES,
AND A PARLIAMENT HELD, SHE THEN AT LAST, AND
YET ALL WITHIN A SINGLE YEAR, SO ORDERED AND
ESTABLISHED EVERYTHING RELATING TO THE CHURCH,
THAT TO THE LAST DAY OF HER LIFE SHE NEVER AL-
LOWED A SINGLE POINT TO BE DEPARTED FROM. NAY
AT ALMOST EVERY MEETING OF PARLIAMENT SHE GAVE
A PUBLIC WARNING AGAINST INNOVATION IN THE DIs-

CIPLINE AND RITES OF THE CflgRCH. AND SO MUCH
FOR THE POINT OF RELIGION.

SUGGESTED ABOVE, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR BACON TO

IBID., P. 5I6. A5. IBID., PP. 5I6-I7.

I92

FORMULATE A RATIONALE FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERATION WHICH COULD
MEET THE DEMANDS OF BOTH THE CATHOLICS AND THE ENGLISH PRO“
TESTANTS OF ELIZABETHIS ERA, AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT HAD CER'
TAINLY NOT EXTENDED THE HOPELESSLY NARROW BOUNDS OF THE
MIDDLE GROUND. BACON'S EXOULPATION OF THE QUEEN AND HER

RELIGIOUS POLICIES IN IN FELICEM MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE

 

 

EVOLVES, AS IT DID IN THE OBSERVATIONS, FROM THE ASSUMPTION

 

THAT THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF A NATION IS CONTINGENT
UPON ITS POLITICAL STABILITY. IN THE LATER ESSAY, WRITTEN
AT A TIME WHEN THE HORRORS OF INSURRECTION WERE FRESH UPON
EVERYONEIS MIND, BACON DISPLAYS AN INTERESTING WILLINGNESS
TO ACKNOWLEDGE INTERNAL PROBLEMS OF HIS NATION, BUT HE
DISCUSSES THEM TO DEMONSTRATE THE UNIOMPROMISING PATRIOT-
ISM OF HIS PROTESTANT COUNTRYMEN IN A TIME OF CRISIS, AND
To DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY OF AN ENGLISH SOVEREIGN (TUTORED
BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE) TO CALL UPON "THE PEOPLE" To DEFEND
CHURCH AND NATION FROM FOREIGN ENEMIES. ELIZABETH WAS ONE
LITTLE MOVED WITH THE SOUND OF CATHOLIC TERRORS, AND OF
COURSE ALL SANE CATHOLICS WERE TO INFER THAT JAMES WAS OF
THE SAME SOLID PROTESTANT SUBSTANCE, AND THAT HE TOO COULD
RELY UPON THE PATRIOTISM OF THE ENGLISHMAN. THUS lg FELICEM

MEMORIAM ELIZABETHAE IS BOTH A DEFENSE OF BACON'S BELOVED

 

QUEEN AND A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROPAGANDIST DIALOGUE OF THE
DAY. THE ENGLISHMAN STANDS READY‘-LET US SAY EVER READY“

TO MOUNT HIS HORSES AND MAN HIS SHIPS TO DESTROY THE ENEMIES

I95

OF HIS FAITH AND NATION; YET HE HAS ALSO DEMONSTRATED HIS
WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW THE POLICIES OF A WISE AND MODERATE
SOVEREIGN. WISDOM AND MODERATION ARE PRECIOUS COMMODITIES

IF ONE LOOKS AT THE EVOLUTION OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN
ENGLAND, SAYS BACON, AND ONE SHOULD PONDER THE LESSONS OF
HISTORY WITH GREAT CARE BEFORE MALIGNING THE CHARACTER OF

A SOVEREIGN DEMONSTRABLY DEVOTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF JUS“
TICE AND TOLERATION. IF THIS IS NOT A THOROUGHLY REASON-
ABLE POSITION, IT IS BECAUSE BACON DOES NOT HAVE A THOROUGHLY

REASONABLE TASK BEFORE HIM.

 

A LETTER WRITTEN OUT OF ENGLAND
TO A GENTLEMAN
REMAINING AT PADAU

 

 

 

TO COMPLETE THIS SECTION ON THE MORE OR LESS COSMo-
POLITAN ASPECTS OF BACONIS DEFENSE OF HIS CHURCH AND GOVERN—
MENT I THINK IT WILL BE ILLUMINATING TO PRESENT AN ABRIDGE-
MENT OF ONE OF BAOONIS WORKS WHICH SELDOM SEES THE LIGHT OF
DAY. I DO NOT MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT IT SHOULD, NECESSARILY,
BUT IT DOES CATCH ITS AUTHOR IN A MOOD--AND A STYLE--UNLIKE
ANYTHING WE SEE ELSEWHERE. THE LONG TITLE OF THE PIECE IS

A LETTER WRITTEN OUT OF ENGLAND TO AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN RE-

 

 

MAINING AT PADAU, CONTAINING A TRUE REPORT OF A STRANGE CON“

 

 

 

SPIRACY CONTRIVED BETWEEN EDWARD SQUIRE, LATELY EXECUTED FOR

 

 

 

THE SAME TREASON, AS CTOR, ABD RICHARD WALLPOOLE, A JESUIT,

 

 

I9lI

AS DEVISER AND SUBORNER, AGAINST THE PERSON OF THE_QUEENIS

 

 

 

MAJESTY 0599).“6 THE NEAREST I CAN COME TO A CLASSIFICA-
TION OF THE WORK IS TO SAY THAT IT IS AN EPISTOLARY DRAMA-
TIZATION OF A CRIMINAL LAw—SUIT. MOST OF THE FACTS WILL
SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, SO IT WILL BE SUFFICIENT AT THIS
POINT TO MENTION THAT THE LETTER RECOUNTS THE ATTEMPT OF
EDWARD SQUIRE, ACTING As AN AGENT OF THE JESUITS IN SPAIN,
TO POISON THE QUEEN, IN I597. THE ATTEMPT FAILED, AND IT
APPEARS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ACQUAINTED WITH IT UN-
TIL MAY OF I598. BACONIS PAMPHLET WAS WRITTEN AFTER SQUIRE
HAD BEEN TRIED, CONVICTED, AND EXECUTED. ALTHOUGH THE
FACTS OF THE CASE HAVE A SINGULARLY FICTITIOUS RING AT
TIMES As THEY ARE PRESENTED BY BACON, SPEDDING MAINTAINS
THAT THEY ARE FULLY DOCUMENTED IN THE EXTANT TRANSCRIPTS OF
THE TRIAL. THE WORK SEEMS TO BE DESIGNED To INFORM THE
PEOPLE ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF THEc:ONSPIRACY TO RALLY
SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENTIS ACTIONS, A KIND OF LABOR WHICH
BACON FREQUENTLY FOUND HIMSELF INVOLVED IN. I HAVE INCLUDED

THE LETTER PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS ONE OF ITS AUTHOR'S

 

LENGTHIER DISCUSSIONS OF JESUIT TACTICS. ALTHOUGH BACON'S
ACCOUNT OF THE EPISODE IS LARGELY FACTUAL, I THINK IT WILL

BE OBVIOUS THAT A FEW COMMENTS ARE PREDOMINATELY SUBJECTIVE.

DO. THE WORK WAS PUBLISHED BY THE QUEEN'S PRESS IN I599,
ANONYMOUSLY. BUT AS SPEDDING SAYs--AND As ANYONE CAN
READILY SEE AFTER READING THE OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL--
IT IS UNQUESTIONABLY BACON'S. SEE WORKS, Ix, IIU-I9
FOR SPEDDING'S DISCUSSION AND FOR THE COMPLETE TEXT.

 

I95

OF PARLJCULAR INTEREST IS A KIND OF OBLIQUE CHARACTERIZA-
TION OF THE JESUIT AT WORK, BRAINWASHING HIS HAPLESS VICTIM,
DRAWING HIM BODY AND SOUL INTO THE INEXORABLE WEB OF JESUIT
TREACHERY. SQUIRE HIMSELF PROVIDED MANY OF THE DETAILS ON
THE JESUIT'S METHODOLOGY, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT BACON PUTS

A PECULIAR PROTESTANT EDGE ON SEVERAL OF THEM. (THE TEXT

IS REDUCED ABOUT ONE-HALF.)

SIR,

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR RELATION OF FERRARA; AND
To MAKE YOU PAYMENT IN THE LIKE COMMODITIES, I RE-
TURN TO YOU A TRUE REPORT OF A FRESH ACCIDENT OF
STATE HAPPENED HERE WITH us; MEMORABLE FOR THE
STRANGENESS OF THE MATTER; AND THE GREAT SIGNIFI-
CANCE IT CARRIETH WITH IT 0F GOD'S EXTRAORDINARY
AND MOST VISIBLE PROVIDENCE; BUT OTHERWISE TO BE
DAMNED TO PERPETUAL OBLIVION, AS WELL FOR THE DE-
TESTABLE NATURE OF THE FACT, AS YET MORE (IF MORE
WERE POSSIBLE) FOR THE IMPIETY OF THE PERSUASION;
SUCH AS I ASSURE YOU A MAN OUGHT TO MAKE SCRUPLE
TO INFLAME THE TIMES OR INFECT MEN'S COGITATIONS
WITH THE REPETITION OF IT, WERE IT NOT THAT THESE
WORKS OF DARKNESS ARE FRAMED AND FORGED IN SUCH
A DEEP VAULT OF HYPOCRISY AS THERE IS MORE DANGER
THAT THEY SHOULD BE UNREVEALED OR UNBELIEVED,
THAN THAT BEING BROUGHT TO CLEAR LIGHT THEY SHOULD
PROVOKE AN IMITATION IN ANY OF THAT WHICH IS SO
ODIOUS AND FOUL. . . .

/K RICHARD SQUIRE, EMPLOYED FOR Two YEARS
WABOUT THE QUEEN'S STABLE," GREW DISSATIs-
FIED WITH HIS POSITION AND WENT TO SEA WITH
FRANCIS DRAKE TO THE INDIES. HE WAS SEPAR-
ATED FROM THE FLEET AT GUADALOUPE AND TAKEN
CAPTIVE BY THE SPANISH. ;§E WAS THEN TAKEN TO

SPAIN AN) SET AT LIBERTY.

NOT LONG AFTER HIS ENLARGEMENT HE BECAME KNOWN
TO RICHARD WALPOOLE, AN ENGLISH FUGITIVE, AND BY OR-
DER A JESUIT, A MAN OF PRINCIPAL CREDIT THERE, AND
A KIND OF VICAR-GENERAL TO PARSONS IN HIS ABSENCE.
THIS WALPOOLE, CARRYING A WAKING AND WAITING EYE

UPON THOSE OF OUR NATION, TO DISCOVER AND SINGLE

kt},

I96

OUT FIT INSTRUMENTS FOR THE GREATEST TREASONS, OB-
SERVED THIS SQUIRE; FOUND HIM A MAN OF MORE THAN
ORDINARY SENSE AND CAPACITY FOR HIS QUALITY AND
EDUCATION; FOUND HIM A MAN THAT HAD PASSED HIS MID-
DLE AGE, WELL ADVISED AND YET RESOLVED ENOUGH, AND
NOT APPREHENSIVE AT ALL OF DANGER (FOR I DO AFFIRM
THIS UNTO YOU, THAT NEVER MAN ANSWERED UPON HIS
TRIAL FOR LIFE AND DEATH WITH LESS PERTURBATION,
NAY SCARCELY WITH ANY ALTERATION, AS IF HE UNDER-
STOOD NOT HIS PERIL AND CALAMITY, AND YET AS
SENSIBLE FOR SPEECH AS INSENSIBLE FOR PASSION) . . .

ANALPOOLE REALIZES THE SPECIAL ADVANTAGE OF
SQUIREIS HAVING BEEN IN Tm: SERVICE OF THE
QUEEN AND REALIZES THAT SINCE HE HAS BEEN A
PRISONER HIS RETURN To ENGLAND WILL NOT BE
SUSPECT;

YET NEVERTHELESS, THE BETTER To PREPARE HIM
AND WORK HIM To HIS PURPOSE; AND THE BETTER TO
GIVE COLOUR (WHEN SQUIRE SHOULD RETURN TO ENGLAND)
THAT HE WAs A MAN THAT HAD SUFFERED IN SPAIN FOR
HIS CONSCIENCE; SUBTILLY HE COMPASSED THAT, UPON
A QUARREL PICKED, SQUIRE WAS PUT INTO THE INQUISI-
TION. BY THIS MEANS WHEN HE HAD GOT HIS HEART INTO
HIS HANDS, MOLLIFIED BY DISTRESS, AND BECOME SECURE
OF HIM THAT HE WAS A FIXED AND RESOLVED PAPIST,
AFTER PROBATION AND PREPARATION SUFFICIENT, HE BE-
GAN TO OPEN HIMSELF UNTO HIM; AND FIRST FOR INTRo-
DUCTION FELL INTO THIS ORDINARY BURDEN OR SONG OF
THAT KIND OF PEOPLE TCUCHING THE TYRANNIES AND
PERSECUTIONS EXERCISED HERE IN ENGLAND AGAINST
CATHOLlcs; THOUGH, SIR, YOU KNOW VERY WELL THE
DISTINCTION AND MODERATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS HERE
IN ECCLESIASTICAL CAUSES, WITH WHAT LENITY AND
GENTLENESS IT HATH BEEN CARRIED, EXCEPT WHERE IT
WAS MIXED WITH MATTER OF STATE; FOR ELSE I WOULD
GLADLY LEARN WHAT SHOULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN
THE TEMPER OF THE LAWS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
QUEEN AND IN 23 OR 27, BUT THAT AT THE ONE TIME
THEY WERE PAPISTS IN CONSCIENCE AND AT THE OTHER
THEY WERE GROWN PAPISTS IN FACTION; OR WHAT
SHOULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AT THIS DAY IN LAW
BETWEEN A QUEEN MARY PRIEST AND A SEMINARY PRIEST;
SAVE THAT ONE IS A PRIEST OF SUPERSTITION AND THE
OTHER Is A PRIEST OF SEDITION. BUT TO THE PURPOSE:<
AFTER THE JESUIT HAD DISCOURSED HIS PLEASURE OF
THE MISERIES OF CATHOLICS HERE IN ENGLAND, AND OF
THE SLANDERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND UPON HOW FEW

”I

-4

I97

PERSONS' LIVES THE STATE HERE DID STAND; AND THAT
SQUIRE ON THE OTHER SIDE (WHO WANTED NO WIT TO
PERCEIVE WHICH WAY HE WAS LED) HAD FIRST MADE
SOME SIGNIFICATION, AND AFTER SOME MORE SERIOUS
AND VEHEMENT PROTESTATION OF HIS MIND AND DEvo-
TION TO DO SERVICE TO THE CAUSE; WHEN THE WICKED
FRIAR SAW HE WAS GOTTEN INTO THE TRUE CIRCLE, HE
BEGAN TO CHARM; AND YET NOT HAVING THE POWER To
FALL UPON THE HIGHEST POINT FIRST [THAT IS, TO
KILL THE QUEEN , WITHOUT A BRIDGE, ll WERE £2
DOUBT (SAITH FE) AN ACT VERY MERITORIOUS TO KILL
THE EARL OF ESSExT_BUT UNUM NECESSARIUM, ONE
THTNG ii NECESSARY. E——

 

 

 

 

 

/SQUIRE IS SUBSEQUENTLY ENCOURAGED TO ASSAs-
SINATE THE QUEEN AND IS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS
RELATIVE To THE ACT. THE PLAN IS TO EMPOISON
THE POMMEL OF HER MAJESTY'S SADDLE. FROM THE
POMMEL, IT IS HOPED, SHE WILL CONVEY THE POISON
To HER MOUTH;

AND IT PLEASED GOD FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF HIS
GLORY THAT THE SUNDAY SE'NIGHT NEXT AFTER SQUIRE'S
COMING OUT OF SPAIN, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE HORSES
WERE MADE READY FOR HER MAJESTY'S RIDING ABROAD.
WHEREUPON, FULL OF THOSE EVIL SPIRITS WHEREWITH

SO MANY EXCRCISMS HAD POSSESSED HIM, HE CAME INTO
THE STABLE-YARD WHERE HER MAJESTY'S HORSE STOOD
READY SADDLED, AND IN A FAMILIAR AND CHEERFUL
MANNER, IN THE HEARING OF DIVERS THAT STOOD THERE-
BY, HAVING ALL THINGS READY ACCORDING To HIS IN-
STRUCTIONS, HE LAID HIS HAND UPON THE POMMEL OF
THE SADDLE, AND SAID, 'GOD SAVE THE QUEEN'
(WHEREIN IT PLEASED GOD TO TAKE HIS WORDS AND

NOT HIS MEANING) AND BRUISED AS HE WAS DIRECTED
/THAT IS, PERFORATED THE BLADDER OF POISON7.

T' THUS WAS HER MAJESTY'S SACRED AND PRECIOUS
LIFE BY THE 'ALL-HAIL' OF A SECOND JUDAS BETRAYED,
THE ATTEMPT PUT IN ACT, AND ALL THE CONSPIRATOR'S
PART PLAYED TO THE UTTERMOST LINE AND TITLE; THERE
RESTED ONLY GOD'S PART; FOR SO IT WAS THAT HER
MAJESTY'S GOING ABROAD HELD; AND AS THE VIPER WAS
UPON ST. PAUL'S HAND AND SHAKED OFF WITHOUT HURT,
SO THIS DONE WAS IN JULY IN THE HEAT OF THE YEAR,
WHEN THE PORES AND VEINS WERE OPENEST TO RECEIVE
ANY MALIGN VAPOUR OR TINCTURE, IF HER MAJESTY BY
ANY ACCIDENT HAD LAID HER HAND UPON THE PLACE.

AND AS THE HEATHENISH PEOPLE AT THAT TIME DID
ARGUE AND CONCLUDE THEREUPON THAT ST. PAUL WAS A

I98

GOD, SO WE MAY CHRISTIANLY INFER THAT IT WAS GOD'S
DOING AND POWER, WHO HATH DEFENDED HIS HANDMAID
AND SERVANT BY HIS SECRET AND MORE THAN NATURAL
INFLUENCE AND PRESERVATIVE FROM SO ACTUAL AND
MORTAL A DANGER, SPEAKING BY THESE SIGNS TO ALL
MEN DISLOYAL SUBJECTS AND AMBITIOUS ENEMIES, THAT
AS HE HATH DONE GREAT THINGS BY HER PAST ORDINARY
DISCOURSE OF REASON, SO HE HATH DONE AND WILL DO
AS GREAT THINGS FOR HER BEYOND THE COURSE OF HIS
ORDINARY PROVIDENCE.

FOR SURELY IF MAN CONSIDER How MANY TIMES HER
LIFE HATH BEEN SOUGHT AND ASSAILED SINCE THE BEGIN-
NING OF HER REIGN, BY VIOLENCE, BY POISONING, BY
SUPERSTITIOUS VOTARIES, BY AMBITIOUS UNDERTAKERS,
BY SINGULAR CONSPIRATORS, BY CONSPIRATORS COMBINED
(SPEAKING OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REVEALED; BESIDES
A NUMBER--NO DOUBT--OF THE LIKE WHICH HAVE GROVELLED
IN DARKNESS AND NEVER CAME TO LIGHT), WHO WILL NOT
FIND THE LIKE REFLECTION OF GOD'S FAVOUR IN ANY
SOVEREIGN PRINCE THAT HATH REIGNED?

BUT IN THE MEANTIME YOU SEE THE STRANGE MYSTER-
IES OF THE JESUITS' DOCTRINE, THAT HAVE MINGLED
HEAVEN AND HELL, AND LIFT UP THE HANDS OF SUBJECTS
AGAINST THE ANOINTED OF GOD; ARMING THEM WITH THE
INVISIBLE ARMOUR OF SCRIPTURES, SACRAMENTS, VOWS,
PRAYERS, AND BLESSINGS, AGAINST THEIR NATURAL
SOVEREIGNS. WHEREIN THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE SPIRIT THAT WROUGHT IN DAVID AND THIS
THAT WORKETH IN THEM. FOR DAVID WHEN RELATION WAS
MADE TO HIM (BY ONE THAT THOUGHT HE HAD DONE SAUL
THE LAST GOOD OFFICE) HOW SAUL HAD FALLEN UPON HIS
OWN SWORD IN BATTLE, AND BEING IN THE ANGUISH OF
DEATH CAREFUL NOT TO FALL ALIVE INTO THE HANDS
OF THE PHILISTINES, A PEOPLE UNCIRCUMCISED, DE-
SIRED THIS SOLDIER TO MAKE AN END OF HIM, WHO DID
SO, AND WAS THEREFORE BY DAVID ADJUDGED To DIE BE-
CAUSE HE DARED TO LAY HIS HANDS UPON THE ANOINTED
OF THE LORD; AND YET WAS SAUL A KING FORSAKEN AND
ABANDONED OF GOD; HE HAD TAKEN THE MORTAL WOUND
BEFORE, SO AS THIS SOLDIER TOOK FROM HIM HIS PAIN
AND NOT HIS LIFE; AND IT WAS TO A GOOD END, LEST
A HEATHENISH PEOPLE SHOULD REPROACH THE NAME OF
GOD BY INSULTING UPON THE PERSON OF SAUL.

AND SURELY FOR MY PART I DO WONDER THAT PRINCES
DO NOT CONCUR IN LOOSING THESE BANDS AND SUPPRESSING
THIS SECT, WHICH MAKETH A TRAFFIC OF THEIR SACRED
LIVES, CONCLUDING AND CONTRACTING FOR THEM WITH

I99
THESE BLINDED VOTARIES In THE SECRECY OF CONFEs-
SIONS AN) SHRIFTS. . . . 7
(THE PAMPHLET CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF
HOW GOD, EVEN THOUGH THE PLOT FAILED (THAT
IS, THE QUEEN WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE POISON),
REVEALED THE MATTER, HOW CORRESPONDENCE BE-
TWEEN THE CONSPIRATORS WAS INTEROEPTED, HOW
SQUIRE WAS CAPTURED, CONVICTED, AND EXECUTED.
SO IT IS THAT CONSPIRACIES AGAINST THE HANDMAID OF
GOD ARE CONCLUDED. CONSCIENCE HAS EXCEEDED ITS BOUNDS,
HAS BECOME TREASONABLE FACTION, AND HAS REACHED ITS FINAL
RESTING PLACE AT THE FEET OF THE PUBLIC HANGMAN. IN THE
PROTESTANT TALLY A TRAITOR IS DEAD, AND IN THE CATHOLIC
A MARTYR IS BORN. THIS IS A HARD LESSON, PARTICULARLY
FOR SQUIRE AND HIS KIND, BUT IT IS ONE WHICH BACON COUN-
SELLED ALL ENGLISHMEN TO LEARN WELL IF THEY WISHED TO
WORSHIP IN ALBION. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE IS A PRIVILEGE
TO BE GUARDED WITH CAREFUL OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL LAw; IT IS
NEVER A RIGHT TO BE EXPLOITED AS AN AGENT OF RELIGIOUS
REVOLUTION. ENGLAND DOES NOT--NOR CAN IT--PRETEND TO BE
THE HAVEN AND HARBOR FOR ALL THE SECTS OF CHRISTENDOM.

SUCH LIBERALITY WOULD BE A ROMANTIC LUXURY WHICH NO SANE

GOVERNMENT COULD AFFORD To EXTEND TO ITS SUBJECTS. IT HAS
BEEN THE WISDOM OF ELIZABETH AND HER COUNSELLORS TO PURSUE

POLICIES WHICH HAVE ALLOWED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TOLERA“
TICN POSSIBLE IN AN AGE WHEN MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE YET TO

LEARN THAT IT IS NOT GOD'S WILL TO HAVE ALL NATIONS UNDER

LL70 IBIDC, PP. IIO-I7o

200

THE BANNER OF THE POPE. "BY THE AID OF TIME," BACON
HOPEFULLY PREDICTS, THE ENGLISHMAN WILL LEARN TO MAKE
THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN CONSCIENCE AND OBEDIENCE,
BUT IN THE INTERIM, IN THAT INDETERMINABLE INTERVAL WHEN
REASON SLOWLY LEARNS TO TEMPER FANATICISM, TEMPORAL LAW
MUST CIRCUMSORIBE THE PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT. IF THAT
IS TOO MUCH TO ASK OF THE SPIRIT, THEN THE SPIRIT MUST
LEARN TO ASK FOR LEss--OR LOSE ITS RIGHT TO ASK FOR ANY-
THING IN THIS WORLD. ALTHOUGH THIS IS BY NO MEANS A
THOROUGHLY CHARITABLE POSITION, WE SHALL OBSERVE IN THE
NEXT CHAPTER THAT AS BAOON ASSUMES MORE AND MORE RESPON-
SIBILITY FOR THE CONDUCT OF HIS COUNTRYMEN, HE BECOMES
INCREASINGLY LESS GRACICUS ABOUT RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY,

PARTICULARLY AS IT REGARDS CATHOLICISM.

CHAPTER VI

JAMES AND THE CATHOLICS

BACONIS OBSERVATIONS ON CATHOLICISM DURING THE REIGN
OF KING JAMES ARE THE NATURAL EXTENSIONS OF OPINIONS WE
ENCOUNTERED EARLIER; THEY ARE, HOWEVER, INFORMED WITH
MANY NEW MOODS WHICH REFLECT INCREASING TENSIONS BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CATHOLICS, AND THEY REFLECT, I
MIGHT ADD, A NEW VIGOR IN BACONIS EVALUATION OF THE LONG
ARM OF ROME. WITH A FEW EARLY EXCEPTIONS, WE SHALL EN-
COUNTER IN THIS CHAPTER HIS PURELY LEGALISTIC COMMENTS ON
CATHOLICISM, MOST OF WHICH DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE GOVERN-
MENT’S ATTITUDE TOWARD RECUSANCY AND WITH VARIOUS FACETS
OF JESUIT STRATEGY. IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY BACON
WAS FREQUENTLY CALLED UPON TO REVIEW AND PUBLICIZE RECU~
SANCY LAWS TO STIMULATE MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE
CATHOLICS. HIS FORTE AS A LAWYER WAS THE CAPACITY TO
KEEP ALL MINDS FOCUSED ON THE ESSENTIALS OF A CASE, AND
WE SHALL SEE How VALUABLE THIS FACULTY, COUPLED WITH CON-
SUMMATE ORATORICAL SKILL, IS IN THE TANGLED ARENA OF RELI-
GIOUS LEGISLATION.

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND BACONIS OBSERVATIONS IT WILL

BE NECESSARY TO REVIEW BRIEFLY THE LEGISLATION WHICH WAS

20I

202

ENACTED AS A RESULT OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT AND To DISCUSS
CERTAIN OF THE MAJOR FEATURES OF THE JESUIT THEORY OF THE
STATE WITH WHICH BACON DEALS FROM TIME TO TIME IN THESE
TRACTS. THE PLOT ITSELF WAS, OF COURSE, THE CLIMAx TO A
SERIES OF EVENTS WHICH HAD FOLLOWED THE ACCESSION OF JAMES
I. THE KING HAD COME TO ENGLAND POSSESSED WITH THE TOLER-
ANT BUT UNWORKABLE NOTION THAT THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS COULD
BE TREATED MORE GENEROUSLY THAN THEY HAD BEEN UNDER ELIZA-
BETH WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL DANGER THAT THEIR FORCES MIGHT
MULTIPLY. A YEAR BEFORE ELIZABETH'S DEATH, HE HAD SAID IN
A LETTER TO ROBERT CECIL THAT HE HAD NEVER DESIRED TO SEE
MEN SHED THEIR BLOOD BECAUSE OF DIVERSITY IN RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS. HE HAD TOLD CECIL THAT HE WISHED TO SEE THE
CATHOLICS CONTAINED AND GRADUALLY DEPLETED BY MEANS OF A
PEACEFUL BANISHMENT OF RECALCITRANT PRIESTS AND JESUITS,
NOT BY A POLICY OF AGGRESSIVE EXTINCTION.I THIS WAS PRE-
CISELY THE ATTITUDE WHICH HE EXPRESSED AT HIS FIRST ENG-
LISH PARLIAMENT. IN SPITE OF THE wARNINGS OF ROBERT CECIL
THAT HE SHOULD CAUTIOUSLY AVOID ACTION WHICH MIGHT ALIENATE
THE ENGLISH PROTESTANTS, JAMES, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS
REIGN, REMITTED CERTAIN OF THE BURDENSOME RECUSANCY FINES

I. SAMUEL R. GARDINER, HISTORY OF ENGLAND, I605-I6 (NEW

YORK, LONGMANS GREEN & CO. TU'VOLS.), VOL. I, 2.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED I865—BD; MY REFERENCES ARE TO THE
EDITION OF I900.

205

IN A VISIBLE EFFORT TO PACIFY THE CATHOLICS. THE IMMEDIATE
RESULT OF HIS GENEROSITY WAS THAT CATHOLICS WHO COULD NOT
PREVIOUSLY AFFORD OUTWARD NONCONFORMITY STOOD UP AND WERE
COUNTED. WHEN THE NEW AND FRIGHTENING TALLY REACHED THE
KING AND PARLIAMENT, THE OLD STATUTES AGAINST JESUITS,
SEMINARY PRIESTS, AND RECUSANTS WERE REVIVED, AND ON SOME

POINTS MORE SEVERE MEASURES WERE ENACTED.2

THE EFFECT WAS
THAT BY I60h THE CATHOLICS FOUND THEMSELVES PRETTY MUCH
WHERE ELIZABETH HAD LEFT THEM, BUT WITH A SOVEREIGN WHO
MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO LIVE MANY LONG PROTESTANT YEARS.
JAMESI VACILLATION AND THE OBVIOUS COMMITTMENT OF THE
GOVERNMENT TO A REPRESSION OF THEIR CAUSE WAS NOT ENOUGH
TO DRIVE THE BODY OF ENGLISH CATHOLICS To OPEN REVOLT, BUT
THE LEADERS OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT~~CATESBY, PERCY, WINTERS,
AND FAWKES AMONG THE NOTABLEs--WERE STIRRED TO MAKE THEIR
MOVE IN THE NAME OF THE POPE AND JESUS THE CHRIST. THEIR
STORY IS TOLD BY PROFESSOR GARDINER5 WITH CONSIDERABLE
TENDERNESS AND A DEGREE OF ADMIRATION~~THE ADMIRATION I
SUPPOSE WE MUST ALWAYS SHOW FOR MEN WHO WILLINGLY SACRIFICE
THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FOR THE INVISIBLE--BUT WHATEVER THEIR
INDIVIDUAL TENACITY AND GRUESOME HEROISM, THE PLOTTERS AP-

PLIED THE COUP DE GRACE TO THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS DURING

THE REIGN OF JAMES. EARLY IN I606 SEVERAL NEW ANTI-CATHOLIC

2o IBID., PP. I95'205. 5. IBID., PP. ZEAL-CAL.

20D

LAWS WERE PUT INTO EFFECT. FOR EXMIPLE, IT WAS NO LONGER
POSSIBLE FOR A RECUSANT TO ATTEND A PARISH CHURCH AS A

KIND OF NON-PARTICIPATING OBSERVER: HE WAS NOW REQUIRED TO
ACCEPT THE EUCHARIST FROM THE PROTESTANT MINISTER. CHURCH-
WARDENS AND PARISH CONSTABLES WERE LIABLE TO FINES OF TWENTY
SHILLINGS FOR FAILURE TO REPORT NONATTENDANCE (AND COULD
RECEIVE AN AWARD OF TWICE THAT AMOUNT FOR BEING INSTRUMENTAL
IN THE CONVICTION OF NONATTENDERS). WEALTHY RECUSANTS, WHO
HAD BEEN ABLE TO BEAR THE NONATTENDANCE FINES, NOW FOUND
THAT THEIR LANDS WERE SUBJECT TO SEIZURE BY THE CROWN. ALSO,
ANY PERSON KEEPING SERVANTS WHO DID NOT ATTEND CHURCH SER-
VICE WAS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF TEN POUNDS A MONTH (THE SUP-
POSITION BEING THAT SERVANTS WOULD BE DRIVEN TO CHURCHES

OR LOSE THEIR EMPLOYMENT). ADDITIONALLY, NO RECUSANT WAS

TO APPEAR AT COURT OR LIVE WITHIN TEN MILES OF LONDON UN-
LESS HE HAD LEGITIMATE EMPLOYMENT. A STATUTE OF ELIZABETHIS
REIGN (55 ELIZ. CAP. 2) WAS CONFIRMED, ENFORCING RECUSANTS
TO REMAIN WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THEIR HOMES. THEY WERE ALSO
FORBIDDEN TO HOLD ANY PUBLIC OFFICES IN THE STATE, FORBID-
DEN TO PRACTICE AT THE BAR, AND FORBIDDEN TO ACT AS PHYSI-
CIANS OR ATTORNEYS. IF THEY MARRIED OUT OF THE ANGLICAN
CHURCH OR HAD THEIR CHILDREN BAPTIZED IN ANY BUT ANGLICAN
RITES, THEY WERE SUBJECT TO HEAVY PENALTIES. ALL BOOKS RE-

LATING TO THEIR RELIGION WERE TO BE DESTROYED, AND THEY

205

WERE TO BE DEPRIVED OF ALL FIREARMS EXCEPT THOSE ESSENTIAL
TO SELF-PROTECTION.u

TO COMPLEMENT THESE MEASURES A NEW OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
WAS FRAMED, ITS MAJOR PURPOSE BEING TO DRAW A LINE BETWEEN
CATHOLICS WHO SUBSCRIBED To THE POPE'S ULTIMATE POWER TO
(DEPOSE RULERS AND THOSE WHO DID NOT. BECAUSE THIS OATH
IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT IN OUR SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION AND BE-
CAUSE ITS TONE IS FULLY AS IMPORTANT AS ITS CONTENT, I
QUOTE IT IN FULL:

I DOE TREWLY AND SINCERELY ACKNOWLEDGE, PROFESS,
TESTIFY AND DECLARE IN MY CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD
AND THE WORLD, THAT OUR SOUERAIGNE LORD KING
IAMES, IS LAWFULL KING OF THIS REALME, AND OF

ALL OTHER HIS MAIESTIES DOMINIONS AND COUNTREYES:
AND THAT THE POPE NEITHER HIMSELFE, NOR BY ANY
AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH OR SEA OF ROME, OR BY

ANY MEANS WITH ANY OTHER, HATH ANY POWER OR
AUTHORITIE TO DEPOSE THE KING, OR TO DISPOSE OF
ANY OF HIS MAIESTIES KINGDOMES OR DOMINIONS, OR
TO AUTHORIZE ANY FORREIGNE PRINCE TO INUADE OR
ANNOY HIM OR HIS COUNTREYS, OR TO DISCHARGE ANY
OF HIS SUBIECTS OF THEIR ALLEGIANCE AND OBEDIENCE
TO HIS MAIESTIE, OR TO GIUE LICENCE OR LEAUE To
ANY OF THEM TO BEARE ARMES, RAISE RUMULTS, OR TO
OFFER ANY VIOLENCE OR HURT TO HIS MAIESTIES
ROYALL PERSON, STATE OR GOUERNMENT, OR To ANY OF
HIS MAISTIES SUBIECTS WITHIN HIS MAIESTIES DOMIN-
IONS. ALSO I DOE SWEARE FROM HY HEART, THAT,
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY DECLARATION OR SENTENCE OF
EXCOMMUNICATION, OR DEPRIUATION MADE OR GRANTED,
OR To BE MADE OR GRANTED, BY THE POPE OR HIS SUC—
CESSORS, OR BY ANY AUTHORITIE DERTUED} OR PRE-
TENDED To BE DERIUED FROM HIM OR HIS SEA, AGAINST
THE SAID KING, HIS HEIRES OR SUCCESSORS, OR ANY
ABSOLUTION OF THE SAID SUBJECTS FROM THEIR OBED-
IENCE; I WILL BEARE FAITH AND TREw ALLEGIANCE TO

M. IBID., PP. 287-88.

206

HIS MAIESTIE, HIS HEIRES AND SUCCESSORS, AND HIM
AND THEM WILL DEFEND To THE VTTERMOST OF MY POWER,
AGAINST ALL CONSPIRACIES AND ATTEMPTS WHATSOEUER,
WHICH SHALBE MADE AGAINST HIS OR THEIR PERSONS,
THEIR CROWNE AND DIGNITIE, BY REASON OR COLOUR
OF ANY SUCH SENTENCE, OR DECLARATION, OR OTHER-
WISE, AND WILL DO MY BEST TO ENDEUOUR TO DISCLOSE
AND MAKE KNOWNE VNTO HIS MAIESTIE, HIS HEIRES AND
SUCCESSORS, ALL TREASONS AND TRAITEROUS CONSPIR-
ACIES, WHICH I SHALL KNOW OR HEARE OF, TO BE
AGAINST HIM OR ANY OF THEM. AND I DOE FURTHER
SWEARE, THAT I DOE FROM MY HEART ABHORRE, DETEST
AND ABIURE AS IMPIOUS AND HERETICALL, THIS DAMN-
ABLE DOCTRINE AND PosrrION, THAT PRINCES WHICH

BE EXCOMMUNICATED OR DEPRIUED BY THE POPE, MAY

BE DEPOSED OR MURTHERED BY THEIR SUBIECTS OR ANY
OTHER WHATSOEUER. AND I DOE BELEEUE, AND IN
CONSCIENCE AM RESOLUED, THAT NEITHER THE POPE

NOR ANY PERSON WHATSOEUER, HATH POWER To ABSOLUE
ME OF THIS OATH, a: ANY PART THEREOF; WHICH I
ACKNOWLEDGE BY GOOD AND FULL AUTHORITIE TO BE
LAWFULLY MINISTERED VNTO MEE, AND DOE RENOUNCE
ALL PARDONS AND DISPENSATIONS TO THE CONTRARIE.
AND ALL THESE THINGS I DOE PLAINLY AND SINCERELY
ACKNOWLEDGE AND SWEARE, ACCORDING TO THESE Ex-
PRESS WORDS BY ME SPOKEN, AND ACCORDING TO THE
PLAIN AND COMMON SENSE AND VNDERSTANDING OF

THE SAME WORDS, WITHOUT ANY EQUIUOCATION, OR
MENTAL EUASION, OR SECRET RESERUATION WHATso-
EUER. AND I DO MAKE THIS RECOGNITION AND Ac-
KNOWLEDGEMENT HEARTILY, WILLINGLY, AND TREWLY,
VPON THE TREW FAITH OF A CHRISTIAN. SO HELP

ME GOD.5

THE OATH COULD BE TENDERED TO ANYONE (EXCEPT NOBLES) EIGH-
TEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHO WAS “UNDER SENTENCE OR IN-
DICTMENT OF RECUSANCY, OR TO ANY STRANGER CONFESSING THE

SAME UNDER OATH. . . ." FOUR YEARS LATER A PROVISION WAS

ADDED WHEREBY ANYONE NOT OF THE NOBILITY AND OVER THE ORIGI"

NAL AGE-LIMIT COULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE OATH;7

5. QUOTED FROM POLITICAL WORKS 2: KING JAMES, PP. 75-h.

 

 

6. IBID., P. LI. 7. IBID., P. LII.

207

THERE IS MUCH IN THIS OATH WHICH IS VERY REASONABLE,
BUT AS MCILWAIN SAYS, THE PROVISION BEGINNING "AND I DOE
FURTHER SWEARE, THAT I DOE FROM MY HEART ABHORRE, DETEST
AND ABIURE AS IMPIOUS AND HERETICALL" WAS A HIGHLY UNCOM-
FORTABLE ONE FOR A CATHOLIC, WHO IN EFFECT COULD BE RE-
QUIRED TO STATE "WITHOUT ANY EQUIUOCATION" THAT THE POPE
WAS HIMSELF A HERETIC.8 PAUL v, WHO COULD HARDLY HAVE BEEN

EXPECTED TO REMAIN SILENT, RESPONDED WITH A BREVE CONDEMN“

ING THE OATH I TOTO AND ADMONISHING CATHOLICS NOT TO TN<E

 

IT, UNDER PENALTY OF JEOPARDIZING THEIR SALVATION: ". . .
SUCH AN OATH CANNOT BE TAKEN WITHOUT HURTING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH AND THE SALUATION OF YOUR SOULES. . . ."9 THE
CATHOLIC FAITH, CONTINUED THE POPE, HAD NEVER LACKED
MARTYRS, AND IF ONE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SAVING HIS LIFE
AND SAVING HIS SOUL, ONLY ONE diOICE WAS THINKABLE.

WHAT WE SEE IN THESE EDICTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
POPE IS THAT ALL AVENUES OF MEANINGFUL COMPROMISE BETWEEN
CIVIL AND SPIRITUAL OBEDIENCE ARE HOPELESSLY BLOCKED. JMMS
COULD NOT ADMIT THAT AN EXCOMMUNICATED SOVEREIGN COULD BE
MURDERED BY HIS SUBJECTS AS AN ACT OF FAITH; AND THE CATHo-

LICS COULD NOT CALL THE SUPREME PONTIFF AN OUT-AND”OUT

8. FOR MCILWAIN'S COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE SEE POLITICAL
WORKS OF KING JAMES, PP. LII FF.

9. IBID., P. 7h.

 

208

HERETIC. HOWEVER, REALIZING THAT THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS
COULD NEVER BE ENGLISHMEN ON ROME'S TERMS IF THESE TERMS
INVOLVED CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, THE ENGLISH ARCHPRIEST, GEORGE
BLACKWELL, AGREED TO TAKE THE OATH. HIS ACTION BROUGHT AN
EXHORTATION FROM THE MIGHTY CARDINAL BELLARMINE, WHO, IN A
LETTER WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE SECOND BREVE OF THE POPE,‘O
COUNSELLED THE ARCHPRIEST TO ENDURE "MOMENTARIE TRIBULA-
TION" RATHER THAN "LOSE AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY"--
WHETHER HE TOOK THE OATH OUT OF SUDDEN APPREHENSION, BITTER-
NESS OF PERSECUTION, OR IMBECILITY OF OLD AGE.H BELLARMINE
ALSO MAINTAINED THAT FROM THE CHURCH'S INFANCY To THE PRE-
SENT DAY, NO POPE HAD EVER SANCTIONED REGIOIDE.‘2

JAMES HIMSELF, NEVER ONE TO AVOID A HOT DEBATE ON
CIVIL LAW AND SALVATION, ANSWERED THE Two BREVES AND THE

CARDINAL'S LETTER IN HIS APOLOGIE FOR THE OATH 2: LLE-

 

GIANCE, PUBLISHED ANONYMOUSLY IN I607. JUDGED BY THE

 

STANDARDS OF THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES AND HIS OWN GAR-

RULITY, JAMEsI DEFENSE IS RATHER BRIEF. IT FOLLOWS THE

DEEPLY RUTTED TRAILS WHICH LEAD BACK To MARSIGLIO OF PADAU,

WILLIAM OF OCCHAM, AND THE GREAT SCHISM, WITH DETOURS FOR

JAMESI OWN EGO. THE KING MAINTAINs--WITH A GENEROUS USE

IO. THE SECOND BREVE IS PRIMARILY A CONFIRMATION OF THE
FIRST, WHICH SOME HAD THOUGHT SPURIOUS.

II. POLITICAL WORKS OF KING JAMES, P. 8h.

 

 

I2. IBID., P. 85.

209

OF FOOTNOTEs--THAT THE SCRIPTURES, THE FATHERS, THE GENERAL
RATIONAL STRUCTURE OF STATES, AND VARIOUS POPES THEMSELVES
HAVE DICTATED THAT SUBJECTS OWE UNQUALIFIED ALLEGIANCE TO
THEIR LEGAL SOVEREIGNS. BUT HE NOR ANY ENGLISH SOVEREIGN
SINCE HENRY VIII HAS EVER CLAIMED TO BE SUPREME IN SPIRIT-
UAL MATTERS, EXCEPT IN THE SENSE THAT NO ECCLESIASTICAL OF-
FICER HAS ULTIMATE JURISDICTION OVER THE SOVEREIGN OFFICE.
IN ANSWER TO THE CLAIM THAT NO POPE HAS EVER SANCTIONED
REGICIDE, JAMES GIVES SEVERAL PAGES OF EVIDENCE TO THE
CONTRARY, AMONG THEM THE MANY PLOTS BY CATHOLICS T0 DEPOSE
ELIZABETH AND HIMSELF. THESE CATHOLICS, HE AFFIRMS HAVE
CERTAINLY EXPRESSED NO FEARS THAT THEIR ACTS HAVE NOT HAD
THE WARMEST BLESSINGS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.

ON THE THEOLOGICAL PLANE THE DEBATE HAD JUST BEEN
OPENED‘5AS ANGLICANS AND CATHOLICS AGAIN WENT To WAR OVER

REGNUM AND SACERDOTIUM AND HENRY VIII WAS AGAIN RAISED FROM

 

 

HIS GRAVE TO STAND ACCUSED OF BEING THE FIRST OF THE ENG-
LISH POPES. BUT INSOFAR AS THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF THE OATH
WERE CONCERNED--AND THESE WERE THE ONES WHICH BACON BECAME

INVOLVED IN--THE LAST WORD HAD BEEN SAID. THE GOVERNMENT

I5. A YEAR AFTER JAMES! APOLOGY WAS PUBLISHED, IT WAS ANs-
WERED BY BELLARMINE, WRITING UNDER THE NAME OF HIS
CHAPLAIN, MATTHEW TORTUS. IN I609 JAMES REISSUED HIs
WORK UNDER HIS OWN NAME. AT THIS POINT THE DEFENSE
OF ENGLAND'S POSITION WAS GIVEN TO A RELUCTANT BIS—
HOP LANCELOT ANDREWES, WHO, IT MIGHT BE RECALLED,

READ SEVERAL OF BACONIS MANUSCRIPTS IN THE COURSE OF
THEIR PREPARATION.

2I0

HAD DECLARED THAT CONSCIENCE HAD BECOME A MATTER OF TREA-
SONABLE FACTION AND THAT IF THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS AND
THEIR SYMPATHIZERS WISHED TO SAVE THEIR SOULS IN THE NAME
OF THE POPE, THEY MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE THEIR LIVES IN THE‘
NAME OF THE KING.

FOR THE JESUITS WHO, DURING THE REIGN OF JAMES, SPEAR-
HEADED THE CHURCHIS EFFORTS TO REGAIN LANDS LOST TO PROTEs-
TANT INFIDELITY, THIS WAS A PRICE DEEMED NOT TOO GREAT TO
PAY. BECAUSE OF THE VIGOROUSLY DEDICATED WORK OF THE SOC—
IETY OF JESUS, THROUGHOUT THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE SEVEN-
TEENTH CENTURY JESUIT WAS TO THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT SYNONY-

MOUS WITH THE MOST EXTREME FORM OF CATHOLIC SUBVERSION.

THERE WAS GOOD CAUSE WHY THIS SHOULD BE, FOR THE JESUITS
HAD POSITED A THEORY OF THE STATE WHICH WAS DESIGNED

SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF POST-REFORMATION
NATIONALISM, A MOVEMENT EPITOMIZED BY ENGLAND. THE MULTI-
PLICATION 0F PROTESTANT STATES INSISTING UPON THEIR OWN
IDENTITY AND RIGHT TO CONDUCT THEIR SPIRITUAL AFFAIRS
WITHOUT THE COUNSEL OF ROME MADE THE CATHOLIC DREAM 0F
CHRISTIAN UNITY MORE AND MORE UNTENABLE; YET THE JESUITS
BELIEVED THAT THIS UNITY, HOWEVER VISIONARY IT MIGHT SEEM,
WAS NOT A PRINCIPLE WHICH COULD BE ABANDONED IF THE WORK
OF GOD WERE TO PROCEED. HENCE, IN AN ATTEMPT To MAKE THE
CLAIMS OF PAPAL SUPREMACY MORE WORKABLE IN SOVEREIGN PRO-

TESTANT STATES, THE JESUITS ADVANCED A THEORY OF THE STATE

2II

WHICH INSISTED ON THE SOLELY TEMPORAL AUTHORITY OF THE KING
AND EMPHASIZED THE so-CALLED "SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE."IH
AS POPULARLY UNDERSTOOD, THE THEORY EVOLVED FROM THE NOTION
THAT SINCE THE POPE ALONE RECEIVED THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT AS
SPIRITUAL LEGISLATOR DIRECTLY FROM GOD, A KING HAD ONLY A
TEMPORAL FRANCHISE TO HIS OFFICE--A FRANCHISE GIVEN HIM BY
HIS SUBJECTS. ALTHOUGH THE CIVIL STATE, DIRECTED BY THE
TEMPORAL MAGISTRATE, HAD A FUNDAMENTALLY MUNDANE FUNCTION,

IT WAS OBLIGED TO CONDUCT ITSELF IN A MANNER CONDUCIVE T0

 

THE REAL END OF ANY SOCIETY--THE CULTIVATION OF HABITS
FITTING MEN FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IF, THEREFORE, IT BE-
CAME OBVIOUS TO THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF CHRISTENDOM THAT A
KING WAS LEADING HIS SUBJECTS TO PERDITION, HE COULD CALL
UPON THESE SUBJECTS TO DEPOSE HIM. THE PEOPLE WERE "sov-
EREIGN," THAT IS, IN THE SENSE THAT WHAT THEY HAD GIVEN,
THEY COULD ALSO TAKE AWAY.‘5

THERE WAS NOT, OF COURSE, ONE JESUIT THEORY OF STATE,
BUT, PARED TO ITS MINIMUM ESSENTIALS, THIS WAS THE COMPLEX

OF INCENDIARY IDEAS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CONSISTENTLY

Th” SHIRLEY, RICHARD HOOKER AND CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL
IDEAS. SEE ESPECIALLY CHAPTER IV, "THE RIGHT To RE-
SIST: THE JESUIT ANSWER." FOR AN IMPORTANT Dlscus-
SION OF JESUIT STATECRAFT SEE SELECTIONS FROM THREE
WORKS OF FRANCISCO SUAREZ (LONDON, OXFORD UNIV.
PRESS,-T9hh, 2 VOLS.). VOL. II HAS A USEFUL INTRO~
DUCTION BY J. B. SCOTT, PP. IA- ADA. THE TRANSLA-
TIONS IN VOL. II ARE BY WILLIAMS, BROWN, WALDRON,
AND DAVIS.

 

I5. IBID.

f1

2I2

REFERRED TO WHEN IT DEFENDED ITS ANTI-CATHOLIC LEGISLATION
OR DIRECTED ITS ANATHEMA AT THE JESUITS. IT IS THE BUSINESS
OF A GOVERNMENT TO PONDER THE DARKEST IMPLICATIONS OF THE
POLITICAL THEORIES OF ITS ENEMIES, AND WE SHALL SEE THAT
BACON FOUND FEW FRAGMENTS OF LIGHT AS HE AMBLED ABOUT IN
THE CHAMBERS OF THE "DEEP VAULT OF HYPOCRISY."

BACONIS FIRST SIGNIFICANT EXTANT COMMENT ON THE GUN-
POWDER PLOT AND ATTENDANT ISSUES OCCURS IN A LETTER WRITTEN
TO TOBY MATTHEW IN I607. MATTHEW, SON OF TOBIAS MATTHEW,
WHO BECAME ARCHBISHOP OF YORK IN I606, HAD LEFT ENGLAND IN
I605 TO TRAVEL IN ITALY, WHERE HE BECAME A CONVERT TO THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. ALTHOUGH HE CORRESPONDED REGULARLY
WITH BACON DURING HIS PERIOD ABROAD, HE APPARENTLY KEPT
HIS CONVERSION A SECRET. AT ANY RATE, WHEN HE RETURNED To
ENGLAND IN THE SUMMER OF I607, HE WAS PLACED IN CUSTODY
AND ASKED BY THE KING To TAKE THE OATH. HE REFUSED, WAS
COMMITTED TO THE FLEET PRISON, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BANISHED
FROM THE ISLAND.‘6 MATTHEW WAS ONE OF BACON'S CLOSEST
FRIENDS, AND WHILE HE WAS IN THE FLEET, BACON WROTE HIM
THE FOLLOWING LETTER, A WORK COMPOUNDED OF DEEP PERSONAL
AFFECTION QUALIFIED BY THE NECESSITIES OF CIVIL OBEDIENCE:

MR. MATTHEW,
DO NOT THINK ME FCRGETFUL OR ALTERED To-
WARDS YOU. BUT IF I SHOULD SAY I COULD Do YOU

ANY GOOD, I SHOULD MAKE MY POWER MORE THAN IT
IS. I DO HEAR THAT. WHICH I AM RIGHT SORRY FOR;

I6. WORKS, XI, 8-9.

2|;

THAT YOU GROW MORE IMPATIENT AND BUSY THAN AT
FIRST; WHICH MAKETH ME EXOEEDINGLY FEAR THE
ISSUE OF THAT WHICH SEEMETH NOT TO STAND AT
A STAY. I MYSELF AM OUT OF DOUBT, THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN MISERABLY ABUSED, WHEN YOU WERE
FIRST SEDUCED; BUT THAT WHICH I TAKE IN COM-
PASSION, OTHERS MAY TAKE IN SEVERITY. I
PRAY GOD, THAT UNDERSTANDETH US ALL BETTER
THAN WE UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER, CONTAIN YOU
(EVEN AS I HOPE HE WILL) AT THE LEAST WITHIN
THE BOUNDS OF LOYALTY To HIS MAJESTY, AND
NATURAL PIETY TOWARDS YOUR COUNTRY. AND I
INTREAT YOU MUCH, SOMETIMES To MEDIATE UPON
THE EXTREME EFFECTS OF SUPERSTITION IN THIS
LAST POWDER TREASON; FIT TO BE TABLED AND
PICTURED IN THE CHAMBERS OF MEDITATION, AS
ANOTHER HELL ABOVE THE GROUND: AND WELL
JUSTIFYING THE CENSURE OF THE HEATHEN, THAT
SUPERSTITION IS FAR WORSE THAN ATHEISM; BY
HOW MUCH IT IS LESS EVIL TO HAVE NO OPINION
OF GOD AT ALL, THAN SUCH AS IS IMPIOUS To-
WARDS HIS DIVINE MAJESTY AND GOODNESS. GOOD
MR. MATTHEW, RECEIVE YOURSELF BACK FROM THESE
COURSES OF PERDITION.|

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO COMPOSE A MORE ACCURATE PRECIS
OF BACONIS VIEW OF CATHOLICISM. IT DOES NOT SEEM To HAVE
OCCURRED To HIM THAT MATTHEW MIGHT HAVE ARRIVED AT HIS
CONVICTION BY ANY RATIONAL PROCESS a2 BY ANY GENUINE

SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT. HE HAS BEEN SEDUCED, AND I

 

FIND THROUGHOUT BACONIS WORKS A DISTRUST FOR THE MACHIN-
ERY OF CATHOLIC PROSELYTIZING WHICH GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN
ANY POLITICAL CONSIDERATION MIGHT WARRANT. BUT IT IS IM-

PORTANT TO OBSERVE THAT TOBY IS NOT NOW (AS HE MOST SURELY

WOULD HAVE BEEN IN LADY BACONIS MIND) AN AGENT OF SATANIS

I7. IBID., P.I0.

ZIA

KINGDOM; NOR IS THERE, I THINK, ANY REAL SUGGESTION THAT
MATTHEWIS NEW SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT HAS NECESSARILY PLACED
HIS SOUL IN JEOPARDY. IT IS GIVEN TO GOD TO UNDERSTAND
THE TRUE CONDITION OF THE SOUL. NONETHELEss--AND THIS Is
THE RATIONALE FOR BACONIS ARGUMENT~~MATTHEW HAS AFFILIATED
HIMSELF WITH A CHURCH WHOSE MEMBERS COMMIT ACTS "FIT TO BE
TABLED" AMONG THE MOST UN-CHRISTIAN IMAGINABLE; AND BACON
INSISTS THAT HIS FRIEND--SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATIONS ASIDE--
CONSIDER THE VAST IMPLICATIONS OF HIS NEW ALLEGIANCE
AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF CATHOLIC CONSPIRACY. PATRIOTISM,
IN OTHER WORDS, IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE LIGHTLY CAST ASIDE
AS ONE PLUNGES AHEAD TO SALVATION.

APPARENTLY BACON ATTEMPTED TO INTERCEDE FOR MATTHEW
BUT MET WITH NO SUCCESS; CONSEQUENTLY IN I609 WE ENCOUNTER
ANOTHER LETTER TO MATTHEW, NOW IN EXILE, A LETTER WHICH
COMES AS CLOSE As ANYTHING TO TELLING US WHAT BACON FELT
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBATE OVER THE OATH. BACON HAD

SENT MATTHEW PART OF THE INSTAURATIO MAGNA FOR HIS PERUSAL

 

AND, AFTER SAYING THAT THE QUESTION BETWEEN HIM AND THE
ANCIENTS_WAS "NOT OF THE VIRTUE OF THE RACE, BUT OF THE
RIGHTNESS OF THE WAY" MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT ON CON-
'TEMPORARY RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES.

MYSELF AM LIKE THE MILLER OF HUNTINGTON,‘THAT
WAS WONT TO PRAY FOR PEACE AMONGST THE WILLows;

2I5

FOR WHILE THE WINDS BLEW, THE WIND-MILLS WROUGHT,
THAT THE WATER-MILL WAS LESS CUSTOMED. SO I SEE
THAT CONTROVERSIES OF RELIGION UST HINDER THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCES. . . .'
IT MAY BE RECALLED THAT IT WAS THIS DEPLETION OF ENERGY OG-
CASIONED BY RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES WHICH BACON RETURNED TO
FREQUENTLY IN HIS ANATOMY OF THE MALADIES OF LEARNING. IN
I620 HE WAS TO SAY--SPEAKING OF ONE OF THE IDOLS OF THE
THEATER--"THAT NOW FOR MANY AGES MEN'S MINDS HAVE BEEN
BUSIED WITH RELIGION AND THEOLOGY,"'9AND HE NO DOUBT RE-
MEMBERED CLEARLY THE SHIFTING WINDS OF THE CONTROVERSY OVER
THE OATH, WINDS WHICH BLEW FINE SAND INTO THE EYES OF MEN
WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN, WITH ALL OF THEIR FACULTIES ABOUT
THEM, CORRECTING DISTORTIONS IN THE ENCHANTED GLASS.2O

ALTHOUGH HE COULD BE SOMEWHAT CAVALIER ABOUT THE GUSTY
DIMENSIONS OF RELIGIOUS ALTERCATIONS, WHEN HE TURNED TO THE
CONCRETE PROBLEMS OF FACTION, BACON WAS CONSISTENTLY GRAVE
AND PEREMPTORY. IN I6II, AS SOLICITOR GENERAL, HE HAD THE
TASK OF DEFINING THE FUNCTION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE RE-

CENTLY COMMISSIONED COURT OF THE VERGE. THE VERGE-fiAN AREA

I8. WORKS, XI, I57-38.

I9. NOVUM ORGANUM, BOOK I, APHORISM LXIV.

 

2X). TOBY MATTHEW RETURNED To ENGLAND IN I6I7 AND WAS A
GUEST AT BACONIS RESIDENCE. THERE WERE RUMORS AT THE
TIME THAT BACON WAS SHOWING A GOOD DEAL TOO MUCH FA-
VOR TO A CONFIRMED RECUSANT. SEE WORKS, XIII, 2Ih FF.

2I6

TWELVE MILES AROUND THE KING'S COURT--HAD HAD A PECULIAR
FORM OF JURISDICTION WHICH THE KING'S LEGAL ADVISORS THOUGHT
INEFFECTIVE; HENCE THE COURT OF THE VERGE WAS CREATED AND
BACON GIVEN THE TASK OF LECTURING To ITS MEMBERS. HIS
SPEECH MIGHT BE OHARAOTERIZED AS A JURISTIC PEP-TALK DE-
SIGNED TO REVIEW EXISTING LAWS, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE
FASHIONED TO STIR THE NEWLY APPOINTED OFFICERS TO DEDICATED
SERVICE. THE COMPLETE TRACT DEALS WITH THE MANY PROBLEMS
OF KEEPING THE KING'S ENVIRONS IN ORDER, SO I QUOTE FROM
THOSE SECTIONS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE RELIGIOUS PROBLEM.
flOST OF THEM REFER SRICIFICALLY TO RECUSANCY, BUT I INCLUDE
A FEW PARTIALLY IRRELEVANT COMMENTS To DEMONSTRATE BACON'S
EFFECTIVE MODULATION:

THE SERVICE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, UPON WHOSE
BLESSINGS THE PEACE, SAFETY, AND GOOD ESTATE
OF KING AND KINGDOM DOTH DEPEND, MAY BE VID-
LATED AND GOD DISHONORED IN THREE MANNERs;
BY PROFANATION, BY CONTEMPT, AND BY DIVISION
OR BREACH OF UNITY.

FIRST, IF ANY MAN HATH DEPRAVED OR ABUSED
IN WORD OR DEED THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, OR Dls-
TURBED THE PREACHER CR CONGREGATION IN THE TIME
OF DIVINE SERVICE; OR IF ANY HAVE MALICIOUSLY
STRICKEN WITH WEAPON, OR DRAWN WEAPON IN ANY
CHURCH OR CHURCH-YARD; THESE ARE PROFANATIONS
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF SEVERAL STATUTES, AND
THESE YOU ARE TO PRESENT: FOR HOLY THINGS,
ACTIONS, TIMES, SACRED PLACES, ARE To BE PRE-
SERVED IN REVERENCE AND DIVINE RESPECT.

FOR CONTEMPTS OF OUR CHURCH AN) SERVICE,
THEY ARE COMPREHENDED IN THAT KNOWN NAME, WHICH
TOO MANY, IF IT PLEASED GOD, DO BEAR, RECUSANCY;
WHICH OFFENCE HATH MANY BRANCHES AND DEPENDEN-
CIES. THE WIFE-RECUSANT, SHE TEMPTs; THE CHURCH
PAPIST, HE FEEDS AND RELIEVEs; THE CORRUPT

2I7

SCHOOLMASTER, HE SOWETH TAREs; THE DISSEMBLER,
HE CONFORMETH AND DOTH NOT COMMUNICATE. THERE-
FORE IF ANY PERSON, MAN OR WOMAN, WIFE OR SOLE,
ABOVE THE AGE OF SIXTEEN YEARS, NOT HAVING SOME
LAWFUL EXCUSE, HAVE NOT REPAIRED TO CHURCH AC—
CORDING TO THE SEVERAL STATUTES, THE ONE FOR
WEEKLY, THE OTHER FOR THE MONTHLY REPAIR, YOU
ARE TO PRESENT BOTH THE OFFENCE AND THE TIME

HOW LONG. AGAIN, SUCH AS MAINTAIN, RELIEVE,
KEEP IN SERVICE OF LIVERY RECUSANTS, THOUGH
THEMSELVES BE NONE, YOU ARE LIKEWISE TO PRESENT;
FOR THESE BE THE ROOTS OF NETTLES, WHICH STING
NOT THEMSELVES, BUT BEAR AND MAINTAIN THE STING-
ING LEAVES: SO OF ANY THAT KEEPETH A SCHOOLMASTER
THAT COMES NOT TO CHURCH, OR IS NOT ALLOWED BY
THE BISHOP; FOR THAT INFECTION MAY SPREAD: SO
SUCH RECUSANTS AS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED AND CON-
FORMED, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT

ONCE A YEAR; FOR THAT IS THE TOUCHSTONE OF THEIR
TRUE CONVERSION. AND OF THESE OFFENCES OF RE-
CUSANCY TAKE YOU SPECIAL REGARD. TWELVE MILES
FROM COURT IS NO REGION FOR SUCH SUBJECTS. IN
THE NAME OF GOD, WHY SHOULD NOT TWELVE MILES
ABOUT THE KING'S CHAIR BE As FREE FROM PAPIST-
RECUSANTS, AS TWELVE MILES FROM THE CITY OF

ROME (THE POPE'S CHAIR) IS FROM PROTESTANTs?
THERE BE HYPOCRITES AND ATHEISTS, AND SO I 1
FEAR THERE BE AMONGST us; BUT NO OPEN CONTEMPT
OF THEIR RELIGION IS ENDURED. IF THERE MUST BE
RECUSANTS, IT WERE BETTER THEY LURKED IN THE
COUNTRY, THAN HERE IN THE BOSOM OF THE KINGDOM.2|

AFTER SHORT REMARKS ON PERJURY AND WITCHCRAFT, THE OTHER TWO
OFFENCES AGAINST THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE OF GOD, BACON ANS"
WERS A QUESTION WHICH HE SUPPOSES HIS AUDITORY HAS BEEN
SILENTLY PONDERING:

AND HERE I Do CONCLUDE MY FIRST PART CON-
CERNING RELIGION AND ECCLESIASTICAL CAUSES:
WHEREIN IT MAY BE THOUGHT THAT I DO FORGET
MATTERS OF SUPREMACY, OR OF JESUITS, AND SEMI-
NARIES, AND THE LIKE, WHICH ARE USUALLY SORTED

2|. WORKS, XI, 267‘68.

2I8

WITH CAUSES OF RELIGION. BUT I MUST HAVE LEAVE
TO DIRECT MYSELF ACCORDING TO MY OWN PERSUASION,
WHICH IS, THAT, WHATSOEVER HATH BEEN SAID OR
WRITTEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, ALL THE LATE STATUTES
WHICH INFLICT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT UPON EXTOLLERS
OF THE POPE'S SUPREMACY, DENIERS OF THE KING'S
SUPREMACY, JESUITS AND SEMINARIES, AND OTHER OF-
FENDERS OF THAT NATURE, HAVE FOR THEIR PRINCIPAL
SCOPE, NOT THE PUNISHMENT OF THE ERROR OF CON-
SCIENCE BUT THE REPRESSING OF THE PERIL OF THE
STATE.2é

IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANYONE PRESENT HAD NOT HEARD THAT SLOGAN
AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, BUT BAOON AND HIS GOVERNMENT WERE
NOT ONES TO ABANDON A HAPPY PHRASE.

ONE MORE SECTION OF THIS "CHARGE" CONCERNS US, AND IN
IT WE MAY OBSERVE Now AND THEN A GENUINELY FOLKSY TONE As
BACON STIRS AMONG THE ASHES OF PROTESTANT PREJUDICE:

THE THIRD PART OF PRACTICE [HE IS SPEAKING
OF KINDS OF INTERNAL REBELLION7 HATH DIVERS
BRANCHES, BUT ONE PRINCIPAL ROOT IN THESE OUR
TIMES, WHICH IS THE VAST AND OVERSPREADING AM-
BITION AND USURPATION OF THE SEA OF ROME; FOR
THE POPE OF ROME IS ACCORDING TO HIS LATE CHAL-
LENGES AND PRETENCES BECOME A COMPETITOR AND
CORRIVAL WITH THE KING FOR THE HEARTS AND OBE-
DIENCE OF THE KING'S SUBJECTS: HE STANDS FOR IT,
HE SENDS HIS LOVE-TOKENS AND BROKERS (UNDER
COVER OF CONSCIENCE) TO STEAL AND WIN AWAY THE
HEARTS AND ALLEGIANCES OF THE PEOPLE, AND TO
MAKE THEM AS FUEL READY TO TAKE FIRE UPON ANY
HIS COMMANDMENTS. THIS IS THAT YOKE WHICH THIS
KINGDOM HATH HAPPILY CAST OFF, EVEN AT SUCH
TIMES WHEN THE POPISH RELIGION WAS NEVERTHELESS
CONTINUED, AND THAT DIVERS STATES WHICH ARE THE
POPE'S VASSALS DO LIKEWISE BEGIN TD SHAKE OFF.

IF THEREFORE ANY PERSON HAVE MAINTAIAED AND
EXTOLLED THE USURPED AUTHORITY OF THE BISHOP OF
ROME WITHIN THE KING'S DOMINIONS, BY WRITING,
PREACHING, a: DEED, ADVISEDLY, DIRECTLY, AND
MALICIOUSLY; OR IF ANY PERSON HAVE PUBLISHED OR

22. IBID., P. 269.

2I9

PUT IN USE ANY OF THE POPE'S BULLS OR INSTRUMENTS
OF ABSOLUTION; OR IF ANY PERSON HAVE WITHDRAWN
AND RECONCILED ANY OF THE KING'S SUBJECTS FROM
THEIR OBEDIENCE, OR BEEN WITHDRAWN AND RECON-
CILED: OR IF ANY SUBJECT HAVE REFUSED THE SECOND
TIME TO TAKE THE OATH OF SUPREMACY LAWFULLY
TENDERED; OR IF ANY JESUIT OR SEMINARY COME AND
ABIDE WITHIN THIS REALM; THESE ARE BY SEVERAL
STATUTES MADE CASE OF HIGH TREASON: THE LAW AC—
COUNTING THESE THINGS AS PREPARATIVES, AND THE
FIRST WHEELS AND SECRET Ma'IONS OF SEDITIONS AND
REVOLTS FRDM THE KING'S OBEDIENCE. OF THESE YOU
ARE TO INQUIRE, BOTH OF THE ACTORS AND OF THEIR
ABETTORS, COMFORTERS, RECEIVERS, MAINTAINERS,
AND CONCEALERS, WHICH IN SOME CASES ARE TRAITORS
AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPAL, IN SOME CASES IN PRAE-
MUNIRE, IN SOME OTHER IN MISPRISON OF TREASON
(WHICH I WILL NOT STAND TO DISTINGUISH), AND IN
SOME OTHER, FELONY; AS NAMELY THAT OF RECEIVING
AND RELIEVING OF JESUITS AND PRIESTS. THE BRING-
ING.IN AND DISPERSING OF AGNUS DEI'S, CROSSES,
PICTURES, OR SUCH TRASH, IS LIKEWISE PRAEMUNIRE:
AND SO IS THE DENIAL TO TAKE THE OATH OF SUPREM-
ACY THE FIRST TIME.

 

WE CANNOT HELP WONDERING IF THIS INDIFFERENT MAN, FILLED WITH
THE PASSIONATE HOPE THAT ONE DAY NATURE AND MANKIND WOULD BE
REDUCED TO ORDER AND CIVILITY, DID NOT FEEL, AS HE THUNDERED
"OR SUCH TRASH," THAT HE WAS LIVING IN TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT
WORLDS, ONE FRANKLY VISIONARY AND THE OTHER HOPELESSLY AND
IRRECOVERABLY LOST To HUMAN FOLLY. BUT BACON WAS ONE OF

THE MOST EFFECTIVE SPEAKERS OF HIS DAY, AND WHATEVER THE
STRAIN ON HIS OWN SENSIBILITY, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE NEWLY
APPOINTED OFFICERS OF THE COURT OF THE VERGE HAD NOW A CLEAR
NOTION OF THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THEIR NEW COMMISSION.

IN THE TRACT WHICH COMES NEXT TO OUR ATTENTION WE SHALL

250 IBID., PP. 270'7Io

220

OBSERVE BACON'S LENGTHIEST AND MOST STIRRING RESUME'OF THE
JESUIT THEORY OF THE DEPOSITION OF RJLERS. DURING THE FIRST
DECADE OF JAMES' REIGN IT HAD BEEN THE POLICY OF THE GOVERN-
MENT TO GIVE THE CATHOLICS OF IRELAND AS MUCH FREEDOM AS
SECURITY WOULD PERMIT, GRANTING THEM, FOR EXAMPLE THE
PRIVILEGE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT. IN I6I5
WILLIAM TALBOT, LEADER OF THE CATHOLIC ELEMENT OF THAT BODY,
CAME TO ENGLAND TO IRON OUT DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING IRISH
PARLIAMENTARY RIGHTS. WHILE IN ENGLAND, HE WAS ASKED TO
REPUDIATE CERTAIN OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE JESUIT FRANCISCO
SUAREz, WHOSE WRITINGS ON CHURCH AND STATE HAD BY IOI} BE-
COME A FIERY SYMBOL ar JESUIT TREACHERY.2H TALBOT DECLINED
TO REJECT THE DOCTRINES, EXCEPT IN TERMS THE GOVERNMENT
THOUGHT FILLED WITH EQUIVOCATION,25AND WAS THEREFORE COM~
MITTED To THE TOWER PENDING JUDICIAL ACTION. SPEDDING MAIN-
TAINS THAT TALBOT HIMSELF WAS NOT SUSPECTED OF DISLOYALTY

BUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS PROBABLY ANXIOUS TO ESTABLISH A

2h. SUAREZ (I5h8-I6I7), SPANISH THEOLOGIAN AND PHILOSOPHER,
WAS PRINCIPAL PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AT COIMBRA. AT THE
INSTIGATION OF PAUL v, IN I6I5 SUAREZ WROTE HIS DEFENSIO
FIDEI CATHOLICAE, DIRECTED AT JAMES' OATH. JAMES HAD
THE BOOK BURNED BY THE PUBLIC HANGMAN AND IMPOSED SEVERE
PENALTIES ON ANYONE FOUND READING OF THE WORK. SEE THE
INTRODUCTION TO SELECTIONS FROM THREE WORKS g: FRANCISCO
SUAREZ, VOL. II; CITED IN FOOTNOTE Ih, PAGE 2II.

 

 

 

 

25. IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS USED HERE, EQUIVOCATION IS THE
ACT OF TAKING AN OATH WITHOUT FIRST RENOUNCING PRIN-
CIPLES OF ONEIS FAITH WHICH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS
NULLIFY THE SUBSCRIPTION. BACON DISCUSSES THE FALLACY
OF THIS KIND OF EQUIVOCATION BELOW.

 

22I

POINT OF LAW CONCERNING THE ALLEGIANCE OF THE IRISH CATHO'

LICS.

WHEN TALBOT'S CASE CAME UP FOR HEARING, BACON DELIv-

ERED THIS FORMAL CHARGE AGAINST HIM:

26.

I

I BROUGHT BEFORE YOU AT THE FIRST SITTING
OF THIS TERM THE CAUSE OF DUELs; BUT NOW THIS
LAST SITTING I SHALL BRING BEFORE YOU A CAUSE
CONCERNING THE GREATEST DUEL WHICH IS IN THE
CHRISTIAN WORLD, THE DUEL AND CONFLICT BETWEEN
THE LAWFUL AUTHORITY OF SOVEREIGN KINGS, WHK>H
IS GOD'S ORDINANCE FOR THE COMFORT OF HUMAN
SOCIETY, AND THE SWELLING PRIDE AND USURPATION
OF THE SEE OF ROME, EVEN IN TEMPORALIBUS, TEND-
ING ALTOGETHER TO ANARCHY—TND CONFUSION: WHEREIN
IF THIS PRETENCE IN THE POPE OF ROME BY CARTELS
To MAKE SOVEREIGN PRINCES As THE BANDITTI, AND
TO PROSCRIBE THEIR LIVES, AND TO EXPOSE THEIR
KINGDOMS TO PREY; IF THESE PRETENCES, I SAY, AND
ALL PERSONS THAT SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THAT PART
OF THE POPE'S POWER IN THE LEAST DEGREE BE NOT
BY ALL POSSIBLE SEVERITY REPRESSED AND PUNISHED,
THE STATE OF CHRISTIAN KINGS WILL BE NO OTHER
THAN THE ANCIENT TORMENT DESCRIBED BY THE POETS
IN THE HELL OF THE HEATHEN; A MAN SITTING RICHLY
ROBED, SOLEMNLY ATTENDED, DEITCIOUS FARE: &0.
WITH A SWORD HANGING OVER HIS HEAD, HANGING El.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A SMAEL THREAD, READY EVERY MOMENT To BE CUT

 

 

DOWN BY AN ACCURSING AND ACCURSED HKNb7-'SURELY
I HAD—THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN THE PREROGATIVES OF
GOD ALONE AN) OF HIS SECRET JUDGMENTS, SOLVAM
CINGULA REGUM, I WILL LOOSEN THE GIRDLES OF
KINes; OR AGAIN, HE POURETH CONTEMPT UPON
PRINCEs; OR I WILE-GIVE A KING IN MY WRATH, AND
TAKE HIM AWAT AGAIN IN MT DISPLEfisfiRE, AND THE
LIKE. BUT IF THESE BE'TBE CLAIMS OF A MORTAL
MAN, CERTAINLY THEY ARE BUT THE MYSTERIES OF

THAT PERSON WHICH EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT
IS CALLED GOD, SUPRA OMNE QUOD DICITUR DEUS.

NOTE IT WELL, NOT ABOVE_GOD TTHOUGH THAT IN A
SENSE BE TRUE) BUT ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED
GOD; THAT IS, LAWFUL KINGS AND MAGISTRATES.27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKS, XII, 5 FF. 27. IBID., PP. 5-6.

222

AFTER THIS GENERAL PROLOGUE, BACON ACCUSES TALBOT DIRECTLY
OF HAVING "GONE BACKWARD AND FORWARD" IN HIS EXAMINATION
AND THEN PRESENTS THE ACTUAL CHARGE: "THAT HE HATH MAIN-
TAINED AND MAINTAINETH UNDER HIS HAND A POWER IN THE POPE
FOR THE DEPOSING AND MURTHERING OF KINGS." BUT BEFORE PRC-
CEEDING TO PARTICULARS, BACON MAKES AN APPEAL AD HOMINEM TO
THE COURT AS HE CALLS TO MIND THE MANY PLOTS AGAINST THE
LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND JAMES DEVISED BY CATHOLIC ZEALOTS.
ONLY THE "WATCHMAN THAT SLUMBERETH NOT" HAS PRESERVED THE
PRECIOUS LIVES OF ENGLAND'S LAST TWO SOVEREIGNS, HE SAYS.
SPEAKING OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT, BACON STIRS THE SWEETNESS
AND TENDERNESS OF HIS SOVEREIGN'S TEMPERAMENT INTO THE
ACRID ASHES OF THE FOILED AND INFAMOUS PROJECT:
AGAIN, OUR EXCELLENT SOVEREIGN KING JAMES, THE
SWEETNESS AND CLEMENCY OF WHOSE NATURE WERE
ENOUGH TO QUENCH AND MORTIFY ALL MALIGNITY, AND
A KING SHIELDED AND SUPPORTED BY POSTERITY; YET
THIS KING IN THE CHAIR OF MAJESTY, (HIS VINE AND
OLIVE BRANCHES ABOUT HIM) ATTENDED BY HIS NOBLES
AND THIRD ESTATE IN PARLIAMENT; READY IN THE
TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AS IF IT HAD BEEN A PAR-
TICULAR DOOMs-DAY, TO HAVE BEEN BROU§HT TO
ASHES, DISPERSED TO THE FOUR WINDS.2
AS THE COURT FOLLOWS WITH THE FANCY THE SCATTERING AND
SETTLING OF MULTITUDES OF PROTESTANT ASHES, BACON BEGINS TO

PRESENT THE FULL DETAILS OF THE CHARGE AGAINST TALBOT:

BUT Now To COME To THE PARTICULAR CHARGE OF
THIS MAN, I MUST INFORM YOUR LORDSHIPS THE OC—
CASION AND NATURE OF THIS OFFENCE: THERE HATH

28. IBID., P. 7.

223

BEEN PUBLISHED LATELY TO THE WORLD A WORK OF
zUAREz, A PORTUGUESE, A PROFESSOR IN THE UNI-
VERSITY OF COIMBRA, A CONFIDENT, AND DARING
WRITER, SUCH A ONE AS TULLY DESCRIBES IN DERI-
SION, NJHIL TAM VERENS, QUAM NE DUBITARE ALIQUA
EE'BE_VIDERETUR: ONE THAT FEARS NOTHING BUT
THIS, LEST HE SHOULD SEEM TO DOUBT OF ANY THING.
A FELLOW THAT THINKS WITH HIS MAGISTRALITY AND
GOOSE QUILL TO GIVE LAWS AND MANAGES TO CROWN
AND SCEPTERS. IN THIS MAN'S WRITINGS THIS DOG-
TRINE OF DEPOSING OR MURTHERING KINGS SEEMS To
COME TO A HIGHER ELEVATION THAN HERETOFORE; AND
IT IS MORE ARTED AND POSITIVED THAN IN OTHERS.
FOR IN THE PASSAGES WHICH YOUR LORDSHIPS SHALL
HEAR READ ANON, I FIND THREE ASSERTIONS WHICH
RUN NOT IN THE VULGAR TRACK, BUT ARE SUCH AS
WHEREWITH MEN'S EARS (AS I SUPPOSE) ARE NOT
MUCH ACQUAINTED; WHEREOF THE FIRST IS, THAT THE
POPE HATH A SUPERIORITY OVER KINGS, AS SUBJECTS,
TO DEPOSE THEM, NOT ONLY FOR SPIRITUAL CRIMES,
AS HERESY AND SCHISM, BUT FOR FAULTS OF A TEM-
PORAL NATURE, FORASMUCH AS A TYRANNICAL GOVERN-
MENT TENDETH EVER TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SOUL.
SO BY THIS POSITION KINGS OF EITHER RELIGION ARE
ALIKE COMPREHENDED, AND NONE EXEMPTED. THE SEO-
OND, THAT AFTER SENTENCE GIVEN BY THE POPE, THIS
WRITER HATH DEFINED OF A SERIES, OR SUCCESSION,
OR SUBSTITUTION OF HANGMEN OR BOURREAUX, TO BE
SURE, LEST AN EXECUTIONER SHOULD FAIL; FOR HE
SAITH, THAT WHEN A KING IS SENTENCED BY THE

POPE TO DEPRIVATION OR DEATH, THE EXECUTIONER
WHO IS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS WHOM THE POPE SHALL
COMMIT THE N THORITY, WHICH MAY BE A FOREIGN
PRINCE, IT MAY BE A PARTICULAR SUBJECT, IT MAY
BE A GENERAL TO THE FIRST UNDERTA<ER. BUT IF
THERE BE NO DIRECTION OR ASSIGNATION IN THE
SENTENCE SPECIAL NOR GENERAL, THEN DE JURE IT
APPERTAINS TO THE NEXT SUCCESSOR; (I’NATURAL

AND PIOUS OPINION; FOR COMMONLY THEY ARE SONS

OR BROTHERS, OR NEAR OF KIN, ALL'S ONE, so AS
THE SUCCESSOR BE APPARENT, ALSO THAT HE BE A
CATHOLIC). BUT IF IT BE DOUBTFUL, OR THAT HE

BE No CATHOLIC, THEN IT DEVOLVES TO THE COM-
MONALTY OF THE KINGDOM; SO AS HE WILL BE SURE

TO HAVE IT DONE BY ONE MINISTER OR OTHER. THE
THIRD IS, HE DISTINGUISHETH TWO KINDS OF TY-
RANTS, A TYRANT IN TITLE, AND A TYRANT IN
REGIMENT. THE TYRANT IN REGIMENT CANNOT BE
RESISTED OR KILLED wrrHOUT A SENTENCE PRECEDENT
BY THE POPE; BUT A TYRANT IN TITLE MAY BE KILLED
BY ANY PRIVATE MAN WHATSOEVER. BY WHICH Doc-
TRINE HE HATH PUT THE JUDGMENT OF KING'S TITLES

 

 

 

 

22W

(WHICH I WILL UNDERTAKE ARE NEVER SO CLEAR BUT
THAT SOME VAIN QUARREL OR EXCEPTION MAY BE MADE
UNTO THEM) UPON THE FANCY OF EVERY PRIVATE MAN;
AND ALSO COUPLES THE JUDGMENT AND EXECUTION To-
GETHER, THAT HE MAY JUDGE HIM BY A BLOW, WITH-
OUT ANY OTHER SENTENCE. YOUR LORDSHIPS SEE
WHAT MONSTROUS OPINIONS THESE ARE, AND HOW

BOTH THESE BEASTS, THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS,
AND THE BEAST WITH MANY HEADS, POPE AND PEOPLE,
ARE ONCE LET Igg AND SET UPON THE SACRED PER-
SONS OF KINGS.

IT IS UNQUESTIONABLE THAT BACON FEARED THE BEAST WITH MANY
HEADS FULLY AS MUCH AS THAT WITH SEVEN, BUT WHEN BOTH BEASTS
YOKED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, THEY BECAME A TEAM TRULY FITTED
TO DRAW SATAN'S ABOMINABLE CARRIAGE THROUGH THE TREMBLING
LANDS OF CHRISTENDOM.

ON BACON'S AUTHORITY WE LEARN THAT TALBOT WAS ASKED

FOR HIS OPINION CONCERNING SUAREZ'S TEACHINGS AND THAT HE
REPLIED IN THIS MANNER:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURABLE GOOD LORD-
SHIPS: ”CONCERNING THESE DOCTRINES OF zUAREz,
I DO PERCEIVE BY WHAT I HAVE READ IN HIS BOOK
THAT THE SAME DOTH CONCERN MATTER OF FAITH,
THE CONTROVERSY GROWING UPON EXPOSITION OF
SCRIPTURES AND COUNCILS, WHEREIN (BEING IGNO—
RANT AND NOT STUDIEDTI CANNOT TAKE UPON ME TO
JUDGE. BUT I DO SUBMIT MINE OPINION THERETNTTC
THE JUDGMENT TOF THE CATHOLIC ROMAN CHURCH, AS IN
ALL OTHER POINTS CONCERNING FAITH I DO. ANDTFCR
MATTER CONCERNING MY LOYALTY, I DO TACKNOWLEDGETT
MY SOVEREIGN LIEGE LORD KING JAMES TO BE LAWFUL
AND UNDOUBTED KING OF ALL THE KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND,
SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, AND L WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH
AND ALLEGIANCE 12 HIS HIGHNESS DURING Ml LIFE.3U

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29. IBID., PP. 9-IO. 50. IBID., P. IO.

 

I 1:? II III

225

THIS BRINGS US SQUARELY To CORE OF THE DILEMMA DISCUSSED IN
THE OPENING PAGES OF THIS CHAPTER. TALBOT'S POSITION WAS
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE AS LONG AS THE ROMAN CHURCH (TO WHOM HE
SHOWS DEFERENCE IN ALL SUCH MATTERS) WAS SATISFIED WITH TAL-
BOT'S SOVEREIGN, BUT HE HAD LEFT THE WAY OPEN FOR THE CHURCH
TO ABSOLVE HIM FROM HIS TEMPORAL ALLEGIANCE TO JAMES IF DEP0-
SITION OF THE KING SHOULD, BY PAPAL DECREE, FOR ExAMPLE BE-
COME A MATTER OF FAITH. BAOON POINTS OUT THE FLAw IN TAL-
BOT'S ARGUMENT, SAYING, uA MAN'S ALLEGIANCE MUST BE INDE-
PENDENT AND CERTAIN, AND NOT DERENDENT AND CONDITIONAL."5‘

TO COMPLETE HIS ARGUMENT, BACON APPLIES THE REDUCTIO AD

 

ABSURDUM TO TALBOT'S POSITION:

 

IF A MAN SHOULD ASK MR. TALBOT WHETHER HE
DO CONDEMN MURTHER, OR ADULTERY, OR RAPE, OR
THE DOCTRINE OF MAHOMET, OR OF ARIUS, INSTEAD
OF zUARIus; MUST THE ANSWER BE WITH THIS ExOEP-
TION, THAT IF THE QUESTION CONCERN MATTER OF
FAITH (AS NO QUESTION IT DOTH, FOR THE MORAL
LAW IS MATTER OF FAITH), THAT THEREIN HE WILL
SUBMIT HIMSELF To WHAT THE CHURCH SHALL DETER-
MINE?52

BACON'S ARGUMENT MADE GOOD SENSE TO THE PROTESTANT COURT,
AND TALBOT WAS FINED HEAVILY. HE DID NOT, HGVEVER, HAVE
TO PAY THE FINE, AND HE WAS ALLOWED TO RETURN To IRELAND

WITH HIS COUNTRYMEN.35

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO KNOW AT WHAT LENGTH BACON

5|. IBID., P. II. 55. IBID.

52. IBID., Po I20

226

PERUSED JESUIT STATECRAFT, BUT WE SEE IN THIS CHARGE AGAINST
TALBOT HOW HE ALWAYS RESPONDED TO ANY THEORY OF STATE WHICH
MADE ALLEGIANCE TO ONE'S SOVEREIGN CONDITIONAL. CHARACTER—
ISTICALLY HE PARES SUCH A NOTION TO ITS EFFICIENT RATHER
THAN ITS FINAL CAUSE AND TESTS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, THE MOST

DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS OF IT. REFLECTION ON HIS TREATMENT

 

OF SUAREZ'S THESES WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS
TECHNIQUE. ALMOST ALL OF THE THEORIES OF SUAREZ TO WHICH
BACON REFERS ARE CONTAINED IN THE IMPORTANT FOURTH CHAPTER

OF THE JESUIT'S DEFENSIO FIOEI CATHOLICAE (I6I5),5uWRITTEN

 

AT THE INSTIGATION OF PAUL V IN RESPONSE TO JAMES' DEFENSE
OF THE OATH. (JAMES THOUGHT THE WORK ADMIRABLY SUITED FOR

BURNING. SEE NOTE 2h, PAGE 220.) IN READING THE DEFENSIO

 

ONE IS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE
JESUIT'S AND BACON'S IDEAS OF THE STATE. AS SCOTT SAYS,55
SUAREZ WAS AN ELEGANT CHAMPION OF THE INVIOLABILITY OF THE
SOVEREIGN OFFICE; CLEARLY THERE IS IN HIS MIND NO HIGHER
TEMPORAL BLESSING THAN UNCONDITIONAL CIVIL'OBEDIENCE. YET,
HE DID SUBSCRIBE ULTIMATELY TO THE NOTION THAT THE POPE
COULD DEPOSE A RULER, AND HE DID ADMIT THAT THERE WERE

RARE OCCASIONS WHEN THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES COULD JUSTLY

DEPOSE THEIR SOVEREIGNS. GRANTING THAT THE POPE COULD

5h. SELECTIONS FROM THREE WORKS OF FRANCISCO SUAREZ, VOL.
II.

55. IBID. THIS Is A MAJOR THESIS OF SCOTT'S "INTRODU0-
TION," PP. LA- DOA.

 

 

 

227

DEPOSE A RULER, SQUAREZ REASONED WITH HIS FELLOW JESUITS
THAT THE PONTIFF COULD FIND A MEANS TO MAKE HIS DEPOSITION
A FACT; HE COULD, THAT IS, DELEGATE SOMEONE (A KING, GK)UP,
OR INDIVIDUAL) TO CARRY OUT HIS EDICT, EVEN IF THIS MEANT
HAVING THE RULER MURDERED.56 THE AWESQAE AND INCOMPREHEN-
SIBLY DANGEROUS DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY WHICH BACON SPEAKS
OF HAS REFERENCE TO THIS DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY, WHICH

SUAREZ TAKES CONSIDERABLE CARE TO DELIMIT IN THE DEFENSIO.

 

BUT ONE COULD NOT, IN SUAREZ'S VIEW, TAKE IT UPON HIMSELF

AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO DEPOSE A RULER'*UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

AN INDIVIDUAL ACTED AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POPE OR OF
THE COMMUNITY. SUAREZ BY NO MEANS PUTS KINGS' TITLES "UPON
THE FANCY OF EVERY PRIVATE MAN." IN FACT, SPEAKING OF THE
THEORY THAT A KING WHO IS RULING TYRANNICALLY MAY BE SLAIN
BY AN INDIVIDUAL, HE SAYS:

THE FIRST OF THESE GROUNDS IS ALTOGETHER
FALSE AN) HERETICAL, BECAUSE THE POWER OF AVENG-
ING OR PUNISHING OFFENCES RESIDES, NOT IN PRI-
VATE INDIVIDUALS, BUT IN THEIR SUPERIOR OR IN
THE WHOLE OF A PERFECT COMMUNITY; CONSEQUENTLY,
A PRIVATE PERSON WHO ON THAT GROUND SLAYS HIS
PRINCE, USURPS A JURISDICTION AND POWER WHICH
HE DOES NOT RIGHTFULLY POSSEss; AND THEREFORE,
HE SINS AGAINST UUSTICE.3

WHAT BACON DOES IN HIS REVIEW OF SUAREZ'S TRACT IS TO

DELETE THE BODY OF THE JESUIT'S QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ACT

 

56. SEE ESPECIALLY THE DEFENSIO,IBID., PP. 7I6-2I.

 

37. IBID., P. 708.

228

OF DEPOSITION~~THE NECESSARY AND VERY STRINGENT CONDITIONS
UNDER WHICH A PEOPLE MIGHT BE CALLED UPON TO DETHRONE THEIR
SOVEREIGN. BUT BACON'S MOTIVES ARE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND-
ABLE, FOR NOT ALL CATHOLICS COULD BE EXPECTED TO BE AS EN-
LIGHTENED AND PROVISIONAL AS SUAREZ. ONCE IT HAD BEEN
GRANTED THAT EITHER THE POPE OR THE PEOPLE MIGHT DEPOSE A
RULER, IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THIS
DEPOSITION MIGHT BE EFFECTED--FOR NO CONDITIONS OF ANY
KIND COULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO JAMES. ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS
CONVINOED THAT HE HAD THE COMMISSION OF ROME OR OF THE COM-
MUNITY--WHETHER HE HAD IT OR NOT~~WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO
END JAMES' LIFE. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES BACON SAID WHAT
HAD TO BE SAID.

A COMPANION PIECE TO THIS WORK, THE LAST T0 CONCERN US
IN THIS CHAPTE& IS, IN SPEDDING'S JUDGMENT, THE FINEST Ex-
AMPLE OF BACON'S ORATORY,38AND I AM PLEASED THAT IT SHOULD
BE RELEVANT To THIS STUDY. THE CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING OC-
CASION TO THE SPEECH ARE SIMILAR To THOSE IN THE CHARGE
AGAINST TALBOT. THIS TIME THE CHARGE IS BROUGHT AGAINST A
JOHN OWEN, ACCUSED OF ADVOCATING THE MORALITY AND LEGALITY
58. IT WAS BACON'S CUSTOM To DELIVER HIS SPEECHES FROM NOTES

RATHER THAN FROM PREPARED MANUSCRIPTS. CONSEQUENTLY IN

THOSE CASES IN WHICH.HE DID NOT TAKE PAINS To HAVE HIS

SPEECHES COPIED, ONLY FRAGMENTS REMAIN, USUALLY THOSE

PROVIDED BY COURT RECORDERS, WHO FREQUENTLY COPIED ONLY
PARTS OF SPEECHES. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, PART OF

BACON'S SPEECH IS MISSING, BUT THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS
OF THE EXTANT SECTION, A ROUGH DRAFT AND AN EXPANDED
VERSION. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF BACON REVISED THE SPEECH

229

OF MURDERING EXCOMMUNICATED KINGS AND OF SUBSCRIBING TO
OTHER CATHOLIC DOCTRINES WHICH THE GOVERNMENT THOUGHT SEDI-
TIOUS. THE CHARGE WAS DELIVERED IN I6I5, AND WE SHALL OB-
SERVE THAT BACON HAD NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT HE HAD SAID MORE
THAN A YEAR BEFORE.
BACON'S OBJECT IN THIS SPEECH IS NOT SO MUCH TO CON-
VICT OWEN AS IT IS TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT THE ACCUSED REPRE-
SENTS IN THE FIELD OF CATHOLIC CONSPIRACY, FOR, HE SAYS,
"HIGH TREASON. . . IS NOT WRITTEN IN ICE, THAT WHEN THE
BODY MELTETH AND RELENTETH THE IMPRESSION GOETH AWAY;
. . ."59 OWEN HIMSELF IS A NONENTITY, "A PERSON BUT CON-
TEMPTIBLE, A HANG-BY OF THE SEMINARIES, A KIND OF VENOMOUS
FLY THAT ONE WOULD THINK SHOULD RATHER BUZZ THAN STING."1IO
EQUALLY CCNTEMPTIBLE ARE THE PHILOSOPHICAL PREMISES UPON
WHICH OWEN'S TREACHERY IS BASED. BACON WILL NOT EVEN CON-
DESCEND TO ARGUE THEIR VALIDITY:
THE THIRD POINT THAT I WILL SPEAK TO Is THE
DOCTRINE OR OPINION WHICH IS THE GROUND OF THIS
TREASON; WHEREIN I WILL NOT ARGUE NOR SPEAK LIKE
A DIVINE OR SCHOLAR (I AM SCHOLAR ENOUGH TO
KNOW THE DISADVANTAGE), BUT As A MAN BRED IN
CIVIL LIFE; NAY I WILL NEVER GIVE TO THAT OPIN-

ION THAT HONOUR AS TO CONFUTE IT. FOR HOWSOEVER

(AS IT IS IN ITSELF A SCARLET AND PURPLE AND
BLOODY OPINION) IT HATH GOT THE CREDIT OF SOME

AFTER HE DELIVERED IT OR BEFORE, BUT THE REVISIONS
OFFER AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW BACON REVISED
HIS SPEECHES TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFECTIVE.

59o WORKS, XII, I60. LID. IBID.

250

SCARLET AND PURPLE AND BLOODY DEFENDERS, POPES
AND CARDINALS, YET I FOR MY PART WILL NEVER
SPEAK OF IT BUT As OF AN IMPIETY THAT DESERVETH
DETESTATION AND NOT CONTESTATIGV.uI

WHEN HE RETURNS TO THIS THIRD POINT (SPECIFICALLY THE "Ex-
COMMUNICATION OF THE POPE WITH A SENTENCE OF DEPOSING")
BACON CALLS UPON THE WHOLE OF CHRISTENDOM TO CONDEMN THE

THEORY AS AN UNHOLY OFFENCE AGAINST CIVILIZATION ITSELF:

NAY (I SPEAK IT IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD) I THINK
IT DESERVETH RATHER SOME HOLY LEAGUE AMONGST

ALL CHRISTIAN PRINCES OF EITHER RELIGION, PAPIST
AND PROTESTANTS, FOR THE EXTIRPING AND RAZING OF
THIS OPINION AND THE AUTHORS THEREOF FROM THE
FACE OF THE EARTH, AS THE COMMON ENEMIES OF MAN-
KIND, THAN THE STYLE OF PEN OR SPEECH. THERE-
FORE IN THIS KIND I WILL SPEAK TO IT IN A FEW

WORDS AND NOT OTHERWISE: AND I PROTEST IF I WERE
A PAPIST (AS I HOPE I SHALL SOONER TO MY GRAVE
THAN TO THAT CHURCH) I THINK I SHOULD SPEAK As

MUCH. NAY I SHOULD SPEAK IT WITH MORE INDIGNA-
TION AND FEELING: FOR THIS HORRIBLE OPINION IS
OUR ADVANTAGE, AND IT Is THEIR EEPROACH, AND
WILL IN THE END BE THEIR RUIN.u

BACON CONTINUES BY SPEAKING HEATEDLY OF THE INIMITABLE
CLEMENCY WHICH THE KING HAS SHOWN TO THE CATHOLICS. IN
SPITE OF CONSTANT PROVOCATION, HE SAYS, THE KING HAS RE-
MAINED MERCIFUL. THE POWDER-TREASON ITSELF, "WHEREBY THE
KING AND KINGDOM. . . SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT ONCE, AS BY A
PARTICULAR DOOMs-DAY, DESTROYED BY FIRE," WAS SUFFICIENT
REASON FOR JAMES TO HAVE TURNED "JUDGMENT INTO FURY." AND

WHAT ARE WE TO THINK, HE CONTINUES, OF THE MULTIPLICATION

OF PAPISTS WITHIN THE REALM? "THEY GROW IN NUMBER, AND

MI. IBID., P. I6I. L2. IBID., P. I65.

25I

THEY GROW IN BOLDNESS AND PRESUMPTION, MASSING IN EVERY COR-
NER; THE PRISONS HAVE BEEN MADE AS ORATOHES AND CHANTRIEs;
WHOLE STREETS OF PAPISTS (AS I HEAR), AND WHOLE TRACTS AND
TERRITORIES OF THEM IN SOME COUNTIES OF THIS KINGDOM."u5

AND THEN THERE IS THE SOMBER SPECTACLE OF JESUIT LITERA-

TURE:

THESE BOOKS NO DOUBT COME To THE KING'S HANos; HE
READS THEM; IN HIS GREAT WISDOM HE SEETH WHERETC
THEY TEND, NAMELY TO SOUR THE LUMP OF ALL PAPISTS
IN THEIR LOYALTY, AND TO MAKE KINGDOMS THE POPE'S
FOOTSTOOLS, OR PERHAPS To MAKE DUO LUMINARIA
MAGNA, THE POPE AND THE KING OF SPAIN.E4

 

YET THE KING REMAINS MERCIFUL, PERMITS "SWARMS OF PRIESTS"
TO INFEST HIS LAND AND "RATHER BEARS THE SWORD THAN DRAWS
IT." IT IS REMARKABLE, BACON CONTINUES, THAT IN HIS EIGHT
YEARS AS SOLICITOR AND ATTORNEY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE
HAS BEEN CALLED TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST A TRAITOR. IT Is
A "STRANGE THING,--BLOODY OPINIONS, BLOODY DOCTRINES, BLOODY
EXAMPLES, AND YET THE GOVERNMENT SCARCE SPRINKLED WITH THE
BLOOD OF ANY OFFENDERS OF THIS NATURE."H5

TO WHAT CAN HE COMPARE THIS DESPICABLE THEORY OF THE
OVERTHROW OF MONARCHs? BAOON ASKS. TO WHAT CAN HE COMPARE
THE GREED OF ROME? PERHAPS THE ANABAPTISTS CAN BE CALLED
UPON ONCE MORE, BUT EVEN THEY ARE INSUFFICIENT TO THE TASK:

THE ANABAPTISTS, IT IS TRUE, COME NEAREST.
FOR THEY PROFESS THE PULLING DOWN OF MAGISTRATES,
AND THE MONARCHY OF THEM THAT ARE INSPIRED; AND

I45. IBID., P. I62. IILI. IBID. 11,5. IBID., P. I65.

252

THEY CAN CHAUNT THE PSALM TO BIND THEIR KINGS IN
CHAINS AND THEIR NOBLES INTFETTERS OF IRON. . :—
BUT IT IS TRUE, HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE ANABAPTISTS AND THE CONSISTORY OF ROME, THAT
THE ONE IS A FURIOUS AND FANATICAL FOLLY AND THE
OTHER IS A SAD AND MEDITATED TYRANNY. THE ONE
IMAGINES MISCHIEF AS A VAIN,;HING, AND THE OTHER
IMAGINES MISCHIEF AS X'LAWJ-‘rO

 

 

 

 

BACON ALSO EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL DANGERS BEHIND ANY
THEORY WHICH SANCTIONS THE OVERTHROW OF MONARCHS, STRESSING
THE POINT THAT NOTHING NEW IS INVOLVED IN ENGLAND'S DEFENSE
OF HER SOVEREIGN. SINCE THE TIME OF EDWARD III, HE SAYS,
"ADHERING TO THE KING'S ENEMIES, OR LEVYING WAR AGAINST THE
KING" HAS BEEN THE "CAPITAL OF CAPITALS." ANY THEOLOGICAL
SUBTLETIES ENGENDERED BY THE ORGANS OF ROME HAVE NO MEANING
IN THEIR APPLICATION TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND. IF
A KING IS SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF CATHOLICISM, HE Is LIKENED
TO A "MAN SITTING RICHLY ROBED AT TABLE, DELICATELY SERVED,
SOLEMNLY ATTENDED, AND A SWORD OVER HIS HEAD HANGING BY A
SMALL THREAD."u7 ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPAGATION OF SUCH
THEORIES PROVIDES MEN NATURALLY INCLINED TO FACTION WITH A
CONSTANT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE FOR THEIR APPAL-
LING DESIRES. COMMONLY "CONSPIRACIES HAVE THEIR PERIODS";
THEY DIE WITH THE PASSING OF TIME, BUT THESE IDEAS PRODUCE
A “PERPETUITY OF CONSPIRACIES." SLANDER IS BROUGHT UPON THE

CHRISTIAN FAITH, GOVERNMENTS ARE SUBVERTED, AND IN PROTESTANT

M6. IBID., PP. I66-67. L7. IBID., P. I6u.

COUNTRIE8--FORCED INTO DEFENSIVE POSTUREs-“THE PAPISTS THEM-
SELVES ARE BROUGHT TO GREAT CALAMITIES.

THE CHARGE AGAINST OWENABIS A VERY STIRRING SPEECH

 

WHOSE RHETORIC IN NO WAY DIMINISHES BACON'S OBVIOUS SIN—
CERITY. THE CATHOLICS COULD ACCUSE HIM OF TAKING THE SHORT
VIEW OF LIFE, OF FORGETTING THAT ALL MEN ARE THE CHILDREN
OF ONE GOD AND THEREFORE OBLIGED TO WORSHIP HIM WITH ONE
FAITH, BUT IN HIS MIND THE PRICE OF THIS KIND OF UNITY WAS
FAR TOO HIGH TO PAY. THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF A NATION IS AN
ORGANIC PART OF ITS CIVIL LIFE AND IT CAN UNDER NO CIRCUM—
STANCES BE DICTATED BY A FOREIGN POWER.

AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, MY DESIRE IN THIS CHAPTER
HAS BEEN TO EXHIBIT BACON AT WORK IN HIS PROFESSION. THERE
ARE ONE OR TWO OTHER RELEVANT WORKS WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN
INCLUDED, BUT THESE GIVE THE FULL RANGE OF HIS RHETORIC
AND EMOTION. ALTHOUGH BACON'S VIEW OF PURITANISM REMAINS
PARTIALLY UNDEFINED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE BRAZENLY CONFIDENT
IN OUR EVALUATION OF HIS VIEWS OF CATHOLICISM. HE CAN BE A

TENDER FRIEND TO AN INDIVIDUAL CATHOLIC, AND HE CAN ALMOST
ADMIT THAT UNDER THE WILDEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES HE MIGHT HIM‘

SELF BE A CATHOLIO; BUT FOR THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF, FOR

US. THE "VENOMOUS FLY," THOUGH CONVICTED OF HIGH TREASON,
WAS NOT ExECUTED BY THE KING. HE REMAINED IN PRISON
FOR THREE YEARS AND WAS THEN PARDONED, ON THE CONDI-
TION THAT HE LEAVE THE COUNTRY. WORKS, XII, I68.

231+

ITS MANY TENTACLES WHICH FEEL THEIR WAY ACROSS SOVEREIGN
BORDERS, HE HAS ONLY DIfiRUST, SUSPICION, AND'-I BELIEVE--
MORE THAN A LITTLE HATE. WHAT HE FELT ABOUT THE RIGHT OF
PROTESTANTS TO INVADE CATHOLIC LANDS AND ABOUT THE RIGHT
OF A UNITED CHRISTENDOM TO INVADE THE LAND OF THE INFIDEL,

I SHALL HOPE TO ANSWER IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.

CHAPTER VII
THE DIVINE IN ARMOR

CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE SHOULDERED THEIR WEAPONS AND MARCHED
OFF TO CONDUCT BLOODY WARS IN THE NAME OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE
HAVE CUSTOMARILY FELT THE NEED TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTS, AND AL-
THOUGH THEY NO LONGER GO TO WAR ON STRICTLY RELIGIOUS GROUNDS,
THEY STILL TAKE CONSIDERABLE COMFGRT FROM THE CONVICTION THAT
GOD IS ON THEIR SIDE. BACON LIVED IN AN AGE IN WHICH THE
THEORY THAT A MAN'S LIFE COULD BE TAKEN TO SAVE HIS SOUL
STILL HAD CONSIDERABLE CURRENCY, AMONG CATHOLICS AND PRO’
TESTANTS ALIKE. UNFORTUNATELY HE LEFT NO COMPREHENSIVE ES“
SAY ON THE MORALITY OF RELIGIOUS WARS, BUT THE FRAGMENTS HE

DID LEAVE, PARTICULARLY IN HIS CONSIDERATIONS TCUCHING A fiAR

 

WITH SPAIN (I62h) AND HIS ADVERTISEMENT TCUCHING AN HOLY WAR

 

 

(I622), GIVE US A FAIR INDICATION OF HIS TOTAL VIEW. THESE
WORKS, SUPPLEMENTED WITH RELEVANT REFLECTIONS IN OTHER LIT—
ERARY AND OCCASIONAL PIECES, WILL BE THE MAJOR CONCERN OF
THIS CHAPTER.

IT HARDLY NEEDS SAYING THAT AT HEART BACON WAS A PEACE-
ABLE MAN, ONE DEVOTED TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT INDIVIDUALS AND
NATIONS MUST LIVE IN HARMONY IF THE IMPORTANT WORK OF LIFE

MIGHT PROCEED. IN THE NEW ATLANTIS, WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE

 

255

256

TAKEN LIGHTLY AS A CLUE TO BACON'S IDEA OF EMPIRE, THE
BENSALEMITES LIVE IN CONSUMMATE ISOLATION. THEY SEND OUT
THEIR CULTURAL SPIES TO CLEAN THE BEST THAT IS BEING SAID
AND DONE IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY HAVE NO PLAN TO RISE IN
ARMS ONE DAY TO ERADICATE UNIVERSAL STUPIDITY AND WASTE,
MUCH LESS TO SPREAD THEIR FAITH. THEY ARE A QUIESCENT
FOLK WHO ARE COMPLETELY SATISFIED TO REMAIN APART FROM THE
MAIN-CURRENTS OF CIVILIZATION, CURRENTS WHICH ARE REALLY
GOING NOWHERE ANYWAY. BUT BACON, WHEN HE VIEWED CONTEM-
PORARY LIFE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE PAST, WAS INFLUENCED BY
THE SOBER FACT THAT A NATION AT REST, A NATION LUXURIATING
IN ITS OWN SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WOULD SOON PERISH. THE WHOLE
COURSE OF HISTORY HAD TAUGHT HIM THAT, AND HE WAS NOT ONE
TO FORGET THE LESSONS OF HISTORY.

BACONIS ESSAY "OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF KINGDOMS AND
ESTATES," DRAWN FROM MANY CORNERS OF HIS OTHER WORKS, WILL
SERVE AS A USEFUL INTRODUCTION TO HIS TWO MAJOR TRACTS ON
WAR. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO OBSERVE IN THIS ESSAY
THAT IT Is THE COMMON MAN, THE MEMBER OF THE SWELLING AND
TURBULENT MOB, IN WHOSE HANDS THE DESTINY OF A NATION RESTS
IN A TIME OF CRISIS. NEITHER TERRITORY, NOR WEALTH, NOR
POPULATION IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF A KINGDOMIS MILITARY

GREATNESS. IT IS THE ACTUAL COURAGE OF INDIVIDUAL WARRIORS

WHICH DETERMINES THE OUTCOME OF A BATTLE:

257

WALLED TOWNS, STORED ARSENALS AND ARMORIES,
GOODLY RACES OF HORSE, CHARIOTS OF WAR, ELEPHANTS,
ORDNANCE, ARTILLERY, AND THE LIKE; ALL THIS Is
BUT A SHEEP IN A LIONIS SKIN, EXCEPT THE BREED
AND DISPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE BE WARLIKE. NAY,
NUMBER (ITSELF) IN ARMIES IMPORTETH NOT MUCH,
WHERE THE PEOPLE IS OF WEAK COJRAGE; FOR (AS
VIRGIL SAITH) IT NEVER TROUBLES A WOLF HOW MANY
THE SHEEP EE'-_— —' ———

 

 

 

 

A PRINCE, BACON CONTINUES, WHO MUST DEPEND UPON MERCENARY
FORCES MAY WIN A SINGLE BATTLE, BUT HIS VICTORY WILL BE
BUILT UPON A TEMPORARY FOUNDATION.

IN KEEPING WITH HIS DEDICATION TO THE STRATIFIED SOC—
IETY, BACON REFLECTS ON THE WISDOM Gr HENRY VII, WHO TOOK
GREAT CARE THAT THE COMMON PEOPLE MIGHT LIVE IN RELATIVE
COMFORT AND RETAIN THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT SELF-RESPECT. THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT ATTITUDE, HE SAYS, F02 MEN MUST FEEL THAT
THEY POSSESS SOMETHING BEFORE THEY WILL FIGHT EFFECTIVELY
FOR THEIR COUNTRIES. ADDITIONALLY, ONCE A NATION HAS SUB-
DUED AN ENEMY, IT MUST BE LIBERAL TOWARD NATURALIZATION,
FOR IF A TERRITORY IS MERELY OCCUPIED, IT WILL REMAIN A
BURDEN TO THE VICTORS. SPAIN, THOUGH REMISS IN NATURALIZAH
TION, EMPLOYS "ALMOST INDIFFERENTLY ALL NATIONS IN THEIR
MILITIA OF ORDINARY SOLDIERs; YEA AND SOMETIMES IN THEIR
HIGHEST COMMANDS." IN OTHER WORDS, BACON'S ADVICE IS'THAT
BY ONE MEANS OR ANOTHER MEN MUST BE CONVINOED THAT THEY HAVE

SOMETHING TO GAIN BY LOSING THEIR LIVES, AND THERE Is NOTH-

ING WHICH MEN VALUE MORE THAN THE RIGHT TO CLAIM A REAL

IDENTITY IN THE NATIONAL LIFE.

 

238

ALTHOUGH BACON HIMSELF COULD HARDLY BE LISTED AMONG
THE DEVOTEES OF PHYSICAL PROWESS,| HE MAINTAINS-THAT THE
WARLIKE DISPOSITION IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH THE Ac-
TIVE LIFE: "IT IS CERTAIN, THAT SEDENTARY AND WITHIN-DOOR
ARTS, AND DELICATE MANUFACTURES (THAT REQUIRE RATHER THE
FINGER THAN THE ARM), HAVE IN THEIR NATURE A CONTRARIETY
TO A MILITARY DISPOSITION." IT IS NOT ENOUGH, BACON CON-
TINUES, TO HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL COMMITMENT TO A STRONG
NATIONAL ARMY; A NATION MUST MAKE IT ITS BUSINESS TO CULTI-
VATE THE MILITARY ARTS, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT MUST BE
READY TO GO TO WAR. IT MUST, IN FACT, BE ALERT TO ANY

POSSIBLE PROVOCATIONS:.-

FIRST, THEREFORE, LET NATIONS THAT PRETEND TO
GREATNESS HAVE THIs; THAT THEY BE SENSIBLE OF
WRONGS, EITHER UPON BORDERS, MERCHANTS, OR
POLITIC MINISTERs; AND THAT THEY SIT NOT Too
LONG UPON A PROVOCATION. SECONDLY, LET THEM
BE PREST AND READY TO GIVE AIDS AND SUCCOURS
TO THEIR CONFEDERATEs; AS IT EVER WAS WITH THE
ROMANS; INSOMUCH, AS IF THE CONFEDERATES HAD
LEAGUES DEFENSIVE WITH DIVERS OTHER STATES,
AND, UPON INVASION OFFERED, DID IMPLORE THEIR
AIDS SEVERALLY, YET THE ROMANS WOULD EVER BE
FOREMOST, AND LEAVE IT To NONE OTHER TO HAVE
THE HONOUR.

I. SPEDDING MENTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME THAT BACON SEEMS
NEVER TO HAVE CARED MUCH FOR THOSE VIGOROUS SPORTS
WHICH EXCITED THE CONTEMPORARY COURTS. HE WAS NOT A
HUNTER, NEVER APPEARS TO HAVE CAUGHT A FISH, ETC. IN
THE SYLVA SYLVARUM, IN SOME WAYSTHE MOST UN-BACONIAN
OF THE UN-BACONIAN WORKS, CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS ARE MADE
WHICH LEAD ME TO THINK THAT BACON HAD NOT LOOKED CARE-
FULLY AT THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD. FOR EXAMPLE, HE NOTES
THAT THE GESTATION PERIOD OF A COW IS SIX MONTHS, A
CALCULATION WHICH ANY FARM BOY KNOWS IS GROSSLY INCOR-
RECT. (SEE WORKS, II, 58h.) EVIDENTLY BACON WAS SATIS—
FIED WITH RIGORS OF GARDENING.

 

WL

 

f .

259

FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS, A WAR HAS A TONIC EFFECT ON A NATION,
JUST AS EXERCISE DOES ON THE BODY. CIVIL WAR IS A DISEASE,
BUT "A FOREIGN WAR A JUST AND HONORABL£7 IS LIKE THE HEAT
OF EXERCISE, AND SERVETH TO KEEP THE BODY IN HEALTH."
PROFESSOR DOUGLAS BUSH HAS MADE THE APT COMMENT THAT
MORALLY THE ESSAYS ARE "SOMEWHAT OF A JUMBLE,"2 AND ONE
WONDERS IF A JUST AND HONORABLE EXCUSE COULD ALWAYS BE
FOUND To EXERCISE A NATION'S BELLICOSE MUSCLES. PERHAPS
BACON'S TWO MAJOR TRACTS ON WAR WILL BRING us CLOSER To
THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CONVICTIONS.

IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT BACON COMPOSED THE ADVERTISE-

 

MENT TCUCHING AN HOLY WAR BEFORE THE CONSIDERATIONS TCUCHING

 

 

 

 

A WAR WITH SPAIN, I WISH TO DISCUSS THE LATTER FIRST, FOR

 

IT REPRESENTS A TRUER PICTURE OF BACON'S REAL ATTITUDE TOWARD

SPAIN AND CATHOLICISM. THE ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNS THE P08-

 

SIBILITY OF ENGLAND AND SPAIN JOINING HANDS TO WAR AGAINST
THE INFIDELS, AN AMORPHOUS UNION WHICH I AM CONVINOED BACON
THOUGHT VIRTUALLY FANTASTIC.

THE EVENTS WHICH LED UP TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE CON"

 

SIDERATIONS TCUCHING A WAR WITH SPAIN CAN BE STATED BRIEFLY.

 

KING JAMES, WHOM TREVELYAN CALLS "THE MOST THOROUGH-GOING

PACIFICIST WHO EVER BORE RULE IN ENGLAND,“3 HAD BEEN

2. ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE EARLIER SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
(OXFORD UNIV. PRESS, ISKS; I9u9), P. I66.

 

 

5. HISTORY 2:_ENGLAND, II, I59.

211.0

CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED TO OPEN HOSTILITIES WITH SPAIN. AT

THE OPENING OF THE THIRTY—YEARsI WAR (I6I8-U8), BOHEMIA

AND THE RHENISH PALATINATE HAD BEEN OVERRUN BY AUSTRIAN
FORCES (AND LATER BY SPANIARDS FROM THE LOWLANDS). THE
DISPOSSESSED PRINCE OF THESE COUNTRIES WAS FREDERICK COUNT
PALATINE, JAMESI SON-IN-LAW. IN SPITE OF THE APPARENT WILL-
INGNESS OF THE ENGLISH TO WAGE A WAR FOR THE RECOVERY OF
THESE DOMINIONS, JAMES, IN TREVELYANIS WORDS, "VAINLY THOUGHT
TO EFFECT THEIR RESTORATION BY INGRATIATING HIMSELF YET MORE
WITH THEIR [THE PRINCEIS AND HIS FAMILY'S7 ENEMIES BY SUB-
JECTING ENGLISH POLICY MORE THAN EVER TO CONDOMAR THE SPAN-
ISH AMBASSADOR, AND FINALLY BY PROPOSING TO MARRY HIS SUR-
VIVING SON CHARLES TO THE SPANISH INFANTS."h IN I625, AS

I MENTIONED EARLIER, PRINCE CHARLES AND GEORGE VILLIERS RE-
TURNED FROM SPAIN TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE SPANISH MATCH WOULD
NOT BE MADE. PARLIAMENT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK TO DECIDE
IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO LAUNCH A FULL-SCALE WAR AGAINST
SPAIN. AT THIS TIME, BACON, NOW BANISHED FROM COURT BUT
STILL HOPEFUL OF REGAINING SOME OF HIS LOST FAVOR, COMPOSED
A LONG AND HIGHLY FORAAL LETTER TO PRINCE CHARLES IN WHICH
HE DISCUSSED THE GENERAL MORALITY OF WAR, THE SPECIFIC REA-
SONS ENGLAND HAD TO ATTACK SPAIN, AND SOME OF THE MEANS

WHEREBY A VICTORY MIGHT BE ACHIEVED. IDEAS WHICH HE HAD

TO SUPPRESS AS LONG AS JAMES FOLLOWED A PEACEABLE COURSE

h. IBID., P. I65.

 

 

Zul

FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THIS REMARKABLE ESSAY, BACON'S LAST
CONTRIBUTION TO THE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF HIS DAY.5

AFTER DISCARDING "AMBITIOUS PREDATORY WARS" AS UNFIT-
TING TO THE DEMANDS OF HIS PROJECT, BACON DIVIDES WARFARE
INTO TWO CATEGORIES~~OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE, OR WARS OF
"PLAINT" AND WARS OF DEFENSE. IN THE CASE OF WAR AGAINST
SPAIN, ONE PLAINT OBTAINS (RECOVERY OF THE PALATINATE),
AND THERE ARE TWO JUST GROUNDS OF DEFENSE: "A . . . FEAR
OF THE SUBVERSION OF OUR CIVIL ESTATE" AND A "FEAR OF THE
SUBVERSION OF OUR RELIGION." IN ELABORATELY LEGALISTIC
TERMINOLOGY BAOON COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PALATIN-
ATE, LOST TO THE HANDS OF AN AGGRESSOR, MAY BE JUSTLY RE-
COVERED; BUT THE MORALITY OF A DEFENSIVE WAR (THAT IS, "AG-
GRESSIVE DEFENSIVE“) IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN.
ONE MUST, BACON SAYS, BE GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT A

JUST FEAR INVOLVES IMMINENT DANGER. SUCH THINGS AS "UM-

 

BRAGES, LIGHT JEALOUSIES," AND "APPREHENSIONS AFAR OFF" DO

NOT CONSTITUTE ADEQUATE GROUNDS FOR A DEFENSIVE WAR.

5. THE MELANCHOLY TONE OF MANY OF BACON'S OCCASIONAL TRACTS
COMPOSED AFTER HIS FALL IS FREQUENTLY VERY TCUCHING. I
QUOTE FROM A PASSAGE IN THIS WORK: “ALTHOUGH THEREFORE
I HAD WHOLLY SEQUESTERED MY THOUGHTS FROM CIVIL AFFAIRS,

YET BECAUSE IT IS A NEW CASE AND CONCERNETH MY COUNTRY
INFINITELY, I OBTAINED OF MYSELF TO SET DOWN (OUT OF
LONG-CONTINUED EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS OF ESTATE, AND
MUCH CONVERSATION IN BOOKS OF POLICY AND HISTORY) WHAT
I THOUGHT PERTINENT TO THIS BUSINEss; . . ." (WORKS,

XIV, LI69.)

6. WORKS, XIV, I475.

2LI2

THERE ARE, HE CONTINUES, CERTAIN KNOWN ENEMIES OF CHRls-
TIAN STATES AGAINST WHOM A PRECEDENT FOR WAR ALWAYS EXISTS.
THE TURKS, FOR EXAMPLE, POSSESS A FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF EMPIRE
"THAT THEY MAY (WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROVOCATION) MAKE WAR
UPON CHRISTENDOM FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THEIR LAw; SO THAT
THERE LIETH UPON THE CHRISTIANS A PERPETUAL FEAR OF A WAR
(HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS) FROM THEM; AND THEREFORE THEY

MAY AT ALL TIMES (As THEY THINK GOOD) BE UPON THE PREVEN-

TION."7 FURTHERMORE, EVERY NATION HAS THE RIGHT TO ASSUME
THAT ITS NEIGHBORS ARE POTENTIAL ENEMIES, THOUGH BACON RE-
JECTS THE NOTION THAT ALL NATIONS ARE POISED READY TO BOUND
UPON EACH OTHER. HE IS LIKEWISE OPPOSED TO THE OPINIONS OF

"SOME SCHOOLMEN" THAT ALL WARS MUST BE WARS OF REVENGE:

TO CONCLUDE, THEREFORE; HOWSOEVER SOME
SCHOOLMEN (OTHERWISE REVEREND MEN, YET FITTER
TO GUIDE PENKNIVES THAN SWORDS) SEEM PRECISELY
TO STAND UPON IT, THAT EVERY OFFENSIVE WAR
MUST BE ULTlo; A REVENGE, THAT PRESUPPOSETH A
PRECEDENTTTSSAULT OR INJURY; YET NEITHER DO
THEY DESCEND TO THIS POINT (WHICH WE NOW HANDLE)
OF A JUST FEAR; NEITHER ARE THEY OF AUTHORITY
TO JUDGE THIS QUESTION AGAINST ALL PRECEDENTS OF
TIME. FOR CERTAINLY, As LONG AS MEN ARE MEN (THE
SONS, AS THE POETS ALLUDE, OF PROMETHEUS, AND NOT
OF EPIMETHEUS) AND AS LONG AS REASON IS REASON, A
JUST FEAR ILL BE A JUST CAUSE OF A PREVENTIVE
WAR. . .0

7. IBID., PP. LL76'J77.

8. IBID., P. L77. CF. ST. AUGUSTINE: “I KNOW THE OBJECTION
THAT A GOOD RULER WILL WAGE WARS ONLY, IF THEY ARE JUST.
BUT, SURELY, IF HE WILL ONLY REMEMBER THAT HE IS A MAN,

HE WILL BEGIN BY BEWAILING THE NECESSITY HE Is UNDER OF
WAGING EVEN JUST WARS. A GOOD MAN WOULD BE UNDER COMPUL-
SIoN TO WAGE NO WARS AT ALL, IF THERE WERE NOT SUCH

2W5

AGAIN BACON HAS ACCUSED "MONKS AND CLOSET PENMEN" OF DEAL-
ING IN MATTERS OUTSIDE THE SPHERE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE, BUT
A FEW LINES LATER HE APPLAUDS AQUINAS FOR "DEFINING. . .
THE JUST CAUSES OF WAR. . . UPON VERY GENERAL TERMS." AT

ANY RATE, HIS OWN OPINION IS THAT "A JUST FEAR I

 

 

CAUSE 2: fi.fli§3"9 HE HAS NO DIFFICULTY, ONCE THIS PRBAISE
Is ESTABLISHED, IN DEMONSTRATING THAT SPAIN IS INDEED A
GENUINE THREAT To THE ENGLISH NATION: HE SIMPLY REVIEWS
SUCH EVENTS AS THE "CONQUEST OF '88."

ONCE THE PROPOSITION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT SPAIN
IS A CIVIL THREAT, IT IS A FORGONE CONCLUSION THAT THERE
IS A JUST FEAR THAT THE CHURCH AND RELIGION OF ENGLAND MAY
BE OVERTHROWN. THIS Is A FEAR, BACON SAYS, WHICH “NEEDETH

LITTLE SPEECH." HE DOES, HOWEVER,‘TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE
MORALITY OF AGGRESSIVE WARS CONDUCTED FOR RELIGIOUS ENDS:

OF AN OFFENSIVE WAR THERE Is MORE DISPUTE. AND
YET IN THAT INSTANCE OF THE WAR FOR THE HOLY
LAND AND SEPULCHRE, I DO WONDER SOMETIMES THAT
THE SCHOOLMEN WANT WORDS TO DEFEND THAT, WHICH
s. BERNARD WANTED WORDS TO COMMEND. BUT I,
THAT IN THIS LITTLE EXTRACT OF A TREATISE Do

OMIT THINGS NECESSARY, AM NOT TO HANDLE THINGS
UNNEOESSARY.I

THINGS AS JUST WARS. A JUST WAR, MOREOVER, IS JUSTIFIED
ONLY BY THE INJUSTICE OF AN AGGRESSOR; AND THAT INJus-
TICE OUGHT TO BEA.SOURCE OF GRIEF TOIANY GOOD MAN, BE-
CAUSE IT IS HUMAN INJUSTICE. IT WOULD BE DEPLORABLE

IN ITSELF, APART FROM BEING A SOURCE OF CONFLICT."

CITY OF GOD, XIX, 7. (FROM THE TRANSLATION BY WALSH,
zEMA,—MONXRAN, AND HONAN; PUB. BY THE FATHERS OF THE
CHURCH INC., NEW YORK, I950, 5 VOLS.)

9. WORKS, XIV, P. U78. IO. IBID., PP. MBI-BZ.

2%

ONE MORE NECESSARY THING REMAINS TO BE SAID ABOUT THE SPAN-
ISH CATHOLICS, HE CONCLUDES, THE FACT THAT THEY, UNLIKE
OTHER CATHOLIC STATES, TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES "T0 INTER-
MEDDLE WITH FOREIGN STATES, AND TO DECLARE THEMSELVES PRO—
TECTORS GENERAL OF THE PARTY OF CATHOLICS'THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD."

FOLLOWING THESE COMMENTS, SEVERAL PAGES OF THE TRACT
ARE DEVOTED TO A GENERAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIVE MIGHT
OF THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH NATIONS, AN EXPOSITION WHICH
NEED NOT CONCERN US. HOWEVER IT Is INTERESTING TO OBSERVE
THAT BACON--AS USUAL~~ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL NOT ATTEMPT
TO ADJUDGE WHAT ROLE GOD MIGHT PLAY IN THE BALANCE OF
POWER: “I SAID, SPAIN WAS NO SUCH GIANT; AND YET IF HE WERE
A GIANT, IT WILL BE BUT AS IT WAS BETWEEN DAVID AND GOLIAH;
:25 922.Li._fl.225._12_3 BUT TO LEAVE ALL ARGUMENTS THAT
ARE SUPERNATURAL. . . ."'| NOR WILL HE GIVE DAME FORTUNE
ANY CREDIT FOR THE MANY VICTORIES WHICH HIS COUNTRYMEN HAVE
WON OVER THE SPANISH: "IT Is NOT FORTUNE SURE; SHE IS NOT
SO CONSTANT."I2

IN THE LAST DIVISION OF THE ESSAY BACON PRESENTS A
BRIEF LIST OF THE MEANS WHICH MIGHT BE EMPLOYED TO DEFEAT
SPAIN, TO KNOCK DOWN THE FOUR PILLARS OF HER GREATNESS,

WHICH ARE A "VETERAN ARMY," A "PROFESSION OF CATHOLICS IN

II. IBID., P. 14.82. I2. IBID., P. LL85.

2115

ALL PARTS," THE "TREASURE OF THE INDIES," AND THE "STRAIGHT
ALLIANCE OF THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIA, WHICH IS POSSESSED OF THE
EMPIRE."'5 TO KNOCK DOWN THE PILLAR OF CATHOLICISM, BACON
PROPOSES "FOUR EXPEDIENTS." IN THE FIRST PLACE HE COUNSELS
THAT MEANS BE FOUND TO PUBLISH THE HYPOCRISY OF SPAIN TO
THE REST OF THE CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT WORLD. IN PARTIcu-
LAR, IT Is TO BE ANNOUNCED THAT SPAIN SAILS "THE POINT OF
THE COMPASS OF AMBITION AND NOT OF RELIGION"; IT Is TO BE
ANNOUNCED THAT THE SPANISH EMPEROR CHARLES V "IMPRISONED
THE PERSON OF THE POPEluMOST ODIOUSLY BY THE SPACE OF THIR-
TEEN MONTHS"; IT IS TO BE ANNOUNCED THAT "OF LATE THE KING
OF SPAIN GAVE MONIES TO THE PROTESTANTS OF FRANCE"; AND FOR
GOOD MEASURE "OTHER PROCEEDINGS OF SPAIN AS MAY BE COLLECTED"
ARE TO BE ADVERTIZED.

IN THE SECOND "EXPEDIENT" BACON SUGGESTS THAT ORDERS
BE ENCOURAGED AND ESTABLISHED WHICH MAY COUNTERACT THE PRo-
GRAMS OF THE JESUITS. HE PROPOSES THAT A NEW ORDER BE ES—
TABLISHED IN FRANCE "LIKE UNTO THAT OF THE JESUITS," BUT
THIS ORDER OR ANY OTHER LIKE IT MUST BE GRANTED THE LIB-
ERTIES AND TOOLS POSSESSED BY THE JESUITS. MEMBERS OF THE
ORDER MUST NOT BE CLOISTERED MEN: THEY MUST BE AFIELD "FOR

THE WINNING OF SOULS"; THEY MUST BE PERMITTED TO EDUCATE

I5. IBID., P. 502.

IL. CLEMENT VII (MEDICI); HE WAS IMPRISONED IN I527.

2&6

YOUTH AND TO ACT AS CONFESSORS TO THE SICK. THEY MUST ALSO
"LISTEN TO MATTERS OF STATE, AND SOME OF THEM LIVE IN THE
COURTS OF PRINCES, AND THE LIKE."

THE THIRD EXPEDIENT ALSO CONCERNS THE JESUITS, FOR
WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS BACON OBVIOUSLY HAD A GREAT RESPECT.
HIS SUGGESTION IS THAT THE POPE BE ENCOURAGED TO "MAKE SOME
REGLEMENT OF THE ORDER OF JESUITS." ANY ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS
THE ORDER WOULD MEET WITH "INFINITE DANGER," BUT THE POPE
MIGHT REQUIRE THAT "THE LETTERS SENT BY [THE JESUITS FROM
ALL PARTS TO THEIR GENERAL EVER RESIDING AT ROME" BE DELIv-
ERED INTO HIS HANDS "ONCE A MONTH OR OFTENER." REALIZING
THAT THE JESUITS ARE HIGHLY ORGANIZED AND LARGELY IDENTI-
FIED WITH SPAIN, THE POPE MIGHT CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
THAT THEY CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO THE PAPACY ITSELF.

THE FOURTH EXPEDIENT IS THAT "THE KING OF FRANCE EN-
DEAVOUR HIMSELF BY ALL GOOD MEANS TO INTEREST HIMSELF IN
THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE POPES, AND TO HAVE A STRONG PARTY IN
THE COLLEGE OF THE CARDINALS."'5

IT IS TEMPTING TO WONDER HOW MUCH FAITH BACON HAD IN
THESE DEVICES, BUT HE REALIZED THAT A PLAN TO SUBDUE SPAIN
COULD NOT BE COMPLETE-~0R PERHAPS EVEN MEANINGFUL AT ALL--
UNLESS MEANS WERE FOUND TO DISSIPATE THE ENERGY OF SPANISH

CATHOLICISM. HE KNEW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE

I5. THE EXPEDIENTS ARE DISCUSSED PP. 505-505.

21+"?

JESUITS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE CONTENT TO HUDDLE IN SOME
CORNER OF SPAIN WHILE THEIR HOMELAND WAS BEING GRADUALLY
CONVERTED TO PROTESTANTISM, NOR WOULD THEY BE CONTENT TO
ACCEPT CATHOLICISM ON PROTESTANT TERMS. IN THE WISDOM 2:-

THE ANCIENTS BACON HAD ALREADY DISCUSSED THE PERPLEXING

 

PROBLEM OF SUPPRESSING A RELIGIOUS SECT WITH VIOLENCE BY
RECOUNTING THE FABLE 0F DIOMEDES. DIOMEDES, A GREEK WAR-
RIOR, WAS INCITED BY PALLAS NOT TO SPARE VENUS IF HE SHOULD
ENCOUNTER HER IN BATTLE, AND IT FOLLOWED THAT HE DID WOUND
THE GODDESS IN THE HAND, AN ACT FOR WHICH HE GAINED GREAT
FAME. BUT WHILE DIOMEDES WAS BEING ENTERTAINED BY KING
DAUNUS, A DISASTER BEFELL THE KING'S DOMAIN, AND THE IN-
FERENCE WAS IMMEDIATELY MADE THAT THE TRAVAILS RESULTED
FROM THE KING'S HARBORING ONE WHO HAD INJURED A GODDESS.
CONSEQUENTLY DIOMEDES WAS SLAIN, AND HIS COMRADES, WHO BE-
WAILED HIS DEATH, WERE TURNED INTO SWANS. BACON HAD SAID
THAT THE FABLE SIGNIFIED THE "FORTUNES OF A MAN WHO MAKES
IT HIS DECLARED OBJECT TO PERSECUTE AND OVERTHROW BY VIC-
LENCE AND THE SWORD SOME RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OR SECT, THOUGH
A VAIN AND LIGHT ONE." IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE
ANCIENTS DID NOT HAVE RELIGIOUS WARS, BY "REFLEXION AND
IMAGINATION" THEY HAD ANTICIPATED THE PROBLEMS OF SUCH

EVENTS. THEY REALIZED THAT ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTED TO "CUT

OUT AND EXTERMINATE" A RELIGIOUS SECT BY VIOLENCE, THOUGH

HE MIGHT TRIUMPH TEMPORARILY, WOULD EVENTUALLY FEEL THE

2LI8

WRATH OF THE SUPPRESSED SECT, WHOSE MEMBERS WOULD STAND
EVER READY TO JOIN IN ANY CAUSE TO DESTROY HIM.I6 SINCE
THE JESUITS WERE BY NO MEANS A "VAIN AND LIGHT" ORDER,
BACON APPARENTLY FELT THAT THE ONLY HOPE FOR THEIR SUP-
PRESSION LAY IN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE CON-
TAINED WITHIN THE LARGER DISCIPLINE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ITSELF. HIS "COUNTER-JESUIT MOVEMENT" SEEMS LARGELY VI-
SIONARY TO ME, AND IT MAY BE THAT HE SIMPLY DID NOT KNOW
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE JESUITS. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE GRAND
WAR TOOK THE FORM OF SEVERAL RASH EXPEDITIONS IN WHICH
BUCKINGHAM (VILLIERS) "CAST HIMSELF FOR THE PART OF THE
PROTESTANT HERO ABROAD."I7

THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN THE CONSIDERATIONS

 

TCUCHING A WAR WITH SPAIN TO SUGGEST THAT BACON FELT A

 

 

FULL-SCALE WAR AGAINST THE SPANISH COULD BE A COMPLETE
MILITARY SUCCESS, BUT HE IS MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITIES OF A WORKABLE OCCUPATION. THE MORALITY OF
SUCH A WAR IS TESTED SOLELY ON THE CIVIL GROUNDS OF A "JUST

FEAR" OF AGGRESSION. IN THE ADVERTISEMENT TCUCHING AN HOLY

 

UAR, WRITTEN TWO YEARS EHLIER (I622), WHEN IT APPEARED THAT

———

THE SPANISH MATCH WOULD BE MADE, BACON HAD PROBED THE MOR”

ALITY OF RELIGIOUS WARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND SOME COMMON

 

I6. WORKS, VI, 752-5h.

I7. TREVELYAN, II, I6M.

 

2A9

END TOWARD WHICH ENGLAND AND SPAIN MIGHT WORK. APPARENTLY
HE FELT THAT THE SPANISH MATCH WOULD BE A FIASCO UNLESS
TWO CONFIRMED ENEMIES FOUND A COMMON FOE AGAINST WHOM THEY
COULD VENT THEIR CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS FURY. THE HEROIO
DIMENSIONS OF SUCH A TASK MAY EXPLAIN WHY BACON CHOSE TO
PRESENT HIS ARGUMENT IN THE FORM OF A DIALOGUE (THE ONLY
TIME HE USED THE DEVICE).

IT WILL BE NECESSARY, BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE ARGu—
MENTS OF THE TRACT, TO INTRODUCE THE DRAMATIS PERSONAE AND
TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO. THERE

ARE SIX CHARACTERS: EUSEBIUS, A "MODERATE DIVINE"; GAMALIEL,

 

 

A "PROTESTANT ZELANT"; ZEBEDAEUS, A "ROMISH CATHOLIC ZE-

 

LANT"; MARTIUS, A "MILITAR MAN"; EUPOLIS, A "POLITIQUE";
AND POLLIO, A COURTIER. THEY ARE MET IN PARIS AT THE
HOUSE OF EUPOLIS, THE STATESMAN, TO CONSIDER THE LAWFUL-
NESS OF A WAR FOR THE PROPAGATION OF RELIGION, IN PARTIcu-
LAR A WAR AGAINST THE TURK. EACH IN HIS OWN TURN IS TO
GIVE A POINT OF VIEW ON QUESTIONS PARTICULARLY SUITED TO
HIS SKILLS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PROTESTANT ZEALOT,
GAMALIEL, ALL ARE ROMAN CATHOLICS. THE DIALOGUE IS, UN-
FORTUNATELY, INCOMPLETE, ENDING AFTER A LENGTHY SPEECH BY
zEBEDAEUS, THE CATHOLIC ZEALOT.I8
I8. SPEDDING CONJECTURES THAT BACON CONCLUDED THE TRACT

WHEN IT APPEARED THAT THE SPANISH MATCH WOULD NOT

BE CONTRACTED. IT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED BY RAWLEY IN

I629. AS IT STANDS, THE TEXT IS A LITTLE OVER NINE-
TEEN PAGES IN LENGTH. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW

250

AS THE SCENE OPENS, ONE IS REMINDED OF THE ATMOSPHERE
OF GOOD FELLOWSHIP AT THE TABARD INN, WHERE ALL "WEREN ESED
ATTE BESTE." POLLIO, THE COURTIER (AND COMIC RELIEF), AR-
RIVES LATE AND, IN HIS "WITTY AND PLEASANT MANNER" GREETS
THE OTHERS IN THE FANCIFUL LANGUAGE OF THE COURT:
HERE BE FOUR OF YOU, I THINK WERE ABLE TO MAKE
A GOOD WORLD; FOR YOU ARE DIFFERING AS THE FOUR
ELEMENTS, AND YET YOU ARE FRIENDS. AS FOR
EUPOLIS, BECAUSE HE IS TEMPERATE AND WITHOUT

PASSION, HE MAY BE THE FIFTH ESSENCE.

EUPOLIS, WHO HAS ALSO DABBLED WITH THE MUSE, HAS A READY
ANSWER FOR THIS:
IF WE FIVE (POLLIO) MAKE THE GREAT WORLD, YOU
ALONE MAY MAKE THE LITTLE; BECAUSE YOU PROFESS
AND PRACTICE BOTH, T0 REFER ALL THINGS TO YOUR-
SELF.
AFTER ANOTHER BRIEF EXCHANGE, EUPOLIS INVITES POLLIO TO TAKE
A SEAT AND PARTICIPATE IN A DISCUSSION~~ALREADY UNDER WAY--
ABOUT "THE AFFAIRS OF CHRISTENDOM AT THIS DAY." POLLIO
AGREES, BUT WARNS THAT SINCE HE HAS "JOURNEYED THIS MORN-
ING, AND IT IS NOW THE HEAT 6' DAY," HE IS APT TO FALL
ASLEEP UNLESS THE CONVERSATION IS LIVELY.

EUPOLIS SUSPECTS THAT THE CONVERSATION WILL KEEP THE

COURTIER AWAKE, FOR TO THIS POINT IT HAS BEEN LED BY MARTIUS

(WHO REMINDS EUPOLIS a= A DIVINE IN ARMOR), WHOSE SPEECH
SEEMS TO BE THE "TRUMPET OF A WAR." MARTIUS, A KIND OF SUB-

DUED HOTSPUR, HAS BEEN LAMENTING THE FACT THAT FOR SEVERAL
LONG THE COMPLETED MANUSCRIPT WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT I

SHOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED FIFTY PAGES.
THE TEXT AND DISCUSSION ARE IN VOL. VII, 1-57.

25I

DECADES CHRISTENDOM HAS BEEN WAGING ONLY THE SHABBIEST OF
WARS. THE WARS HAVE BEEN "WITH SUBJECTs; LIKE AN ANGRY
SUIT FOR A MAN'S OWN, THAT MOUGHT BE BETTER ENDED BY AC—
CORD. SOME PETTY ACQUESTS OF A TOWN, OR A SPOT OF TERRI-
TORY; LIKE A FARMER'S PURCHASE OF A CLOSE OR NOOK 0F GROUND
THAT LAY FIT FOR HIM." MARTIUS REFLECTS ON THE GOOD OLD
DAYS WHEN RELIGIOUS WARS WERE MAGNIFICENT, AND HE BEMOANS
THE FACT THAT CHRISTIAN WARRING HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE
REST OF SOCIETY. MERCHANTS, FOR EXAAPLE, HAVE MADE "A GREAT
PATH IN THE SEAS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD"; STONES, SPICES,
AND PEARLS HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM THE FAR REACHES OF THE
GLOBE, BUT FOR "THE STONES OF THE HEAVENLY HIERUSALEM, OR
THE SPICES OF THE SPOUSEIS GARDEN, NOT A MAST HATH BEEN
SET UP." USING A VARIATION OF BACON'S WARS OF "PLAINT AND
DEFENSE," MARTIUS SAYS THAT IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS CHRls-
TENDOM HAS CONDUCTED A MERE THREE PIOUS WARS AGAINST THE
INFIDELS. HE WILL NOT CONSIDER DEFENSIVE WARS, FOR "WHERE
IT IS UPON THE DEFENSIVE, I RECKON IT A WAR OF NATURE, AND
NOT OF PIETY."

WHILE RESERVING THE RIGHT TO CLAIM THAT HIS MAJOR
GOAL IN PROPOSING A WAR AGAINST THE INFIDELS IS TO PRo-

PAGATE THE TRUE FAITH, MARTIUS GOES ON TO SAY THAT FORMER

WARS AGAINST NON-CHRISTIANS HAVE PROVED EXOEEDINGLY LUCRA-
TIVE. THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS BEEN PLANTED (ADMITTEDLY FOR

THE WRONG MOTIVES AT TIMES) IN DISTANT AND VIRGIN LANDS,

252

AND WEALTH HAS FLOWED IN FROM THEM: "80 AS TO CONCLUDE, WE
MAY SEE THAT IN THESE ACTIONS UPON GENTILES OR INFIDELS,
ONLY OR CHIEFLY, BOTH THE SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL HONOR AND
GOOD HAVE BEEN IN ONE PURSUIT AND PURCHASE CONJOINED."
POLLIO (WHO HAS MANAGED TO STAY AWN<E) WONDERS IF A
DISTINCTION SHOULD NOT BE MADE BETWEEN SUBDUING "WILD AND
SAVAGE PEOPLE," WHO NATURALLY PASS INTO THE POSSESSION OF
THE CONQUEROR, AND SUBDUING CIVILIZED PEOPLES. MARTIUS BE-
LIEVES THAT IT IS MOST DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE TRUE LINE
BETWEEN SAVAGERY AND CIVILITY, BUT THE GENERAL RULE HOLDS
THAT ANYTHING DONE "TO THE GREATEST AND MOST GENERAL GOOD
OF THE PEOPLE" IS JUSTIFIABLE. ACTUN.LY, HE CONTINUES, THE
NATIVES OF PERU AND MEXICO POSSESS SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
CUSTOMS FAR SUPERIOR TO THOSE OF THE TURKS:
so THAT IF THINGS BE RIGHTLY WEIGHED, THE EMPIRE
OF THE TURKS MAY BE TRULY AFFIRMED TO BE MORE
BARBAROUS THAN ANY OF THESE. A CRUEL TYRANNY
BATHED IN THE BLOOD OF THEIR EMPERORS UPON EVERY
SUCCESSION; A HEAP OF VASSALS AND SLAVEs; No
NOBLES, NO GENTLEMEN, NO FREEMEN, NO INHERITANCE
OF LAND, NO STIRP OF ANCIENT FMAILlEs; A PEOPLE
THAT IS WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, AND, AS THE
SCRIPTURE SAITH, THAT REGARDETH NOT THE DESIRES
OF WOMEN: AND WITHOUT PIETY OR CARE TOWARDS THEIR
CHILDREN: A NATION WITHOUT MORALITY, WITHOUT LET-
TERS, ARTS, OR SCIENCEs; THAT CAN SCARCE MEASURE
AN ACRE OF LAND, OR AN HOUR OF THE DAY; BASE AND

SLUTTISH IN BUILDINGS, DIETS, AND THE LIKE; AND
IN A WORD, A VERY REPROACH TO HUMAN SOCIETY.

 

POLLIO THINKS HE HAS SPOTTED A FLAW IN MARTIUS'S ARGUMENT.
IS IT NOT TRUE, HE ASKS, THAT IN THIS STRING OF INVECTIVE

MARTIUS HAS OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT THE TURKS ARE BY NO

MEANS TOOLATERS; AFTER ALL, THEY DO WORSHIP A CREATOR‘

255

BUT zEBEDAEUS (THE CATHOLIC ZEALOT), WHO HAS HAD LITTLE TO
SAY TO THIS POINT, REPLIES TO THIS MADNESS "WITH A COUNTEN-
ANCE OF GREAT REPREHENSION AND SEVERITY," REMINDING POLLIO
NOT TO FALL "UNAWARES INTO THE HERESY OF MANUEL COMNENUS,
EMPEROR OF GRAECIE ZjTh5-8g7; WHO AFFIRMED THAT MAHOMET'S
GOD WAS THE TRUE COD," AN OPINION CONDEMNED BY THE CHURCH.
MARTIUS CONCLUDES HIS ARGUMENT BY SAYING THAT HE IS CON-
VINCED A WAR AGAINST THE TURK WOULD BE WORTHIER THAN ONE
AGAINST "ANY OTHER GENTILES, INFIDELS, OR SAVAGES, THAT
EITHER HAVE BEEN OR NOW ARE, BOTH IN POINT OF RELIGION AND
IN POINT OF HONOR. . . ." BUT HE ADMITS THAT HE MAY BE
SWAYED BY PERSONAL PREJUDICE AND THEREFORE SUBMITS HIMSELF
TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AUGUST BODY.
BEFORE THE FIRST MEETING ADJOURNS, EUPOLIS THINKS IT
WILL BE WISE TO DISTRIBUTE SUBJECTS TO BE COVERED TO THOSE
BEST QUALIFIED TO HANDLE THEM. zEBEDAEUS IS GIVEN A OUEs—
TION DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE MORAL PROBLEMS OF RELIGIOUS
WARS. HE IS TO RENDER AN OPINION ON THE JUSTICE OF THE
"PROPAGATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, WITHOUT OTHER CAUSE
OF HOSTILITY." CAMALIEL (THE PROTESTANT ZEALOT) IS TO COM—
MENT ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT CHRISTIANS ARE OBLIGED TO PRo-

PAGATE THE FAITH. EUSEBIUS (THE MODERATE DIVINE) WILL GIVE

HIS OPINIONS ON THE MERIT OF THE POSITION THAT CHRISTENDOM
MIGHT BETTER CHANNEL ITS ENERGY INTO SETTING ITS OWN HOUSE

IN ORDER; POLLIO, WHO WILL NO DOUBT THINK ALL SUGGESTIONS

25A

"IMPOSSIBILITIES AND EAGLES IN THE CLOUDS," CAN STAND READY
TO CRUSH ALL ARGUMENTS. THE STATESMAN EUPOLIS WILL BALANCE
POLLIO'S SKEPTICISM BY PROVING "THE ENTERPRISE POSSIBLE" (HE
REPRESENTS BACON, I THINK, AND IT WILL BE NOTED THAT HE
CLAIRVOYANTLY BEGS THE QUESTION); AND MARTIUS WILL ACT AS
COUNSEL ON MEANS AND PREPARATIONS. THE DISTRIBUTION COM-
PLETED, POLLIO MAKES A FEW FACETIOUS REMARKS ABOUT HOLY WARS
AND THE PAPACY, AFTER WHICH THE MEETING CLOSES AS EUPOLIS
TELLS HIM TO BE "A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS IN THIS CONFERENCE."

ON THE NExT DAY, HOWEVER, WE LEARN THAT POLLIO IS UNRE—
FORMED: DURING THE NIGHT, HE SAYS, HE HAS BEEN DREAMING THAT
THE WAR HAS ALREADY BEGUN--DREAMING OF "NOTHING BUT JANIZARIES
AND TARTARS AND SULTANS ALL THE NIGHT LONG." MARTIUS, WHO
EARLIER PROMISED TO DEFER HIS JUDGMENT, IS THE FIRST TO GET
BACK TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND. HE HAS SPOTTED A FLAW IN
EUPOLIS'S DISTRIBUTION OF QUESTIONS. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE,
HE ASKS, TO DEBATE THE ADVISABILITY OF THE WAR (QUESTIONS
ASSIGNED TO POLLIO AND EUPOLIS) UNTIL IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED
THAT THE MEANS ARE AVAILABLE? ALL AGREE THAT HE HAS A POINT,
BUT EUPOLIS WANTS TO GET ON WITH THE PROBLEM OF OUGHT AND
THEREFORE TELLS zEBEDAEUS TO PROCEED WITH HIS ARGUMENT.

IT WILL BE REMEMBERED THAT zEBEDAEUS HAD BEEN GIVEN
THE PROBLEM OF THE JUSTICE OF PROPAGATING THE FAITH "WITH-
OUT OTHER CAUSE OF HOSTILITY." EUPOLIS NOW THINKS THAT THE

DIVINE MIGHT EXPAND THIS QUESTION TO INCLUDE OTHER RELEVANT

255

MATTERS, BUT ZEBEDAEUS HAS ANTICIPATED THIS SUGGESTION AND
HAS, IN THE BEST BACONIAN FASHION, DIVIDED HIS DISCOURSE
INTO SIX INTERRELATED TOPICS. THEIR RANGE WILL SUGGEST HOW
LENGTHY THIS TRACT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF BACON HAD COMPLETED
IT. AFTER REPEATING THE QUESTION ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED TO
HIM, zEBEDAEUS CONTINUES: 1
F

SECONDLY, WHETHER, IT BEING MADE PART OF THE
CASE THAT THE COUNTRIES WERE ONCE CHRISTIAN
AND MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND WHERE THE GOLDEN 5
CANDLESTICKS DID STAND, THOUGH NOW THEY BE UT—
TERLY ALIENATED AND NO CHRISTIAN LEFT, IT BE
NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE A WAR TO RESTORE THEM TO
THE CHURCH, AS AN ANCIENT PATRIMONY OF CHRIST:
THIRDLY, IF IT BE MADE A FURTHER PART OF THE
CASE, THAT THERE ARE YET REMAINING IN THE
COUNTRIES MULTITUDES OF CHRISTIANS, WHETHER

IT BE NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE A WAR TO FREE THEM
AND DELIVER THEM FROM THE SERVITUDE OF THE
INFIDELS? FOURTHLY, WHETHER IT BE NOT LAw-
FUL TO MAKE A WAR FOR PURGING AND RECOVERY

OF CONSECRATE PLACES, BEING NOW POLLUTED

AND PROFANED; AS THE HOLY CITY AND SEPULCHRE,
AND SUCH OTHER PLACES OF PRINCIPAL ADORATION
AND DEVOTION? FIFTHLY, WHETHER IT BE NOT
LAWFUL TO MAKE A WAR FOR THE REVENGE OR
VINDICATION OF BLASPHEMIES AND REPROACHES
AGAINST THE DEITY AND OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR; OR
FOR THE EFFUSION OF CHRISTIAN BLOOD, AND
CRUELTIES AGAINST CHRISTIANS, THOUGH ANCIENT
AND LONG SINCE PAST; CONSIDERING THAT GOD'S
VISITS ARE WITHOUT LIMITATION OF TIME, AND
MANY TIMES 00 BUT EXPECT THE FULNESS OF THE
SIN? SIXTHLY, IT IS To BE CONSIDERED (AS
EUPOLIS NOW LAST WELL REMEMBERED) WHETHER A
HOLY WAR (WHICH, AS IN THE WORTHINESS OF THE
QUARREL, SO IN THE JUSTNESS OF THE PROSECU~
TION, OUGHT TO EXCEED ALL TEMPORAL WARS) MAY
BE PURSUED EITHER TO THE EXPULSION OF PEOPLE
OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF CONSCIENCES OR THE

LIKE EXTREMITIEs; OR How TO BE MODERATED

AND LIMITED; LEST WHILST WE REMEMBER WE ARE

 

fiF-Jr - -_.

256

CHRISTIANS, WE FORGET THAT OTHERS ARE MEN?'9

BUT BEFORE HE BEGINS HIS DISCOURSE, ZEBEDAEUS HAS
SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY. HE HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT MART-
IUS'S SHORT VIEW OF THE TURKISH EMPIRE, AND THE MORE HE
THINKS, THE MORE CONVINCED HE BECOMES THAT A JUST WAR COULD
BE WAGED AGAINST THE ABOMINABLE TURKS (WHO ARE FULLY AS
CORRUPT AND DISGUSTING AS MARTIUS SAID THEY WERE) IF THE
RELIGIOUS QUESTION WERE NOT EVEN<>ONSIDERED. AFTER ALL,
HE SAYS, "WHERE THERE IS A HEAP OF PEOPLE (THOUGH WE TERM
IT A KINGDOM OR STATE) THAT IS ALTOGETHER UNABLE OR INDIGN
TO GOVERN, THERE IS A JUST CAUSE OF WAR FOR ANOTHER NATION,
THAT IS CIVIL OR POLLICED, TO SUBDUE THEM: AND THIS THOUGH
IT WERE DONE BY A CYRUS OR A CAESAR, THAT WERE NO CHRls-
TIAN." AFTER SAYING THIS, ZEBEDAEUS PAUSES TO AWAIT RE-
CRIMINATIONS. BUT ALL ARE SILENT AND ATTENTIVE. IN OTHER
WORDS, THE FATE OF THE TURKS HAS BEEN DECIDED BEFORE THE
ARGUMENT HAS REALLY BEGUN.

THE COMPLETED SECTION OF ZEBEDAEUS' SPEECH (EIGHT
PAGES) IS LARGELY CONCERNED WITH DESCRIBING THOSE CONDI-

TIONS UNDER WHICH MEN MAY LAWFULLY IMPOSE THEIR WILLS

UPON OTHERs; zEBEDAEUS HIMSELF IS A RARE MIXTURE OF

ARISTOTLE, AUGUSTINE, AQUINAS, AND BACON. THE KEYSTONE

I9. CF. "OF UNITY IN RELIGION": “FOR THIS IS BUT TO
DASH THE FIRST TABLE AGAINST THE SECOND; AND so
TO CONSIDER MEN AS CHRISTIANS, AS WE FORGET THAT
THEY ARE MEN."

257

OF HIS ARGUMENT IS THE PROPOSITION THAT SINCE ALL MEN ARE
DESCENDANTS OF ADAM, "NO NATIONS ARE WHOLLY ALIENS AND
STRANGERS THE ONE TO THE OTHER." THIS "INDISSOLUBLE CON-
SANGUINITY"--ORDAINED BY COD~~IS THE PHENOMENON WHICH, UN-
DER THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES, JUSTIFIES WARS OF AGGRESSION;
FOR IF A NATION HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS INCAPACITY TO LIVE
UNDER THE LAWS OF NATURE, NATIONS, AND GOD, IT SURRENDERS
ITS RIGHT TO EXIST AND MAY BE JUSTLY INVADED.

BUT, SAYS ZEBEDAEUS, THIS IS A PRINCIPLE WHICH MUST
NOT BE USED TO MAKE "A MOLOCH OR AN HEATHEN IDOL OF OUR
BLESSED SAVIOUR, IN SACRIFICING THE BLOOD OF MEN TO HIM BY
AN UNJUST WAR." MEN, AS ARISTOTLE SAID, ARE SOCIAL BEINGS~~
SOME FITTED TO RULE, SOME FITTED TO BE RULED--BUT zEBEDAEUS
WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NOTION THAT SOME NATIONS
ARE BETTER FITTED TO RULE THAN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THEIR
SUPERIOR POWER OR VIRTUE. THIS IS AN IDLE QUESTION ABOUT
WHICH MEN WILL NEVER AGREE. IT IS, IN FACT, ENTIRELY Pos-
SIBLE THAT A NATION OF IDOLATERS MAY HAVE A RIGHT TO GOVERN
THEMSELVES. THEIR LAW IS IMPERFECT, BUT IF THEY LIVE MODER-
ATELY SENSIBLE LIVES (FOLLOWING THE LAWS OF REASON AND NA-
TIONS, IF NOT OF GOD) THEY CANNOT BE JUSTLY SUPPRESSED ON

PURELY MORAL GROUNDS.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, PARTICULAR KINDS OF MEN AND 800’
IETIES WHICH CLEARLY PERVERT ALL FORMS OF LAW. FOR EX“

AMPLE, ALL MEN CAN AGREE THAT PIRATES ARE THE COMMON

258

ENEMIES OF MANKIND, SCAVANGERS WHOM ALL NATIONS ARE BOUND
TO DESTROY. SIMILARLY, A RELIGIOUS SECT MAY EMBRACE PRIN-
CIPLES TOTALLY CONTRADICTORY TO THE LAWS OF SOCIETY AND
GOD, THE ANABAPTISTS BEING A CASE IN POINT:

I SAY THE LIKE OF THE ANABAPTISTS OF MUNSTER;
AND THIS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD NOT BEEN REBELS TO
THE EMPIRE: AND PUT CASE LIKEWISE THAT THEY HAD
DONE NO MISCHIEF AT ALL ACTUALLY; YET IF THERE
SHALL BE A CONGREGATION AND CONSENT OF PEOPLE
THAT SHALL HOLD ALL THINGS TO BE LAWFUL, NoT
ACCORDING TO ANY CERTAIN LAWS OR RULES, BUT AC—
CORDING TO THE SECRET AND VARIABLE MOTIONS AND
INSTINCTS OF THE SPIRIT; THIS Is INDEED No NA-
TION, NO PEOPLE, NO SIGNORY, THAT GOD DOTH
KNOW; ANY NATION THAT IS CIVIL AND POLLICED

MAY (IF THEY WILL NOT BE REDUCED) CUT THEM OFF
FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

 

‘MHJ‘I' r. .. .-.'v.
in
.I

SINCE zEBEDAEUS HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED MARTIUS'S EVALUATION
OF THE TURKS, IT FOLLOWS THAT THESE INFIDELS MAY BE SUP-
PRESSED UNDER THE LAWS OF NATIONS, NATURE, AND GOD.

IT Is AT THIS POINT THAT THE TRACT IS CONCLUDED. PER-
HAPS IT IS ADVENTURESOME TO GUESS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
AS THE DIALOGUE PROCEEDED, BUT I THINK A FEW RELIABLE CON-
CLUSIONS CAN BE DRAWN. ZEBEDAEUS HAS HARDLY PROVED HIM-
SELF TO BE A CATHOLIC zEALOT, BUT HE HAS NOT YET DISCUSSED
THOSE ISSUES WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY SUITED TO UNCOVER THE
DEPTHS OF HIS CONTEMPT FOR THE INFIDELS. THE FIFTH QUES—

TION LOOKS ESPECIALLY AMENABLE TO ZEAL:

FIFTHLY, WHETHER IT BE NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE WAR
FOR THE REVENGE OR VINDICATION OF BLASPHEMIES
AND REPROACHES AGAINST THE DEITY AND OUR BLES'
SED SAVIOUR; OR FOR THE EFFUSION G? CHRISTIAN
BLOOD, AND CRUELTIES AGAINST CHRISTIANS, THOUGH
ANCIENT AND LONG SINCE PAST; ETC.

259

ASSUMING THAT BACON HAD A REASON TO CALL ZEBEDAEUS A ZEALOT,
IT IS LIKELY THAT THE DIVINE WOULD HAVE Efl’RESSED SOME DE-
SIRE TO SEE PAST ABUSES AGAINST THE SAVIOR RECTIFIED.
EUSEBIUS, THE MODERATE DIVINE, MIGHT THEN (TO BUILD ONE
HYPOTHESIS UPON ANOTHER) HAVE AGREED WITH zEBEDAEUS ON THE
JUSTICE OF SUBDUING THE TURK (wHICH HE HAD ALREADY DONE ANY-
WAY), BUT HE WOULD NOT CONCUR WITH A PLAN TO SEEK REVENGE
FOR PAST ATROCITIES AGAINST CHRISTIANITY. POLLIO, TOO HAIR-
BRAINED TO MATTER MUCH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WOULD CONTINUE

IN THE ROLE OF THE BUFFOON, BUT, SINCE HE IS A RATHER LIKE-
ABLE CHAP (AND HE DID NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS ANY-
WAY), IN THE END HE WOULD BEGIN TO ASSUME A MORE SOBER AT-
TITUDE TOWARD LIFE. MARTIUS HAS SAID ALL HE HAS To SAY
UNTIL THE WAR IS AGREED UPON.

GAMALIEL, THE PROTESTANT ZEALOT, WAS ORIGINALLY As-
SIGNED THE QUESTION OF A CHRISTIAN'S OBLIGATION TO SPREAD
THE TRUE FAITH. IN ALL PROBABILITY HE WOULD BYPASS THE
LAWS OF REASON AND NATIONS AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE NEED TO
ESTABLISH GOD'S DIVINE LAW IN ALL CORNERS OF THE UNIVERSE,

A LAW DEFINED FULLY AND IN INEFFABLE CLARITY IN THE SCRIP-
TURES. HE MIGHT ALSO SUGGEST, | SHOULD THINK, THAT BEFORE
CHRISTIANS DECIDE To IMPOSE THEIR WILLS UPON THE INFIDELS,
THEY MIGHT DECIDE WHAT CHRISTIANITY REALLY Is.

EUPOLIS, THE STATESMAN, A SANE AND "INDIFFERENT" MAN,

WOULD SELECT FROM ALL ARGUMENTS THOSE DEALING DIRECTLY WITH

260

THE TURKISH QUESTION. HE WOULD LAUD ZEBEDAEUS' SCHOLARLY
AND PERCEPTIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIETY, BUT HE WOULD ACKNow-
LEDGE THE SAGACITY OF EUSEBIUS'S MODERATE VIEWS. SINCE
THE TRACT IS APPARENTLY DESIGNED LARGELY TO MOLLIFY THE
SPANISH CATHOLICS (OTHERWISE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCOUNT
FOR THE HEAVILY CATHOLIC CAST), EUPOLIS WOULD PROBABLY NOT
PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROTESTANT
ZEALOT.

SPEDDING,WHOSE WISDOM IS UNMATCHED IN PREDICTING WHAT
BACON MIGHT HAVE DONE, SAYS SIMPLY: "I AM INCLINED TO
THINK THAT EUPOLIS [REPRESENTING BACON7. . . WOULD HAVE

LIMITED HIS APPROVAL TO A WAR AGAINST THE TURKS} AND THAT

 

NOT SIMPLY AS INFIDELS, BUT AS DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURS TO ALL
CHRISTENDOM."20
WE MAY CONCLUDE FROM THESE WORKS THAT BACON HAD LITTLE
OF THE CRUSADING SPIRIT. HIS RECOGNITION OF THE INESTIMABLE
POWER OF RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS LED HIM To FEAR THE CONSE-
QUENCES OF RELIGIOUS WARS, BUT EVEN WITHOUT THIS FEAR HE
DISPLAYS NO DESIRE To SEE ENGLAND ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE MIs-

SIONARY ACTIVITIES. WE COULD BE ASSURED OF THIS FACT IF

HE HAD LEFT NO OTHER OBSERVATIONS THAN THOSE ABOVE, BUT A

SEGMENT FROM ONE ADDITIONAL TRACT WILL MAKE OUR POSITION

IRREFUTABLE. IT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF REFLECTIONS WHICH I

20. WORKS, VII, 6.

26I

THINK TELL US MORE ABOUT BACON’S FAITH THAN DOES ANY OTHER
SINGLE PIECE IN HIS CANON.

AMONG ELIZABETH'S MANY PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE WAS THE
"IRISH QUESTION," WHOSE ANSWER WAS TO BE DELAYED FOR MORE
THAN THREE-HUNDRED YEARS. THE FAILURE IN THE SIXTEENTH
CENTURY OF THE ENGLISH TO CONCEIVE AND EXECUTE A PLAN FOR
THE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT OF THE CIVIL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
OF IRELAND ENCOURAGED THE SPANISH TO ASSIST THE IRISH
NATIVES IN THEIR RESISTANCE TO THE ENGLISH OCCUPATION.
TREVELYAN MAINTAINS THAT DURING THE LAST THIRTY YEARS OF
ELIZABETH'S REIGN ENGLISH INEFFECTIVENESS AND INJUSTICE,
COUPLED WITH JESUIT ZEAL AND SPANISH ARMS, CONVERTED THE
IRISH TO ROMAN CATHOLICISM. THE NATIVE POPULATION, UNTIL
THEN LARGELY UNIDENTIFIED WITH CATHOLICISM, "CONCEIVED A
NOVEL ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ROMAN RELIGION, WHICH THEY IDENTI-
FIED WITH A PASSIONATE HATRED OF THE ENGLISH."2' ELIZABETH
HAD OF COURSE REALIZED THE DANGERS OF THE SPANISH ACTIVI-
TIES IN IRELAND, BUT IN I599 DECISIVE DEFEATS OF HER FORCES
BY THE REBEL LEADER TYRONE (AIDED BY SPANISH TROOPS) CON-

VINOED HER AND HER COUNCIL THAT IRELAND HAD TO BE BROUGHT
TO ITS KNEES. THE EARL OF ESSEX (BACOVIS LONG-TIME PATRON)

SATISFIED THE QUEEN THAT HE WAS SUITED TO LEAD A LARGE ARMY

AGAINST THE IRISH FORCES. HIS FAILURE TO DEFEAT TYRONE, AND

2I. HISTORY 2: ENGLAND, II, I29.

262

HIS DISOBEDIENCE OF THE QUEEN'S ORDERS, LED TO HIS DISMIS-
22 60

SAL, BUT LATE IN I I, THE ENGLISH ARMY, NOW UNDER THE

COMMAND OF LORD MONTJOY, WON A DECISIVE VICTORY OVER THE

REBEL AND SPANISH FORCES. IN THE TERMS OF THE CAPITULA"

 

TION, THE SPANIARDS WERE REQUIRED TO SURRENDER ALL OF THEIR
IRISH POSSESSIONS AND TO LEAVE THE ISLAND.25 AT THIS JUNc- E1
TURE THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT BEGAN To PONDER THE QUESTION OF
ESTABLISHING A RULE IN IRELAND WHICH WOULD INSURE A LASTING

PEACE. IN THE SUMMER OF I602 BACON WROTE A LETTER OF AD-

 

VICE ON THE MATTER TO SIR ROBERT CECIL, NOW A LEADING MEM- E?
BER OF ELIZABETHIS COUNCIL.
BACON'S EVALUATION OF THE IRISH RACE REMINDS ONE OF
MARTIUS'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TURKS. HE SPEAKS OF
THEIR BARBAROUS LAWS AND "HABITS OF APPAREL," OF THEIR
"POETS AND HERALDS THAT ENCHANT THEM IN SAVAGE MANNER, AND
SUNDRY OTHER SUCH DREGS OF BARBARISM AND REBELLION," AND OF
OTHER CUSTOMS WHICH MAKE THEM EXOEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO
GOVERN. HE WARNS CECIL THAT THESE UNCIVILIZED PEOPLE WILL

NOT BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF SOCIETY UNLESS A GRAND

22. ESSEX' SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO OVERPOWER THE QUEEN LED
TO HIS CONVICTION FOR TREASON. BACON'S INVOLVEMENT
IN ESSEX' CONVICTION HAS BEEN THE POINT OF DEPARTURE
FOR MANY ATTACKS ON HIS CHARACTER. SPEDDING'S DEFENSE
OF BACON IS CONTAINED IN VOLUMES IX AND X OF THE WORKS.
BACON ALSO WROTE HIS OWN APOLOGY: SIR FRANCIS BACON
HIS APOLOGIE, IN CERTAIN IMPUTATIONS CONCERNING THE
LATE EARLE 2: ESSEX, PUBLISHED IN IOOE. SEE WORKS,
X, ‘59-'66.

 

 

 

 

25. SPEDDING, WORKS, x, AA.

263

EFFORT IS MADE TO "RECOVER THEIR HEARTS." THEY MUST BE
GIVEN VISIBLE PROOF OF ENGLISH GOOD WILL ON THOSE LEVELS
WHICH THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY ARE TO
APPRECIATE THE FRUITS OF JUSTICE, THEY MUST HAVE DIRECT

CONTACT WITH AUTHORITY.

FOR JUSTICE, THE BARBARISM AND DESOLATION
OF THE COUNTRY CONSIDERED, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE
THEY SHOULD FIND ANY SWEETNESS AT ALL OF Jus-
TICE, IF IT SHALL BE (WHICH HATH BEEN THE ER-
ROR OF TIMES PAST) FORMAL, AND FETCHED FAR OFF
FROM THE STATE; BECAUSE IT WILL REQUIRE RUNNING
UP AND DOWN FOR PROCESS, AND GIVE OCCASION FOR
POLLING AND EXACTION BY FEES, AND MANY OTHER
DELAYS AND CHARGES.2

FURTHERMORE, BACON THINKS IT WILL BE WISE TO KEEP THE
"PRINCIPAL IRISH PERSONS IN TERMS OF CONTENTMENT," FOR
THIS MEASURE WILL SERVE TO CONVINCE THE OTHERS THAT THE
ENGLISH LABOR IN GOOD FAITH. IT MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO
STRIKE A TREATY WITH SPAIN--EITHER REAL OR FEIGNED, FOR
THE IRISH ARE NOT TOO BRIGHT ANYWAY: "AND TO THE SAME PUR-
POSE NOTHING CAN BE MORE FIT THAN A TREATY OR A SHADOW OF
A TREATY OF A PEACE WITH SPAIN, WHICH ME THINKS SHOULD BE

IN OUR POWER TO FASTEN AT LEAST RUMORE TENUS, TO THE DELUD'

 

ING OF AS WISE PEOPLE AS THE IRISH."25

BUT THE MOST INTERESTING ADVICE CONCERNS RELIGION, AND

I QUOTE IT IN FULL:

FOR RELIGION (TO SPEAK FIRST OF PIETY, AND
THEN OF POLICY), ALL DIVINES DO AGREE, THAT IF

2h. WORKS, x, h9-50. 25. IBID., P. M7.

261+

CONSCIENCES BE TO BE ENFORCED AT ALL (WHEREIN
THEY DIFFER), YET TWO THINGS MUST PRECEDE THEIR
ENFORCEMENT; THE ONE, MEANS OF INSTRUCTION;

THE OTHER, TIME OF OPERATION; NEITHER OF WHICH
THEY HAVE YET HAD. BESIDES, TILL THEY BE MORE
LIKE REASONABLE MEN THAN THEY YET ARE, THEIR
SOCIETY WERE RATHER SCANDALOUS TO THE TRUE RELI-
GION THAN OTHERWISE, AS PEARLS CAST BEFORE THE
SWINE: FOR TILL THEY BE CLEANSED FROM THEIR
BLOOD, INCONTINENCY, AND THEFT (WHICH ARE NOW
NOT THE LAPSES OF PARTICJLAR PERSONS, BUT THE
VERY LAWS OF THE NATION) THEY ARE INCOMPATIBLE
WITH RELIGION REFORMED. FOR POLICY, THERE IS
NO DOUBT BUT TO WRASTLE WITH THEM NOW IS DIR-
ECTLY OPPOSITE TO THEIR RECLAIM, AND CANNOT BUT
CONTINUE THEIR ALIENATION OF MIND FROM THIS
GOVERNMENT. BESIDES, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL PRE-
TENCES WHEREBY THE HEADS OF THE REBELLION HAVE
PREVAILED BOTH WITH THE PEOPLE AND WITH THE
FOREIGNER, HATH BEEN THE DEFENCE OF THE CATHo-
LIC RELIGION; AND IT IS THIS THAT LIKEWISE HATH
MADE THE FOREIGNER RECIPROCALLY MORE PLAUSIBLE
WITH THE REBEL. THEREFORE A TOLERATION OF RELI-
GION (FOR A TIME NOT DEFINITE) EXCEPT IT BE IN
SOME PRINCIPAL TOWNS AND PRECINCTS, AFTER THE
MANNER OF SOME FRENCH EDICTS, SEEMETH TO ME A
MATTER WARRANTABLE BY RELIGION AN) IN POLICY OF
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. AND THE HESITATION IN THIS
POINT I THINK HATH BEEN A GREAT CASTING BACK

OF THE AFFAIRS THERE. NEITHER IF ANY ENGLISH
PAPIST OR RECUSANT SHALL, FOR LIBERTY OF HIS
CONSCIENCE, TRANSFER HIS PERSON AND FAMILY AND
FORTUNES THITHER, DO I HOLD IT A MATTER OF
DANGER, BUT EXPEDIENT TO DRAW ON THE UNDERTAK-
ING, AND TO FURTHER POPULATION. NEITHER IF
ROME WILL COZEN ITSELF, BY CONCEIVING IF MAY

BE SOME DEGREE TO THE LIKE TOLERATION IN ENG-
LAND, DO I HOLD IT A MATTER OF MOMENT, BUT
RATHER A GOOD MEAN TO TAKE OFF THE FIERCENESS
AND EAGERNESS OF THE HUMOUR OF ROME, AND TO
STAY FURTHER EXCOMMUNICATIONS OR INTERDICTIONS
FOR IRELAND. BUT THERE WOULD GO HAND IN HAND
WITH THIS, SOME COURSE OF ADVANCING RELIGION
INDEED, WHERE THE PEOPLE IS CAPABLE THEREOF;

AS THE SENDING OVER SOME GOOD PREACHERS, ES—
PECIALLY OF THAT SORT WHICH ARE VEHEMENT AND
ZEALOUS PERSUADERS, AND NOT SCHOLASTICAL, TO

BE RESIDENT IN PRINCIPAL TOWNs; ENDOWING THEM
WITH SOME STIPENDS OUT OF HER MAJESTY'S REVENUES,

265

AS HER MAJESTY HATH MOST RELIGIOUSLY AND GRAC—
IOUSLY DONE IN LANCASHIRE: AND THE RECONTINu-
ING AND REPLENTISHING OF THE COLLEGE BEGUN AT
DUBLIN; THE PLACING OF GOOD MEN TO BE BISHOPS
IN THE SEES THERE; AND THE TAKING CARE OF THE
VERSIONS OF BIBLES, CATECHISMS, AND OTHER BOOKS
OF INSTRUCTION, INTO THE IRISH LANGUAGE; AND
THE LIKE RELIGIOUS COURSEs; BOTH FOR THE HONOUR
OF GOD, AND FOR THE AVOIDING OF SCANDAL AND IN-
SATISFACTION HERE BY THE SHOW OF TOLERATION
OF RELIGION IN SOME PARTS THERE.2

| VENTURE TO SAY THIS IS NOT THE SAME SPIRIT WHICH FILLED
AUGUSTINE WHEN HE STOOD ON THE SHORES OF ALBION IN 597,

NOR IS IT EVEN THE SPIRIT WHICH FILLED CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
WHEN HE SCANNED THE VIRGIN LANDS OF THE NEW WORLD AND
THANKED THE ALMIGHTY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT THE
"POOR SALVAGES" TO THE FAITH OF CHRIST. BACON HAD NO
CHRISTIAN ROMANCE IN HIS SOUL. THE SALVAGE MAN WAS A CREA-
TURE NOT YET READY FOR THE REFORMED FAITH, A CREATURE WHO
WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE ON WITH CATHOLICISM UNTIL HE HAD
BEEN TAUGHT THE GROUND RULES OF A CIVILIZED SOCIETY. THERE
WOULD BE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT FAITH, PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT,
WHEN THE TEMPORAL PILLARS OF GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN DRIVEN
DEEPLY INTO THE HOSTILE SOIL OF A BARBAROUS LAND. I SHUD-

DER TO THINK WHAT LADY BACON, TO WHOM THE ONLY GOOD CATHOLIC
WAS A DAMNED AND DEAD ONE, WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF HER ILLus-
TRIOUS SON HAD SHE ENCOUNTERED THIS LITTLE TRACT HOT FROM

I
ONE OF HER SEANCES WITH THE WORD.

26. IBID., PP. h8-h9.

266

I THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO SAY THAT BACON HAD ALMOST NO
FAITH IN THE ABILITY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH TO SURVIVE ON THE
OPEN MARKET OF WORLD RELIGIONS. BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD. THE ES—
TABLISHMENT WAS ADAPTED TO THE NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR STATE
EXISTING AT A PARTICULAR TIME, AND A HOSTILE NATION COULD
NOT BE EXPECTED TO PERCEIVE THE RATIONALITY OF ITS STRUC-
TURE. NOR COULD A LARGE NUMBER OF ENGLISHMEN FOR THAT MAT-
TER. CONSEQUENTLY BACON BELIEVED THAT THE FIRST ORDER OF
BUSINESS WHENEVER ENGLAND TOOK POSSESSION OF AN ALIEN TER-
RITORY WAS TO CONVINCE ITS INHABITANTS OF THE REASON AND
JUSTICE OF THE ENGLISH WAY OF LIFE. RELIGIOUS MATTERS COULD
BE SETTLED LATER, AT A TIME "NOT DEFINITE."

BACON'S RELUCTANCE TO FORCE CONSCIENCES, EITHER AT
HOME OR ABROAD, IS A NATURAL PRODUCT OF HIS EMPIRICAL
EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS zEAL, BUT I THINK IT ALSO PR0-

CEEDS FROM A FUNDAMENTAL INDIFFERENCE TO HOW OTHER MEN

MAKE THEIR PEACE WITH GOD, OR IF THEY MAKE IT AT ALL. THIS
IS A POSITION WHICH WE CAN FIND MANY REASONS TO PRAISE, FOR

IT IS AN ATTITUDE WHICH MEN HAD TO EMBRACE BEFORE RELIGIOUS
TOLERATION COULD BECOME A FACT. BUT IT IS ALSO AN ATTITUDE
WHICH MAY LIE AT THE ROOT OF THE GRADUAL DEPLETION OF THE
SPIRITUAL LIFE OF CHRISTIANITY. IF BACON'S PATIENT CHURCH
WAITS GRANDLY FOR MEN TO COME TO IT AFTER THEY HAVE CLEANSED

THEMSELVES OF BARBARITY, DOES IT NOT BEG TO BE CHARGED WITH

267

IMPOTENCE? AND DOES IT NOT DESERVE TO BE IGNORED? "IN
POLICY OF ABSOLUTE NECESSITY" PRESSES VERY HEAVILY UPON
"WARRANTABLE BY RELIGION," AND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DE-
MANDS OF THESE TWO PHRASES LIES THE PARADOX OF BACON'S
FAITH. HE TAKES GREAT CARE TO SAY THAT GOD'S WILL MUST
BE DONE, BUT WE SEE HERE THAT HE LEAVES THE MEANS SWING-
ING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DIVINE AND CIVIL NECESSITY. FAITH,
I AM CONVINOED, HAD AN AUXILIARY FUNzTION IN BACON'S PER-
SONAL CONCEPTION OF SOCIETY, A FUNCTION ALWAYS SUBJECT To
THE NEEDS OF THE CIVIL STATE. WE MAY, THEN, WONDER WHAT
THE ROLE OF ORGANIZED FAITH WAS TO BE IN HIS PROJECTED

VIEW OF THE KINGDOM OF MAN, AND PERHAPS THE NEW ATLANTIS,

 

WHOSE DISCUSSION WILL TERMINATE THIS STUDY, WILL PROVIDE

US WITH A FEW HELPFUL CLUES.

CHAPTER VIII

THE NEW ATLANTIS: CONCLUSION

 

THIS CENTURY HAS TAUGHT US THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO LEARN
A GREAT DEAL FROM A MAN'S DREAMS, BUT EVEN WITHOUT THIS
LATTER’DAY ASSURANCE I SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO RELY UPON THE

NEW ATLANTIS FOR TRUSTWORTHY INFORMATION ABOUT BACON'S

 

 

FAITH. THOUGH INCOMPLETE, THE WORK RADIATES LINES WHICH

TRAVEL TO EVERY CORNER OF ITS AUTHOR'S MIND, AND WHAT [8

MORE IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT THE IMAGINATIVE MEDIUM OF
THE PIECE BRINGS US CLOSER TO BACON HIMSELF THAN WE EVER

GET IN HIS OTHER MAJOR WORKS.

THE NEW ATLANTIS WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN I627 (A YEAR

 

 

AFTER BACON'S DEATH) AT THE END OF THE SYLVA SYLVARUM, A

 

PLACE FOR WHICH IT HAD BEEN DESIGNED BY BACON. THE SYLVA

 

SYLVARUM WAS THE LAST OF BACON'S "PHILOSOPHICAL" WORKS,

 

THOUGH AS I HAVE SUGGESTED FROM TIME TO TIME IT IS RATHER
DIFFICULT TO CLASSIFY. IT BELONGS PROPERLY TO THE GENRE
OF NATURAL-MAGIC BOOKS AND CONTAINS MANY PREPOSTEROUS CON-
CLUSIONS ABOUT NATURAL PHENOMENA WHOSE INACCURACIES DEMON-
STRATE HOW LITTLE WAS KNOWN OF THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE IN
THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. BACON'S DESIGN, HOWEVER, WAS NOT

SO MUCH TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS IT WAS TO SUGGEST TO KINDRED

268

269

SPIRITS WHAT FIELDS OF INQUIRY WERE IMMEDIATELY OPEN TO
INVESTIGATION-“EVEN IF NO SPONSOR FOR THE NEW PHILOSOPHY
COULD BE FOUND. IN OTHER WORDS, HE WANTED TO ALERT MEN TO
THE MANY PROBLEMS UNDER FOOT WHICH COULD BE SOLVED IF SOME"

ONE WOULD SIMPLY GET TO WORK ON THEM. THE NEW ATLANTIS,

 

THEN, IS A PROJECTED VIEW OF THE POSSIBLE RESULTS OF A
GRAss-ROOTS EFFORT To "BECOME OBEDIENT TO NATURE."

BECAUSE THE COMPLETED SEGMENT 0F THE NEW ATLANTIS Is

 

DESIGNED BASICALLY TO ADVERTIZE THE FRUITS OF INVESTIGATION,
ITS COMMENTS ON RELIGION, CIVIL GOVERNMENT, AND INDIVIDUAL
CONDUCT ARE FRAGMENTARY, BUT THE FRAGMENTS ARE FRAUGHT WITH
IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS. I THINK, HOWEVER, THAT THEY WILL
BE SEEN IN BETTER RELIEF PLACES AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF
RELEVANT SECTIONS FROM CAMPANELLA‘S Qill.2£.lfl£.§flfi.('625)
AND MOREIS UTOPIA (I5I6).l

CAMPANELLA (I568-I659) WAS BACON'S CONTEMPORARY AND
SHARED MANY OF THE LATTER'S CONVICTIONS ABOUT THE ALPHA-
BETIZING OF NATURE. A ROMAN CATHOLIC AND A NATURAL PHILo-
SOPHER,2 CAMPANELLA GAVE THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF THE

SUN A CURIOUS RELIGION CONCOCTED OF METAPHYSICS, NATURAL

PHILOSOPHY, AND ROMAN CATHOLICISM. THE INHABITANTS ARE

I. MY REFERENCES TO THE CITY OF THE SUN AND THE UTOPIA
ARE FROM IDEAL COMMONWEALTBS,-EDTTED'BY HENRY MORLEY
(LONDON, GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, I886). THE TRANS-
LATION OF THE CITY OF_THE SUN Is BY THOMAS HALLIDAY.

 

 

2. IBID., PP. 7—8.

270

MONOTHEISTS WHO, LARGELY BY MEANS OF OBSERVING GOD'S VISIBLE
UNIVERSE (THOUGH AIDED BY A GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS INHERENT IN
ALL MEN), HAVE ARRIVED AT A FAITH WHOSE FORMULA IS MODELLED
ALONG THE GENERAL LINES OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. THEIR CHIEF
PRIEST IS HOH (METAPHYSIC), WHO IS ALSO THE CHIEF CIVIL
MAGISTRATE, A MAN LEARNED IN ALL MENTAL DISCIPLINES AND
INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH THE MATERIAL ASPECTS OF LIFE.

BY MEANS OF A GENERAL CONFESSION, HOH AND HIS LEADING MAGIS—
TRATES KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE MORAL LIFE OF THE NATION.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THE SUPERIOR MAGISTRATES TO HEAR PERSONAL
CONFESSIONS AND TO PARDON SINS, AND THEY THEMSELVES CONFESS
TO HOH, WHO THEN CONFESSES THE SINS OF THE COMMUNITY TO GOD
AND OFFERS PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES (PURELY DEVOTIONAL) TO
HIM. PRIESTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR INDEFATIGABLE SER-
VICE TO GOD OFFER PERPETUAL PRAYERS TO THEIR MAKER AND INTER-
PRET SIGNS FROM THE HEAVENS (SUCH AS THE PROPER TIME FOR
BREEDING AND PLANTING) REVEALED AS EVIDENCE OF GOD'S CON-
STANT PARTICIPATION IN THE AFFAIRS OF MAN.

THE RELIGIo-ETHICAL LIFE OF THE CITY IS FURTHER SUPER-
VISED BY A NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES WHO HAVE PROVED THEIR SPEC—
IAL WORTH IN ONE OF THE CARDINAL VIRTUES. EACH OF THESE
MODELS OF MORAL RECTITUDE IS GIVEN A NAME APPROPRIATE TO
HIS FORTE: MAGNANIMITY, FORTITUDE, CHASTITY, ETC. BUT THE
INCOMPARABLE VIRTUE OF THE CITY IS A PRODUCT OF ITS COM-

MUNISTIC LIFE. NATURAL INCLINATIONS TO VICE (PARTICULARLY

27I

TO PRIDE) ARE DIVERTED BY MEANS OF SOCIo—ECONOMIC LEVEL-
LING: "THEY ARE RICH BECAUSE THEY WANT NOTHING, POOR BE—
CAUSE THEY POSSESS NOTHING; AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY ARE NOT
SLAVES TO CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT CIRCUMSTANCES SERVE THEM."5
FAMILY TIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE THOUGHT TO BE A CONSTANT
SOURCE OF PRIDE AND OTHER FORMS OF SELF-INTEREST, ARE VERY
TENUOUS. MEN AND WOMEN IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THE STATE
RATHER THAN WITH THEIR BLOOD-RELATIVES.

ALTHOUGH THE MAGISTRATES PARTICIPATE IN THE "COMMUNITY
OF WIVES," THE REST OF THE INHABITANTS ARE MONOGAMISTS.
PROBLEMS OF CONCUPISCENCE RESULTING FROM A MAN'S BEING CON-
FINED TO ONE WIFE ARE PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT, FOR FEMALE
BEAUTY HAS BEEN STANDARDIZED: ALL WOMEN ARE TRIM AND Muscu-
LAR, AND ALL ATTEMPTS AT CUSTOMIZING THE FACE OR OTHER PARTS
OF THE ANATOMY ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. IF A MAN, IN SPITE
OF THIS HAPPY SYSTEM, SHOULD CONCEIVE AN UNMANAGEABLE LUST
FOR A WOMAN, HE IS GRACICUSLY PERMITTED TO MEET WITH HER,
AND "THE TWO ARE ALLOWED TO CONVERSE AND JOKE TOGETHER,
AND TO GIVE ONE ANOTHER GARLANDS OF FLOWERS AND LEAVES, AND
TO MAKE VERSES.")‘L

THE INHABITANTS DBWCVSTRATE A WARM RESPECT FOR CHRIS—
TIANITY, PARTICULARLY FOR ITS EMPHASIS ON SELF—DENIAL. THE

LIVES OF CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES ARE DISPLAYED ON THE WALLS

5. IBID., P. 258. 14.. IBID., P. 237.

272

OF THEIR HALLS OF LEARNING, AND THE SIMPLICITY OF THE
APOSTOLIC LIFE IS EVERYWHERE COMMENDED. IT MIGHT BE SAID,
I THINK, THAT BY MEANS OF TRIAL AND ERROR (SUPPLEMENTED BY
ADDITIONAL SIGNS FROM GOD) THE CITY OF THE SUN WILL EVENTu-
ALLY COME AROUND TO THE TRUE FAITH, THOUGH THE ONE POSSES~
SED OBVIOUSLY HAS CONSIDERABLE CHRISTIAN MERIT. PEOPLE AS
MORAL, RATIONAL, AND OTHER-WORLDLY AS CAMPANELLA'S INHABI-
TANTS COULD HARDLY BE EXPECTED To REMAIN INFIDELS FOREVER.
THE ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS FRAMEWORK OF MORE'S UTOPIA IS
SOMEWHAT MORE COMPLEX AND FLEXIBLE THAN THAT OF CAMPANELLAIS
WORK. WHEN UTOPUS, THE FOUNDER OF THE NATION, FORMED HIS
FIRST CONSTITUTION, HE MADE IT A LAW THAT EACH MAN COULD
CHOOSE HIS OWN RELIGION AND COULD ATTEMPT TO DRAW OTHERS
TO HIS PERSUASION, PROVIDED THAT HE USE NEITHER REPROACH
NOR VIOLENCE IN HIS PROSELYTIZING. ANYONE USING THESE UN-
LAWFUL MEANS WOULD BE EITHER BANISHED OR PLACED IN SLAVERY.5
ALTHOUGH THE UTOPIANS WORSHIP IN MANY WAYS, THEY ALL BELIEVE
IN ONE SUPREME BEING CALLED MITHRAS, WHO FOR ALL PURPOSES IS
THE CHRISTIAN COD: MAKER OF ALL THINGS, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPo-
TENT, ETC. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL UTOPIANS MAY WORSHIP SUCH
THINGS AS THE SUN, THE MOON, OR ONE OF THE PLANETS, ALL
5. IBID., P. I5I. MORE'S IDEA OF SLAVERY IS MOST CHARIT-
ABLE. A CONVICTED CRIMINAL, THOUGH CHAINED, DRESSED
IN PRISON GARB, AND EARMARKED, IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BECOME A "SLAVE." AS A SLAVE, HE WILL BE PUT TO WORK
IN THE USEFUL TASKS OF THE COMMUNITY, THOUGH HE WILL BE

REQUIRED TO WORK HARDER THAN THE OTHER INHABITANTS AND
WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO THE MORE UNSAVORY JOBS.

r
I

 

273

ARRIVE IN SOME WAY AT THE IDEA OF MITHRAS. THEY BELIEVE
IN THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, IN THE CONSTANT WORKINGS
OF PROVIDENCE, AND IN REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS AFTER DEATH.
THEIR RITES AND CEREMONIES DIFFER ACCORDING TO PERSONAL
DESIRES, BUT MOST PARTICIPATE IN A SIMPLE AND PLEASANT
COMMON PRAYER CONDUCTED BY A PRIEST. EACH CITY HAS THIR-
TEEN PRIESTS (ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE), WHO ARE NOTED FOR
THEIR PIETY AND WISDOM. THEY HAVE FUNCTIONS IN THE COM~
MUNITY, SUCH AS EDUCATING CHILDREN AND LOOKING INTO THE
MANNERS OF THE INHABITANTS~~MUCH AS A MODERN SOCIAL WORKER
MIGHT Do. THE PRIESTS DO NOT, HOWEVER, HAVE PUNITIVE
CAPACITIES BEYOND THE AUTHORITY TO EXCLUDE MORAL OFFENDERS
FROM PUBLIC WORSHIP (A RESTRICTION, HOWEVER, WHICH IS
THOUGHT VERY HARSH BY MOST). THE PRIESTS ARE HIGHLY
RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, RECEIVING, IN FACT,
IMMUNITY FROM clVIL LAWS. SINCE MOST OF THEM ARE VERY
VIRTUOUS MEN AND SINCE THEIR NUMBERS ARE SMALL ANYWAY,
THIS PROVISION NEVER CONSTITUTES A THREAT TO THE STABILITY
OF THE COMMUNITY. (THE PRIESTS MAY ALSO MARRY.)

THE WORSHIPERS OF MITHRAS DO NOT MAINTAIN THAT THEIR
FAITH IS INFALLIBLE; RATHER THEY PRAY FOR CONSTANT LIGHT
THAT THEY MIGHT WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD IN THE BEST MANNER
POSSIBLE. WHEN RAPHAEL HYTHLODAY (THE NARRATOR-EXPLORER

WHEN MORE IS SILENT) AND HIS COMPANIONS TELL THE UTOPIANS

OF THE FAITH OF CHRIST, OF CHRIST'S MIRACLES, AND OF THE
"WONDERFUL CONSTANCY OF SO MANY MARTYRS," IT IS A MARVEL
HOW MANY ARE IMMEDIATELY INCLINED TO ACCEPT CHRISTIANITY
AS THE TRUE FAITH. RAPHAEL CANNOT BE SURE IF THEIR EN-
THUSIASM COMES FROM "ANY SECRET INSPIRATION OF GOD" OR
FROM THE PATTERN OF CHRIST'S LIFE, BUT AT ANY RATE MANY
EVENTUALLY COME TO BE BAPTIZED. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS
NO PRIEST AMONG THE ADVENTURERS, SO THE OTHER SACRAMENTS

CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED. BUT THERE IS SOME TALK OF CHOOSING

6

A QUALIFIED PRIEST FROM THE UTOPIANS' OWN MEMBERS.

THOSE WHO COME TO CHRIST ARE FULLY ACCEPTED BY THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY; HOWEVER, ONE ZEALOT DOES
BREAK THE CARDINAL LAW OF THE COUNTRY'S RELIGION AND SUF-
FERS THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS RASHNESS:

HE BEING NEWLY BAPTIZED, DID, NOTWITHSTANDING
ALL THAT WE COULD SAY TO THE CONTRARY, DISPUTE
PUBLICLY CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION
WITH MORE ZEAL THAN DISCRETION; AND WITH SO
MUCH HEAT, THAT HE NOT ONLY PREFERRED OUR WOR-
SHIP TO THEIRS, BUT CONDEMNED ALL THEIR RITES
AS PROFANE; AND CRIED OUT AGAINST ALL THAT AD‘
HERED TO THBA AS IMPIOUS AND SACRILEGIOUS PER“
SONS, THAT WERE TO BE DAMNED TO EVERLASTING
BURNINGS. UPON HIS HAVING FREQUENTLY PREACHED
IN THIS MANNER, HE WAS SEIZED, AND AFTER TRIAL
WAS CONDEMNED TO BANISHMENT. . . .

WE LEARN, HOWEVER, THAT THE ZEALOT WAS NOT PUNISHED FOR CON-

8

SCIENCEI SAKE BUT FOR STIRRING UP SEDITIONL

6. IBID., PP. IlL9—5O. 7. IBID., P. I50. 8. IBID.

275

AS I SAID, IN CAMPANELLAIS CITY OF THE SUN VIRTUE IS

 

 

CONNECTED WITH THE RELIGIOUS RITUAL--ALL RECORDS OF MORAL
CONDUCT BEING RELAYED TO MITHRAS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN

THE UTOPIA; IN FACT, MORE DISCUSSES VIRTUE PER SE APART FROM

 

THE COUNTRY'S RELIGION. THE SUGGESTION SEEMS TO BE THAT
VIRTUE IS ANTECEDENT TO ANY KIND OF FCTMAL WORSHIP.9 THE
UTOPIANS DEFINE VIRTUE AS THE PROCESS OF LIVING A LIFE AC—
CORDING TO THE DICTATES OF NATURE. THE FIRST DICTATE IS
THAT ALL MEN OWE THEIR OBEDIENCE AND REVERENCE TO ONE GOD,
MITHRAS, BUT IN OTHER RESPECTS THE NATURAL (AND VIRTUOUS)
LIFE IS ARRIVED AT EMPIRICALLY. THE UTOPIANS, THAT IS,
DERIVE THEIR RULES OF CONDUCT LARGELY FROM THE COMMON-SENSE
PRESCRIPTIONS OF THE GOLDEN RULE AND FROM A CLOSE ANALYSIS
OF PLEASURE AND SATIETY. SINCE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING Is
THOUGHT TO BE THE HIGHEST TEMPORAL GOOD, THE UTOPIANS AVOID
ALL EXCESSES WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO BODILY DETERIORATION. AS
IN THE CITY OF THE SUN, A COMMUNISTIC LIFE TAKES AWAY MOST
OF THE TEMPTATIONS OF PRIDE AND THE OTHER DANGERS OF SELF-
ABSORPTION. UNLIKE CAMPANELLA, HOWEVER, MORE PLACES CON-
DUCT PRIMARILY IN THE HANDS OF THE FAMILY. THE CIVIL GOVERN-

O
MENT' STANDS READY TO AID THE PATRIARCH, BUT IN MOST CASES

9. SEE IN PARTICULAR PP. II6-I25.

IO. THERE IS AN ELECTIVE PRINCE AIDED BY ELECTIVE MAGIs-
TRATES. THE GOVERNORS ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND EVEN
THE PRINCE MAY BE REPLACED IF HE IS UNJUST. THE
GOVERNORS ARE VERY PATERNAL MEN, AND THERE IS NO
POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR OFFICES.

276

ITS AUTHORITY IS NOT NEEDED. THE MARRIAGE KNOT IS TIED
VERY TIGHTLY (DIVORCE BEING POSSIBLE IN CASES OF ADULTERY
AND GROSS INCOMPATIBILITY), BUT BOTH THE BRIDE AND BRIDE-
GROOM HAVE THE STIRLING OPPORTUNITY (UNDER CLOSE SUPERVI-
SION) OF VIEWING EACH OTHER NAKED BEFORE THE MARRIAGE CON-
TRACT IS SEALED. IF ONE IS GOING TO BE RATIONAL ABOUT
PLEASURE, HE MAY AS WELL GO ALL THE WAYLll

COMMON SENSE, ORDER, GOOD FELLOWSHIP, MODERATION,
REVERENCE, MAGNANIMITY, AND CHASTITY CHARACTERIZE THE

ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS OF BOTH THE CITY OF THE SUN AND THE

 

UTOPIA. ONE WONDERS, HOWEVER, IF ANYBODY HAD MUCH FUN.
NOW BACON, WHO WOULD NEVER MAKE A CHAMBER-POT OUT OF GOLD,
WAS ON THE ONE HAND MORE MODERN AND SUMPTUOUS THAN EITHER
MORE OR CAMPANELLA BUT ON THE OTHER MORE STRICTLY CONSERVA-
TIVE. THOUGH HIS BENSALEMITES BY NO MEANS LEAD A LIFE OF
WANTON LUXURY, THEY HAVE A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR THE FINER
THINGS IN LIFE--BEAUTIFUL FABRICS, DELICATELY SHADED GAR-
MENTS, FINE WINES, DELICIOUS FOODS, PRECIOUS JEWELS. WHEN
ONE OF THE FATHERS OF THE COLLEGE OF SIX DAYS' WORK CON-
DESCENDS TO CHAT WITH THE STRANGERS, HE ARRIVES IN A CAR-
RIAGE FITTED FOR THE BEST TUDOR:

HE WAS CARRIED IN A RICH CHARIOT WITHOUT WHEELS,
LITTER'WISE; WITH TWO HORSES AT EITHER END,
RICHLY TRAPPED IN BLUE VELVET EMBROIDERED; AND
TWO FOOTMEN ON EACH SIDE IN THE LIKE ATTIRE.

II. IBID., P. I5I.

277

THE CHARIOT WAS ALL OF CEDAR, GILT, AND ADORNED
WITH CRYSTAL; SAVE THAT THE FORE-END HAD PANELS
OF SAPPHIRES, SET IN BORDERS OF GOLD, AND THE
HINDER-END THE LIKE OF EMARALDS OF THE PERU
COLOUR. THERE WAS ALSO A SUN OF GOLD, RADIANT,
UPON THE TOP, IN THE MIDST; AND ON THE TOP BE-
FORE, A SMALL CHERUB OF GOLD, WITH WINGS DIS—
PLAYED. THE CHARIOT WAS COVERED WITH A CLOTH
OF GOLD TISSUED UPON BLUE. HE HAD BEFORE HIM
FIFTY ATTENDANTS, YOUNG MEN ALL, IN WHITE SAT-
TIN LOOSE COATS To THE MID-LEG; AND STOCKINGS
OF WHITE SILK; AND SHOES OF BLUE VELVET; AND
HATS OF BLUE VELVET; WITH FINE PLUMES OF DI-
VERSE COLOURS. . . .I

THIS MAN IS NOT, LET US REMEMBER, SOME TRIFLING POLLIO, BUT
THE HIGHEST ORDER OF HUMAN BEING, A MAN WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT
GOD, AND NATURE, AND MEN THAN ALL THE GREEKS COMBINED.

BACON HIMSELF LOVED THE TOUCH OF FINE METALS AND JEWELS,
LOVED TO RECEIVE THEM AND LOVED TO GIVE THEM AWAY. WHEN

HE TRAVELLED, AS HE COULD IN HIS GLORY, HE LIKED To RAISE

A DUST WITH HIS RETINUE. THAT WAS THE WAY FOR A GREAT MAN
TO MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE. A LONELY CARRIAGE TROTTING
FROM THE COURT TO THE SWEET AIR OF GORHAMBURY WAS NOT LORD
BACON'S IDEA OF ESTHETIC LOCOMOTION. THE FATHER OF THE COL-
LEGE IS OF A KINDRED SPIRIT.

NONETHELESS, THE MORAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE NEW ATLANTIS

 

 

MAKES THAT OF EITHER THE CITY OF THE SUN OR THE UTOPIA AP-

 

PEAR DECIDEDLY PROMISCUOUS BY COMPARISON. MEN-~BY WHAT MEANS
BACON DOES NOT SAY--HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO SUCH A DEGREE OF

CIVILITY THAT THEIR WILDEST GREETING TO THE STRANGERS (AND

I2. WORKS, III, I55.

278

THEY ARE THE FIRST TO ARRIVE IN THIRTY-SEVEN YEARst) IS THE
MOTION OF PUTTING "THEIR ARMS A LITTLE ABROAD"--LIKE DRUGGED
PENGUINS. MAGISTRATES GIVE THEIR COMMANDS BY ELEVATING
THEIR CANES A BIT, AND ALMOST ALL PROBLEMS OF CONDUCT ARE
HANDLED WITHIN THE STRONG FAMILY UNIT.'5 A CIRCUMCISED
JEW (I PRESUME SOMEONE ASKED HIM) IS CHARGED WITH DESCRIB-
ING THE MORAL CONDUCT OF THE ISLAND TO THE STRANGERS. HE
PERFORMS THIS TASK WITH GREAT RELISH, SOUNDING VERY LIKE A
TOWN CRIER: "BUT HEAR ME NOW, AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I
KNOW. YOU SHALL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NOT UNDER THE
HEAVENS SO CHASTE A NATION AS THIS OF BENSALEM; NOR SO FREE
FROM ALL POLLUTION OR FOULNESS. IT IS THE VIRGIN OF THE
WORLDoulu

THE JEW, A FULL HTOFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE LECHERY, FINDS
EUROPEAN SEXUAL PROMISCUITY SIMPLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE. IN
BENSALEM, HE SAYS, WHERE ONE COULD FIND THE "SPIRIT OF
CHASTITY," THERE ARE/“NO STEWS, NO DISSOLUTE HOUSES, NO
COURTESANS, NOR ANYTHING OF THAT KIND." EUROPEANS, HE CON-
TINUES, HAVE KNOCKED THE PROPS FROM BENEATH MARRIAGE BY PER-
MITTING MEN To CAVORT WITH PROSTITUTES, WHO IN THEIR SHMAE-
FULLY ARTFUL WAYS MAKE THE MARRIAGE BED IRREMEDIABLY DRAB.
I3. RAWLEY INFORMS US THAT BACON PLANNED TO WRITE A SECTION

ON THE LAWS OF THE NEW ATLANTIS, SO THE FORM OF GOVERN-

MENT IS LARGELY UNDEFINED. (WORKS, III, I27.) THE SOC—
IETY IS, HOWEVER, CLEARLY STRATIFIED. _

 

HI. IBID., P.I52.

279

MEN, FALLEN TO THEIR CARNAL WEAKNESSES, SPEND THEIR YOUTHS

IN SINFUL WASTE AND MARRY ONLY AFTER THEIR VIGOR AND

STRENGTH HAVE DIMINISHED. IT IS NO WONDER THEY CANNOT ESTEEM
THEIR CHILDREN. NOR, SAYS THE JEW, WILL HIS COUNTRYMEN AC—
CEPT THE EUROPEAN RATIONALIZATION THAT PROFESSIONALIZED
VENERY PREVENTS THE "GREATER EVILs" OF ADULTERY, OF "DE-
FLOWERING 0F VIRGINS, UNNATURAL LUST AND THE LIKE," FOR

THE WAY To PUT OUT A FLAME, HE SAYS, IS TO PUT IT OUT AL—
TOGETHERI.l5 HOMOSEXUALITY? GOOD GRIEF NO.

THE JEW HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS OF
BENSALEM. PoLYGAMY IS NOT ALLOWED, AND NONE ARE ALLOWED TO
"INTERMARRY OR CONTRACT UNTIL A MONTH BE PASSED FROM THEIR
FIRST INTERVIEW." IF A COUPLE SHOULD MARRY WITHOUT THEIR
PARENTS' CONSENT, THE MARRIAGE IS NOT MADE VOID, BUT THE
CHILDREN OF SUCH A UNION MAY NOT INHERIT MORE THAN A THIRD
OF THEIR PARENTS' ESTATE. THE JEW HAS READ MOREIS UTOPIA
AND SAYS THAT HIS COUNTRYMEN FIND THE NAKED-CLAUSE IN THE
MARRIAGE CONTRACT OF THAT "FEIGNED COMMONWEALTH" GROSSLY
INDELICATE. IT IS A "SCORN TO GIVE REFUSAL AFTER SO FAMIL-
IAR KNOWLEDGE. . . ." NONETHELESS, REALIZING THAT BODIES
DO INDEED HAVE IMPERFECTIONS, HIS COUNTRYMEN HAVE A MODI-
FIED VERSION OF THE UTOPIAN PRE-VIEw. EACH TOWN HAS A COUPLE
OF "ADAM AND EVEIS POOLS" IN WHICH SELECT FRIENDS OF THE

LOVERS VIEW THEIR FRIENDSI PROSPECTIVE MATES AND REPORT THEIR

I5. IBID., PP. I52-53.

I6

FINDINGS. THAT IS THE WAY CIVILIZED PEOPLE DO THINGS.
THE RELIGION OF BENSALEM DIFFERS CONSIDERABLY FROM
THAT OF EITHER THE CITY OF THE SUN OR UTOPIA. THE INHABI-
TANTS OF THESE KINGDOMS ARE, AS I SAID, WORSHIPING GOD WITH
THE TEXT OF NATURE; BUT BACON, IN THE BEST PROTESTANT FASH-
ION, HAS PROVIDED HIS INHABITANTS WITH AN UNCORRUPTED MANu-
SCRIPT OF THE WORD ITSELF. BENSALEMIS HISTORY REACHES FAR
INTO THE PRE-CHRISTIAN PAST, BACK INTO THE DAYS OF THE
GREAT NAVIES, WHEN SHIPS FROM MANY LANDS VISITED HER SHORES.
BUT WITH THE DECLINE OF THE NAVIES AND THE INUNDATION OF THE
GREAT ATLANTIS (AMERICA), BENSALEM WAS PLACED IN VIRTUAL Iso-
LATION--BEFORE THE ADVENT OF JESUS. HOWEVER, BY THE MIRACU~
LOUS INTERVENTION OF GOD, THE ISLAND WAS SAVED FROM INFI-
DELITY. TWENTY OR SO YEARS AFTER THE ASCENSION OF JESUS,
OFF THE COAST OF RENFUSA (AN EASTERN CITY OF THE ISLAND) A
PILLAR OF LIGHT APPEARED. AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN, SHIN-
ING MORE RESPLENDANTLY THAN THE BODY OF THE PILLAR, WAS A
"LARGE CROSS OF LIGHT." THE CITIZENS OF RENFUSA, UNDER—
STANDABLY AMAZED BY THIS STARTLING PHENOMENON, PUT OUT TO
SEA IN THEIR SMALL CRAFTS TO INVESTIGATE THE COLUMN. BUT
WHEN THEY CAME WITHIN SIXTY YARDS OF IT, THEY WERE UNABLE
TO PROCEED FURTHER. TRANSFIXED, "AS IN A THEATRE," THE

ONLOOKERS VIEWED THE LIGHT "AS A HEAVENLY SIGN."I7

I6. SEE WORKS, III, IEL, FOR THE DISCUSSION OF MARRIAGE. I
AM NOT—TNCLINED TO THINK THAT BACON'S TREATMENT OF THE
"POOLS" IS IRONIC.

I7. IBID., P. I57.

28I

FORTUNATELY ONE OF THE BOATS CONTAINED A WISE MAN FROM
THE SOCIETY OF SALOMON'S HOUSE (ANOTHER NAME FOR THE COLLEGE
OF SIX DAYS' WORK, ALREADY ESTABLISHED), WHO, AFTER PERUSING
THE PILLAR AND CROSS "ATTENTIVELY AND DEVOUTLY," BECAME CON-
VINCED THAT HE WAS INDEED WITNESSING A GENUINE MIRACLE, FELL
UPON HIS FACE, RAISED HIMSELF UPON HIS KNEES, LIFTED HIS
HANDS TO HEAVEN, AND OFFERED A PRAYER WHICH GOD MUST HAVE
THOUGHT THOROUGHLY BACONIAN:

LORD GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THCU HAST VOUCH-
SAFED OF THE GRACE TO THOSE OF OUR ORDER, TO
KNOW THY WORKS CF CREATION, AND THE SECRETS OF
THEM; AND TO DISCERN (AS FAR AS APPERTAINETH TO
THE GENERATIONS OF MEN) BETWEEN DIVINE MIRACLES,
WORKS OF NATURE, WORKS OF ART, AND IMPOSTURES
AND ILLUSIONS OF ALL SORTS. I DO HERE ACKNow-
LEDGE BEFORE THIS PEOPLE, THAT THE THING WHICH
WE NOW SEE BEFORE OUR EYES IS THY FINGER AND A
TRUE MIRACLE; AND FORASMUCH AS WE LEARN IN OUR
BOOKS THAT THOU NEVER WORKEST MIRACLES BUT TO

A DIVINE AND EXCELLENT END, (FOR THE LAWS OF
NATURE ARE THINE OWN LAWS, AND THOU EXCEEDEST
THEM NOT BUT UPON GREAT CAUSE,) WE MOST HUMBLY
BESEECH THEE TO PROSPER THIS GREAT SIGN, AND TO
GIVE US THE INTERPRETATION AND USE OF IT IN
MERCY; WHICH THCU DOST IN SOME RART SECRETLY
PROMISE BY SENDING IT UNTO US.IO

THE WISE MAN, IT WILL BE NOTED, SOUNDS MORE LIKE A PIOUS
NOTARY PUBLIC THAN A MAN WHO HAS JUST WITNESSED A MIRACLE.
ALL THE MYSTERY, CHARM, AND BEAUTY OF THE SUPERNATURAL Ols-

APPEAR AS THE SCIENTIST STAMPS THIS MIRACLE APPROVED.

 

AFTER OFFERING HIS PRAYER, THE WISE MAN FOUND THAT HIS

BOAT WAS UNBOUND AND THEREFORE BEGAN ROWING TOWARD THE PILLAR;

I8. IBID., PP. I57-h8.

282

BUT AS HE APPROACHED, IT BURST INTO FRAGMENTS OF LIGHT AND
DISAPPEARED. LEFT IN ITS PLACE WAS A SMALL CEDAR CHEST,
OR ARK. AFTER THE WISE MAN HAD TAKEN IT REVERENTLY INTO
HIS BOAT, THE CHEST OPENED ITSELF

AND THERE WERE FOUND IN IT A BOOK AND A LETTER;
BOTH WRITTEN IN FINE PARCHMENT, AND WRAPPED IN
SINDONS OF LINEN. THE BOOK CONTAINED ALL THE
CANONICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD AND EW TESTAMENT,
ACCORDING AS YOU THE STRANGERS? HAVE THEM,
(FOR WE KNOW WELL WHAT THE CHURCHES WITH YOU
RECEIVE); AND THE APOCALYPSE ITSELF, AND SOME
OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WHICH WERE

NOT AT THA TIME WRITTEN WERE NONETHELESS IN
THE BOOK.‘

THE LETTER WAS AN AFFIDAVIT FROM THE APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW,
WHO IN A "VISION OF GLORY" WAS INSTRUCTED TO COMMIT THE
ARK TO THE WAVES; AND HE TESTIFIES AND DECLARES "UNTO THE
PEOPLE WHERE GOD SHALL ORDAIN THIS ARK TO COME TO LAND,
THAT IN THE SAME DAY IS COME UNTO THEM SALVATION AND
PEACE AND GOOD-WILL, FROM THE FATHER, AND FROM THE LORD
JESUS."20 TO ExPEDITE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE
LETTER, GOD WROUGHT ANOTHER MIRACLE, ENABLING EACH IN-
HABITANT OF THE ISLAND TO READ THESE WORKS IN HIS NATIVE
TONGUE. IN THIS MANNER WAS BENSALEM SAVED FROM INFIDEL-
ITY. NOT UNTIL THE DAYS OF JOSEPH SMITH WAS CHRISTENDOM
TO RECEIVE AGAIN SUCH A GRACICUS FAVOR FROM THE ALMIGHTY.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHAT SORT OF RELIGIOUS

CEREMONIES ARE CONDUCTED IN BENSALEM. EVERY IMPORTANT MAN

I9. HHD., P.I58.y 20. IBID.

28;

WE ENCOUNTER IS FIERCELY HOMILETIC. THE GOVERNOR OF THE
HOUSE OF STRANGERS, A PROTOTYPE OF THE Y.M.C.A., Is BY

VOCATION A CHRISTIAN PRIEST. THE TIRSAN, OR "FATHER OF

THE FAMILY," BLESSES HIS SON AS IF HE WERE IN FULL ORDERs;

THE JEws--OF WHOM THERE ARE A FEW "STIRPS" LEFT--CONCEDE

TO THE SAVIOR "MANY HIGH ATTRIBUTEs"; AND THE FATHER OF

SOLOMON'S HOUSE (THE ONE WHO TALKS TO THE STRANGERS) CLEARLY

CONCEIVES OF HIMSELF AS A MICROCOSM OF CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.

RELIGIOUS FACTION IS APPARENTLY UNKNOWN. THE JEWS ARE LEFT

TO THEMSELVES, BUT UNLIKE THE JEWS OF "OTHER PARTS," THEY

HAVE NO ILL-WILL F02 THE CHRISTIANS. THE JEW WE MET

EARLIER ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT CHRIST WAS BORN OF A

VIRGIN AND ADMITS THAT HE WAS "MORE THAN A MAN." HOWEVER,

THE JEW STILL POSSESSES A FEW IDLE DREAMS ABOUT DIVINITY.
ALTHOUGH THE DETAILS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH

OF CHRIST IN BENSALEM ARE NOT REVEALED, WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE,

I BELIEVE, THAT THE FATHERS OF THE COLLEGE OF SIX DAYS'

WORK ARE STILL BEING CONSULTED ON MATTERS OF THE HIGHEST

SPIRITUAL CONCERN. CERTAINLY THEY ARE THOUGHT TO BE (BY

THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THEIR COUNTRYMEN) THE MOST VENERABLE

CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY. LIKE A CHARITABLE PRIEST, THE
FATHER WHOM WE MEET CALLS EVERYONE "MY SON," AND EVEN WHEN
HE Is ENMESHED IN BACON'S MOST AWKWARDLY MECHANICAL PARA-
GRAPH, HE MANAGES TO EXUDE SPIRITUAL MAJESTY:

GOD BLESS THEE, MY SON; I WILL GIVE THEE
THE GREATEST JEWEL I HAVE. FOR I WILL IMPART

 

MAI-

26L

UNTO THEE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND MEN, A RELA-
TION OF THE TRUE STATE OF SALOMON'S HOUSE. I
WILL KEEP THIS ORDER. FIRST, I WILL SET FORTH
UNTO YOU THE END OF OUR FOUNDATION. SECONDLY,
THE PREPARATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS WE HAVE FOR
OUR WORKS. THIRDLY, THE SEVERAL EMPLOYMENTS
AND FUNCTIONS WHEREUNTO OUR FELLOWS ARE As-

SIGNED. AND FOURTHLY THE ORDINANCES AND RITES
WHICH WE OBSERVE.2‘

THIS FATHER, WHO IS NO DOUBT TYPICAL OF HIS CLASS, IS ABLY

DESCRIBED BY EDWIN ABBOTT:

NO READER OF THE NEW ATLANTIS CAN FAIL TO
BE STRUCK BY THE RELIGIOUS LIGHT IN WHICH THE
VENERABLE FATHER OF SALOMON'S HOUSE Is REGARDED.
HE IS NO MERE STUDENT OR SPECIALIST; HE IS A
BENEFACTOR OF THE HUMAN RACE, A FATHER OF HIS
COUNTRY, A MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND THE LAWS OF
GOD, 'HAVING AN ASPECT AS ONE THAT PITIES MEN';
NOT A RHETORICIAN OR PREACHINGIRELATE, BUT A
PRIEST OF SCIENCE BLESSING THE PEOPLE WITH OUT-
STRETCHED HAND 'IN SILENCE' AMIDST THE SPONTAN-
EOUS VENERATION OF HIS COUNTRYMEN.22

 

A MEMBER OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WOULD PROBABLY SEE
NOTHING IRONIC ABOUT THE FATHER'S MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY
ROLE, BUT A HUMBLE PRIEST~~IN WHATEVER AGE~~MIGHT ASK IF
THE FATHER DID NOT PROFESS TOO MUCH.

WHAT I WISH TO DEMONSTRATE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN
THIS DISCUSSION OF THE NEW ATLANTIS IS THAT FORMALIZED RELI-
GION HAS A SUBOROINATE ROLE IN THE TOTAL LIFE OF THE STATE.
THE LAWS OF BENSALEM, THE COLLEGE ITSELF, THE 322 OF BEN-
SALEMIS CULTURE WERE ALL ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE MIRACULOUS

DELIVERY OF THE SCRIPTURES. IT MIGHT BE SAID, IN FACT,

2I. IBID., P.I56.

22. FRANCIS BACON, P. M25.

 

285

THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS A WINDFALL TO THE BENSALEMITES. IT
DID NOT ALTER THE COURSE OF THEIR SOCIETY AND MOST CER-
TAINLY DID NOT DETHRONE THE SCIENTISTS OF THE COLLEGE.
RATHER, AS ABBOTT SAYS, THESE MEN HAVE BECOME THE TRUE
MEDIATORS BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS. THE FATHERIS PEARL
OF GREAT PRICE, THE "GREATEST JEWEL" HE HAS, IN HIS KNow—
LEDGE OF THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE. A FEW DECADES LATER,
BUNYAN'S FAITH ENCOUNTERED SUCH A MAN AND CHOSE TO CALL
HIM SHAME, A MAN WHO HAD NEVER, IN SPITE OF GOOD INTEN-
TIONS, GOTTEN FAR ALONG THE ROAD TO THE CELESTIAL CITY.
WHEN BACON ESTABLISHED THE GROUND-RULES FOR THE NEW
PHILOSOPHY, HE ASSURED SENSITIVE PATRONS OF OTHERWORLDLI-
NESS THAT THE NEW PHILOSOPHERS COULD BE LIKENED To ADAM
BEFORE THE FALL. THEY, LIKE ADAM, WERE MORALLY FREE TO
GO ABOUT THE GARDEN OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD GIVING SUBTITLES
To THE PICTURES FOUND IN GOD'S FIRST BOOK--THE BOOK OF
NATURE. THEY WOULD WALK HUMBLY THROUGH THE GARDEN, AND IF
THEY SHOULD CHANCE UPON THE FORBIDDEN TREE, THEY WOULD
SWERVE ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, REMEMBERING WELL

WHAT EVE HAD TAUGHT THEM ABOUT TRESPASSING ON THE PRIVATE
GROUNDS OF GOD. YET, I THINK IT Is NOT UNFAIR TO BACON TO
SAY THAT HIS FATHER, THOUGH HE MAY NOT HAVE PLUCKED THE
FORBIDDEN FRUIT, HAS BEGUN TO LINGER BY THE TREE. WHEN

MEN ARE SCHOOLED TO LEARN THE HABIT OF DOUBT, AND WHEN

THEY HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE THE KINGDOM OF MAN THOROUGHLY

286

RATIONAL, THEY BEGIN TO REDUCE FAITH ITSELF TO THE DEMANDS
OF THE EMPIRICAL MIND. THAT IS WHY THE FATHER IS A PRIEST
OF SCIENCE RATHER THAN A PRIEST OF GOD WHO IS ALSO A SCIEN-
TIST.

THE RELIGIOUS DILEMMA OF BACON'S APOLOGY FOR LEARNING
IS SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVED IN THE FACT THAT IN THE SIXTEENTH
AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES REFORM DIRECTED AT ONE SEGMENT OF
SOCIETY IMMEDIATELY DREW THE ATTENTION OF OTHER SEGMENTS AND
FREQUENTLY NEEDED THEIR SUPPORT. BACON, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT
A "CLOSET PENMAN," REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEFORE HIM THE TASK
OF PREPARING TWO RATHER DIFFERENT BUT HOPELESSLY ENTANGLED
ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE NEW PHILOSOPHY. THE FIRST ENVIRONMENT
CONCERNED THE MIND OF MAN ITSELF, A CHAMBER FILLED WITH THE
DEBRIS OF THE AGES AND CONSTANTLY DISARRANGED BY THE RECUR-
RING ABERRATIONS AND TREMBLINGS OF ITS OWN WALLS. IT WAS A
CHAMBER WHICH NEEDED To BE SWEPT CLEAN SO THAT THE NEW SCIEN-
TISTS COULD ENTER ITS GLOOMY INTERIOR, LIGHT ITS CORNERS, AND
PLUMB AND BRACE ITS WALLS. IF THIS WORK COULD BE DONE, THE
BUILDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF MAN COULD BEGIN To ERECT THEIR
STRUCTURES. THIS WAS ONE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS ALSO NECEs-
SARY TO PROVIDE A PROPER SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEW
PHILOSOPHER, AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE NATION'S ENERGY
COULD BE FULLY UTILIZED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING.
SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS NEEDED "PHILOSOPHICAL" SUPPORT, BUT
THEY ALSO NEEDED PATRONS WITH MONEY; THEY NEEDED THE ATTEN-

TION OF THE CLASSES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE MEANS TO BUILD

287

SOLOMON'S HOUSE. WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WAY? THE IDEA OF
SOCIAL WASTE, OF THE INCESSANT OISSIPATION 0F HUMAN ENERGY,
IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BACONIS CONCEPT OF LEARNING; AND TIME AND
TIME AGAIN WHEN HE LOOKED CRITICALLY AT SOCIAL FORCES, WHEN
HE SAW LINES OF ENERGY FOLLOWING UNFRUITFUL COURSES, HE
PLACED A DAMNING FINGER ON THE RELIGIOUS SENSIBILITY. IT
SEEMED, HE SAID TO TOBY MATTHEW, THAT RELIGIOUS CONTROVER-
SIES COULD CHECK THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING--AS THEY HAD
DONE FOR CENTUHEs--AND ANY MAN COULD SEE THAT THE LONG DE-
BATE BETWEEN THE ANGLICANS AND PURITANS HAD HAMSTRUNG THE
STATE. JAMES COULD NOT EVEN RUN HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD, MUCH
LESSSPONSOR LEARNING. WHEREVER BACON TURNED, AND WHEREVER
HE HAD TURNED SINCE HIS ENTRY INTO THE NATIONAL LIFE, HE

SAW THAT THE MAN WHO WAS MORE INTERESTED IN HIS SOUL THAN

IN HIS STATE HAD STOOD WITH BARED TEETH TO TURN BACK THE

NEW PHILOSOPHY. I THINK IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY THAT BACON
BELIEVED THE VOCIFEROUS SPOKESMEN OF RELIGION HAD BEEN GIVEN
AN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR WORTH TO MAN. THEY
HAD DONE MUCH TO EXALT HIM ABOVE THE BEAST; THEY HAD GIVEN V

HIM A SENSE OF DESTINY AND HAD TAUGHT HIM THE NECESSARY
DIALOGUE OF HUMILITY. BUT THEY HAD NOT TAUGHT HIM HOW TO

DISCOVER AND ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THIS WORLD. THEY HAD

TOLD HIM NOTHING SENSIBLE ABOUT REFRIGERATION, COSMOLOGY,
GRAFTING, CRoss-BREEDING, MEDICINE, MINING, 02 CHEMISTRY.

AND FROM ALL APPEARANCES, IT SEEMED APPARENT THAT THEY

NEVER WOULD.

288

THERE WAS ALSO ABUNDANT EVIDENCE IN BACON'S FILES TO
SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT RELIGION HAD HAD ITS CHANCE TO
TEACH MEN TO BE CIVIL--AND THAT IT HAD FAILED. AS A NOTED
ANTHROPOLOGIST HAS RECENTLY SAID,258ACON WAS FULLY CONSCIOUS
OF THE FACT THAT HE LIVED IN A BARBARIC AGE IN WHICH MAN'S
PREDATORY INSTINCTS WERE STILL HIGHLY DEVELOPED. HE WAS
THE FIRST SCIENTIFIC SCHOLAR, SAYS EISELEY, "TO APPROACH
THE INCIPIENT INSTITUTION OF SCIENCE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF
A PRACTICAL STATESMAN."2)'L AND I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT AS
A PRACTICAL STATESMAN BACON HAD COME TO BELIEVE THAT BARBAR-
ISM, "BLOODY THOUGHTS AND BLOODY DEEDS," WAS ALL TO FRE-
QUENTLY SYNONYMOUS WITH RELIGIOUS ZEAL. UNTIL MEN COULD
LEARN TO BE MORE REASONABLE ABOUT THEIR FAITHS, THEY CCULD
NOT BE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE MUCH TOWARD THE PROGRESS OF
LEARNING.

FORTY YEARS AFTER FRANCIS BACON'S DEATH, JOHN MILTON,
NO STRANGER BY THAT TIME TO THE PROBLEMS OF CHURCH AND STATE,
EVOKED THE HEAV'NLY MUSE TO AID HIM IN HIS SOARING ATTEMPT
TO “JUSTIFY THE WAYS OF GOD TO MEN." IT HAD SEEMED TO HIM
THAT ALL THE GREAT MUTATIONS OF FAITH HAD NOT BEEN WORKED,
THAT THERE WAS STILL NEED FOR RAPHAEL TO SIT UPON THE GREEN
BANKS OF EDEN AND CHAT AMICABLY ABOUT THE KNOTTY PROBLEMS OF

23. LOREN EISELEY, FRANCIS BACON AND THE MODERN DILEMMA
(UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS, I952), P. 55.

 

2h. IBID., P. 22.

289

SALVATION AND ANGELIC DIGESTION. IN RELIGIOUS TURMOIL MIL-
TON HAD FOUND THE INSPIRATION TO ATTEMPT OVCE MORE TO ANs-
WER THE CRIES OF THE CHRISTIAN SOUL, FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY
WERE ZEALOUS CRIES, THE CRIES OF MEN WHO HAD MADE CONSCIENCE
A MATTER OF FACTION, THEY WERE NONETHELESS THE VOICES OF
HUMANITY. BACON WAS NOT, OF COURSE, DEAF TO THE SPIRITUAL
AGONIES OF MANKIND, BUT, UNLIKE THE GREAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS
OF HIS ERA, MEN WHO CUSTOMARILY DISCUSSED SPIRITUAL MALAISE

IN TERMS OF THE FALL, HE LOOKED FOR THE ROOTS OF RELIGIOUS
DISCONTENTS AND FRUSTRATIONS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE CATEGORIES
OF THE IDOLS. OR, TO STATE THE PROPOSITION MORE PRECISELY,
HE LOOKED THERE FIRST. IN APHORISM XXIII a? THE NOVUM OR-
GANUM HE SAID
THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE

IDOLS OF THE HUMAN MIND AND THE IDEAS OF THE

DIVINE. THAT IS TO SAY, BETWEEN CERTAIN‘

EMPTY DOGMAS, AND THE TRUE SIGNATURES AND

MARKS SET UPON THE WORKS OF CREATION AS THEY

ARE FOUND IN NATURE.
IT WAS CUSTOMARY IN HIS AGE, AS IT HAD BEEN F02 CENTURIES,
TO RESOLVE THIS "GREAT DIFFERENCE" WITH EXEGESES OF THE WORD,
A PROCESS WHICH IN BACON'S MIND HAD BEEN SINGULARLY UNFRUIT-
FUL IN THE AREA OF FAITH AND DISTINCTLY HARMFUL TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A RATIONAL TEMPORAL LIFE IN BOTH CATHOLIC
AND PROTESTANT STATES. IF THERE WERE NOT TO BE AN ENDLESS
MULTIPLICATION OF "EMPTY DOGMAS," AN ENDLESS WASTE OF MIND

AND MATTER, THE IDOLS OF THE HUMAN MIND WOULD HAVE TO BE

CORRECTED WITH A NEW FORCE WHICH COULD TRANSCEND THE

290

DEMONSTRABLE LIMITATIONS OF THE DEVOUTLY RELIGIOUS SENSI-
BILITY.

AS I SAID IN THE LAST CHAPTER, THE PARADOX OF EACONIS
FAITH LIES SOMEWHERE ON THAT HAZARDOUS GROUND BETWEEN "WAR-
RANTABLE BY RELIGION" AND "IN POLICY OF ABSOLUTE NECESSITYo"
BACON AT THAT POINT WAS SPEAKING OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, BUT
THERE IS EVERYWHERE IN HIS PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS THE EQUALLY
DEMANDING THESIS THAT THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING HAS ALSO
ITS ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES. BACON IS, OF COURSE, A GOOD DEAL
MORE CAUTIOUS IN THESE WORKS ABOUT DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES
OF NECESSITY, BUT THEY ARE THERE ADNETHELESS. THE MIND IS
NOT SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE EXTRACTED FROM THE MAN AND EDU~
CATED IN BLISSFUL SOLITUDE WHILE TFE BODY AND SOUL HAGGLE
UNNOTICED IN THE BACKGROUND. QUITE TO THE CONTRARY, IT
COMES TO THE ENVIRONS OF THE NEW PHILOSOPHY IN ITS COMPOSITE
FORM, SAGGING WITH THE BURDENS OF RELIGIOUS PREUUDICE AND
SUPERSTITION; AND IT WOULD BE A MISTN<E OF THE FIRST ORDER
TO SUPPOSE THAT BACON, THINKING OF HIMSELF AS THE GREAT
DEAN OF ADMISSIONS, WAS NOT MORE THAN A LITTLE SADDENED AT
THE RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND OF HIS STUDENTS.

IT HAS BEEN BY NO MEANS UNCOMMON FOR STUDENTS OF HESTERN
THOUGHT TO SUSPECT THAT BACON'S APOLOGY Fa? LEARNING, THOUGH
EMINENTLY GENEROUS TO THE RELIGIOUS dDMMUNITY, CLOAKED A
GENUINE RELIGIOUS SKEPTIOISM. IN AN ADMITTEDLY CIRCUITOUS

FASHION, I HOPE WE ARE NOW IN A BETTER POSITION TO EVALUATE

29I

THIS HIGHLY IMPoRTANT PREMISE. I BELIEVE THAT THE RELIGIC-
POLITICAL TRACTS IN NO WAY SUGGEST THAT BACON WAS NOT A FIRM
BELIEVER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN GOD, A BEING WHOSE
WILL WAS SUFFICIENTLY REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES. BUT IF

WE LOOK IN THESE WORKS FOR AN INSTRUMENT WHEREBY THIS WILL
MIGHT BE INTERPRETED AND WHEREBY IT MIGHT BE CONTINUALLY
DELIVERED TO ALL MEN, WE SHALL NOT FIND IT. BACON'S CHURCH
OF CHRIST IS AN ELUSIVE BODY, AN ERRING AND DELINQUENT

YOUTH SORELY IN NEED OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSEL. IT HAS NO
DYNAMIC OF ITS OWN, NO INHERENT QUALITIES CAPABLE OF BEING
CALLED UPON TO PURIFY ITS FORMS AND CONTAIN ITS UNCIVIL PAS—
SIONS. CHURCHMEN THEMSELVES, EVER SUBJECT TO THE IDOLS OF
THE CAVE, ARE EITHER TOO RIGIDLY CONSERVATIVE OR TOO FANATIC—
ALLY REVOLUTIONARY TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THE PEOPLE,
THE BEAST WITH MANY HEADS, ARE ADRIFT SOMEWHERE IN THE LIMBO
BETWEEN INFLEXIBLE FUNDAMENTALISM AND HYPNOTIC REVIVALISM.
GOD CANNOT HELP THEM, CHURCHES CANNOT HELP THEM, AND THEY
CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES. THIS, THEN, IF THE FORM WHICH
BACON'S RELIGIOUS SKEPTIOISM TAKES. IN ONE SENSE WE MAY

SAY THAT IT IS NOT A RELIGIOUS SKEPTIOISM AT ALL, THAT IT
IS RATHER A DENUNCIATION OF MAN'S UNMITIGATED BUNGLING OF

THE WORD OF GOD, THAT IT IS THE VOICE OF REASON CALLING FOR

A HALT TO THE WASTE OF RELIGIOUS ENERGY. CERTAINLY ANYONE

WHO HAS SAT FACE TO FACE FOR FIVE MINUTES WITH A RELIGIOUS

BIGOT OR FANATIC UNDERSTANDS THE MERIT 0F BACON'S CONVICTIONS,

292

AND CERTAINLY MANY OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES UNDERSTOOD WELL
THE FRUITS OF RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE. BUT AS I SUGGESTED
EARLIER, WE MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE WHAT BACON'S EVALUA-
TION OF THE RELIGIOUS TEMPERAMENT MEANT TO CHRISTIANITY

OR IMAGINE THAT BACON HIMSELF WAS UNAWARE OF THE IMPLICA-
TIONS OF HIS THEORIES. HE KNEW AS WELL AS ANYONE IN HIS
DAY THAT DEVOTED CHURCHMEN, NOT BENEVOLENT STATES, TRANS—
MITTED FAITH; AND HE KNEW THAT NO AMOUNT OF POLITICAL
STABILITY IN ITSELF COULD MAKE GOOD CHRISTIANS OUT OF

GOOD CITIZENS. BUT HIS BOOK OF REVELATIONS FORETOLD A
KINGDOM OF MAN WHOSE INCOMPARABLE BENEFITS TO THE MIND AND
BODY TENDED TO WARRANT ANY POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE SOUL.
PERHAPS HE FELT THAT IN A PERIOD "NOT DEFINITE," AFTER

THE MIND HAD BECOME A CLEAN AND WELL-LIGHTED PLACE AND

THE COLLEGE OF SIX DAYS' WORK HAD BEEN BUILT, THERE WOULD
BE TIME FOR A RAGE OF TRULY INDIFFERENT MEN TO FIND THE

ONE GOD BEHIND THE ENCHANTED GLASS.

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(I928): H96'5'9o

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