SIDELIGHTS ON FRANCIS BACON

[Eric Roberts]

 

While looking into Nicholas Hilliard's miniatures painted in France between 1576–78, I found this 1952 article in Baconiana by M. F. Bayley, (Mrs Vernon Bayley). If her list of "sidelights" is anything to go by, her other writing in Baconiana and elsewhere could be fascinating and worthwhile collecting together in an easier-to-read format.

 

SIDELIGHTS ON FRANCIS BACON

By M.F. Bayley

Baconiana No. 142, 1952: 37–39

 

LADY BACON received grants from the Court of Wards. Receipts signed by her exist, or they did formerly exist.

 

In a letter to Anthony she says:— "I have ever treated your brother (meaning Francis) as a son, not as a Ward.” Was not Francis a Ward of Court? It was revealed in various records.

 

Quoted by Hepworth Dixon:—Sir Nicholas Bacon left Francis no money or land, only the reversion after the death of Anthony! To all his other sons he left property.”

 

When Francis was at Cambridge his expenses were, it is believed, paid by the Lord Treasurer, also Anthony's. This is an extraordinary fact: Francis and his foster brother Anthony Bacon went, under exceptional circumstances, to Trinity College, Cambridge, They entered as Fellow Commoners, wore a special cap and gown, and dined at the Fellows Table. Their tutor was Whitgift, later made Arch­ bishop of Canterbury by the Queen. Only one boy, a few years later, had the same privilege, until a later reign when young noblemen were permitted to purchase this privilege.

 

Francis entered Gray's Inn also in unusual circumstances. He was given the same privileges as the *Ancients, or Leaders of Gray *s Inn, which caused much resentment as it was not customary to be given to other young men.

 

He was sent previously to France in an unusual capacity. In a letter to Essex he says:—I was sent on an Embassy from the Queen's hand." This is correct. He was sent on a Special Embassy. Sir Amyas Paulet was specially sent with him as an Ambassador attached to his Embassy. (The English Ambassador at the French Court was then called Gray). Sir Amyas Paulet accompanied Francis to the Uni­ versity of Poictiers and on all Francis' journeys, and his stay at the French Court. Reports of his progress and studies and doings at the French Court, which he made to Sir Nicholas Bacon, are extant. Paulet seems to have tried to help Francis' matrimonial scheme of marrying Marguerite de Valois whom Henry IV was divorcing as shown in Mrs, Gallup's cipher story, and incurred the Queen's displeasure. The indications are that Sir Amyas, who it is believed had taught Francis the French language, was specially deputed as his guardian.

 

On Francis' return to England he seems to have lived in Leicester's house—home of Lord Leicester—instead of with Sir Nicholas Bacon. His Immertio bears this out. He was intimate with Philip and Mary Sidney. Mary Sidney married Lord Pembroke of Wilton, near Salisbury.

 

In Wilton Library was the most complete library of all the books published at that period. It was sold a few years ago.

 

Francis says: (I quote from memory)— I have often foregone mine own name and fame, if any such be, both in the works I write now, and tiiose I write for posterity.

 

See Hannan’s Impersonations of Francis Bacon which gives a clear description of this concealed author’s style in ''Spenser" works. The fact that the Royal Tudor Arms were used on Headpieces in tlie Spencer 1611 folio, completely wipes out the Secretary Spenser. Also the deference shown the author ''Spenser'' by Gabriel Harvey (Francis Bacon’s friend), which Harvey would scarcely have shown his inferior, the Sizar of Cambridge.

 

Harvey alludes to the author with much respect as if he were Royal, as well as a courtier about the Court. In Baconians 1679 Bishop Tenison writes: ''They who know his lordship's writings can tell by the colour, the way of design, what books are through his pen though his name be not to it.”

As Francis uses the Royal Arms in the Spenser folio of 1611, it suggests that he may have been crowned secretly, King of England, and abdicated in James' favour. His first letter to King James speaks of offering himself as an ''oblation'' or burnt offering! After his fall he says to King James in a letter:一 I was the first sacrifice in your reign, so let me be the last. Most curious words!

 

That this secret is known to many people is quite probable. Sir Edwin Lawrence in his books published in 1910—he found that his thirty three people who should have known the secret, only nine knew it. I do not think that three know it today!!!. It may be the only important secret of the Masons.

 

It would do great good to our Royal House and the young Princess if it were given to the world.

 

That Shakespeare was not only Francis Bacon but was also heir to the throne, is a primary essential of the Baconian theory in Two Voices! One of his being supposedly descended from Nicholas Bacon, and one of his true life, that of descent from Elizabeth and Leicester, is what is keeping back the truth.

 

The Dictionary of National Biography acknowledges Leicester's marriage in secret to Elizabeth. There is ample confirmation of it if only members would concentrate on that and not waste their time sticking to an outworn secret disguise of a ''Pig”.

 

“What’s in a name?" But many still follow the false scent. The Baconian Room at Canonbury has the list of English Sovereigns from Will Con.[to] Elizabetha Tertius. Elizabetha Fr., after the Fr. (something is scratched out) painted on the wall. Significant!

 

Will Con. Elizabetha Fr Jacobus, the ’AB' is dipthonged in Elizabetha the dipthong being under Will Con, which gives the name Bacon.

 

The secret panel in the panelled room used by the Bacon Society years ago is supposed to have been a large cupboard. The builder who repaired it (after Mrs. Gallup published her Lost Manuscripts book) told the late Mr. H. Seymour he could stand upright in it. We were on the track of a workman who admitted he had started burning bundles of papers, when they were stopped but unfortunately the blitz started, and we were unable to trace him during 1939-40. Were these the lost manuscripts of Shakespeare as Mrs. Gallup slated ?

 

I alluded to this in my speech at our Luncheon held in that room on January 22nd, 1940. This room, with its beautiful Tudor carving, was occupied by Francis Bacon in 1616. Tradition with Canonbury Tower credited a story that Elizabeth had given birth to a daughter in this room. We were told years before we had use of the Tower.

 

The writer of the Shakespeare plays in histories was writing the history of his ancestors. John of Gaunt and all his ancestors, and those of our present King George VI, and his family.