A Finding List: Part 3.

Elizabethan Facts and Historical References

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-X-Y-Z

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Father of experimental philosophy This title has been oftener conferred upon Bacon than upon any other of its benefactors. (Napier). 1

Father of modern science So was Bacon called; “but how is it that abilities like his, applying themselves to a practical object for so many years together with such eager interest and laborious industry, met with so little success? How is it that he did not succeed, if not in accomplishing, yet in putting in a way to be accomplished, or in persuading somebody to think capable of accomplishment, some part at least of the work which he had so much at heart? If the end was unattainable, how is it that he did not find that out? If he had mistaken the way, how is it that he did not himself discover the error as he proceeded? If he failed from not well understanding the use of some of the necessary implements, why did he not apply himself to learn the use of them, or seek help from those who did understand it? He may have neglected mechanics and mathematics in his youth because he did not then know their importance; but he could hardly have proceeded far in the attempt to weigh and measure and analyse the secret forces of nature, without finding the want, long before it was too late to commence the study of them. The only explanation is that Bacon’s deficiency lay in the intellect itself. It seems that there was one intellectual faculty in which he was comparatively weak, and that not being himself aware of the extent and importance of the defect, he miscalculated the amount of his own forces.” (Spedding).

Feasts to Bacon’s honour In June 1617 in Whitsun week, the Countess of Arundel made a grand feast at Highgate, 2 to Francis Bacon, the two Lords Justices, the Master of the Rolls [Sir Julius Ceasar], and others. It was after the Italian manner with four courses and four tablecloths one under another; and when the first course and table-cloth were taken away, the Master of the Rolls, thinking all had been done, said grace, as his manner is when no Divines are present, and was afterwards well laughed at for his labour.

First distemper of learning Men have withdrawn themselves too much from the contemplation of nature and the observations of experience, and have tumbled up and down in their own reasons and conceits. As many substances in nature which are solid do putrefy and corrupt into worms, so it is the property of good and sound knowledge to putrefy into a number of subtle, idle, unwholesome and (as I may term them) vermiculate questions, which have indeed a kind of quickness and life of spirit, but no soundness of matter or goodness of quality. This kind of degenerate learning did chiefly reign amongst the schoolmen; who had sharp and strong wits, abundance of leisure, and small variety of reading; but their wits being shut up in the cells of a few authors (chiefly Aristotle, their dictator), as their persons were shut up in the cells of monasteries and colleges, and knowing little history, either of nature or time, did, out of no great quantity of matter and infinite agitation of wit, spin out unto us those laborious webs of learning which are extant in their books. For the wit and mind of man, if it work upon matter, which is the contemplation of the creatures of God, worketh according to the stuff, and is limited thereby; but if it work upon itself, as the spider worketh his web, then it is endless, and brings forth cobwebs of learning, admirable for the fineness of thread and work, but of no substance or profit. (Bacon, Adv., Bk I).
Here, then, is the key to the drama of Love’s Labour’s Lost. It was Bacon’s first indictment against the Aristotelian philosophy as it had been studied by the schoolmen, and as it was still studied and taught in his own time. The lesson it teaches is that the closer the scholar keeps himself in touch with his fellow-men, the more successful will he be in the pursuit of truth. The rays of the sun give out no heat till they strike the earth; so those of truth cannot warm or fructify till they come into actual contact with human life. Bacon left the University of Cambridge in his sixteenth year, before the completion of his course and without a degree. He did this, as he afterwards explained to Rawley, because he was disgusted with the methods of study which prevailed there, and which, it appears, are ridiculed in Love’s Labour’s Lost. (Reed). [Also see Part III: Dead faith in Aristotle].

Folio and its cost It was a large and costly work, and, even though eventually profitable, must have required the advance of a large sum to print it. Where did this money come from? Three men, W. Jaggard, I. Smithweeke and W. Aspley, paid the expense of the publication, while only one man, Ed. Blount, was concerned in printing and expense both.

Fortunes of Fire If my fortunes be set on fire I will put it out not with water but with demolition. (Bacon Adv., Bk II). The Great Fire of 1666 inflicted great loss upon the booksellers. Of this there is an interesting testimony in a little book entitled Scriptures Self-Evident: 3

The late dreadful Fire, kindled by our God-provoking sins and abominations, transcending all our Forefathers, (after so many miracles of mercies and deliverances) within three days space turned no less than eighty-eight Parishes and Parish-Churches, with the Cathedral Church of the late great and glorious City of London, into heaps of ashes and rubbish, to the just horror and amazement of all Spectators of their flames and ruins; which as it proved extremely prejudicial and destructive to most Companies of the City, yet none of them received so grand losses and damages by the devouring Conflagration as the Company of Stationers, most of whose Habitations, Store-houses, Shops, together with all their Stocks, Books, bound and unbound, (by reason of their combustibleness, and difficulty to remove them) were not only consumed in a moment, but their ashes, and scorched leaves, carried with the violence of the wind in the air, were scattered in sundry places above 16 miles from the City, to the great admiration of the Beholders. Amongst other millions of Books thus suddenly consumed, this little Book suffered in the same kind; however, thou hast it now with many Additions. Reader, pray for the Author, and beg a blessing upon his endeavours for thy good.
Farewell.

This is followed by a list of the notable fires that preceded the Great Fire of London. Scriptures Self-Evidence belongs to the long controversy as to the “Only Rule of Faith,” and has escaped the notice of the bibliographers of the Papal Controversy of the seventeenth century. It is not in such a treatise that we should expect to find a curious bit of evidence as to the destruction of literature caused by the Fire of London. (Axon).

• 1595: The Spaniards raided the coast of Cornwall and burnt the church at St. Paul, when the registers perished in the conflagration.
• 1598 Oct.: Edmund Spencer’s castle in Kilcolman was burnt to cinders.
• 1613: The Globe Theatre fire burns acting manuscripts.
• 1621 Dec. 15: In a letter written by John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton: “On Sunday night there was a great fire at the Fortune, in Golden Lane, the fayrest playhouse in this town. It was quite burnt downe in two hours and all their apparell and playbooks lost, whereby the poor companions are quite undone.” A new Fortune arose three years later on the site of the old one, namely in 1624. An improvement in the building was effected by constructing the house of brick. Allen possessed shares in the new theatre, otherwise he had no interest or responsibility in the undertaking.
• 1666 Sept.: The Great Fire of London was in direct line with the Bacon printing house turning all manuscripts to ash. Another Baconian house was burnt: Bergeny House.
• 1676: The old register of Arborfield, Berkshire, was destroyed by a fire at the rectory. Those at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, were burnt in a fire which consumed two-thirds of the town.
• 1678: Bacon’s chambers, says Mr. Pearce, were in No. 1, Coney Court, which formerly stood on the site of the present row of buildings at the west side of Gray’s Inn Square, adjoining the gardens. The whole of Coney Court was burnt down by a fire which occurred in the Inn.
• 1684 Bacon’s Chambers at Gray’s Inn, after Meautys took possession of them, burnt to the ground turning all manuscripts to ash.
• 1731 Cottonian Library caught fire turning manuscripts to ashes.
• 1780 Northumberland House burns manuscripts to ash.
• On the January 16, 1618–19 Mr. Chamberlain wrote thus to Sir Dudley Carleton: “Since my last we have had a great mischance by fire at Whitehall, which beginning in the Banqueting House hath quite consumed it, and put the rest to great danger, but that there was so much help at hand, besides that which was sent out of London on all sides, and so good order taken by the presence of the Lord Chancellor [Bacon], the Duke of Lennox, and the Earl of Arundel, that all passed with as much quiet as was possible in such a confusion; and the fire, that was exceeding furious, kept from spreading further than the limits of that building, saving only, that the vehemence of the heat burnt down one of the rotten terraces or galleries adjoining, and took hold of the pulpit-place, which was soon quenched. One of the greatest losses spoken of is the burning of all or most of the writings and papers belonging to the offices of the Signet, Privy Seal, and Council Chamber, which were under it.”

French Academy D’Alembert, paraphrasing Francis Bacon, thus wrote in the Preface to his Eloges: “‘He who marries,’ says Bacon, ‘gives hostages to fortune’; the man of letters who holds in respect or who aspires to the Academy gives hostages to decency.” It is not merely a French National Institution; it has, to the extent to which the French language is the medium of cosmopolitan intercourse, some claims to have applied to it the term International. [See Appendices French Academy].

French Academy Members The chief biographical data in the list that follows includes the early dated members of the Academy pertaining to Francis Bacon’s era, 1560 to 1626. The figures immediately following the name give the years of birth and death and the year of election, the number in brackets, after this last date, preceded by A. (Academician), being the Academician’s fauteuil or place number. In some instances in which the exact date of either election or reception is not ascertainable, it has been assumed that the known year for either is the same for both.

• Ablancourt, Nicolas Perrot d’: 1606–1664; A. 1637 [2]. Translator of Greek and Latin classics chiefly historical.
• Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de: 1594(7)–1654; A. 1634 [19]. One of the fathers of modern French prose. Balzac’s literary fame, great among contemporary men of letters, was founded largely on Letters (to Conrart, Chapelain, and others) and Dissertations (ethical, critical, and political). These were published in 2 volumes, in 1665 at the instance of Conrart.
• Bardin, Pierre: 1590–1637; A. 1634 [1]. Chief work: Le grand chambellan de France.
• Baro, Balthasar: d.1649 (?); A. 1634 [15]. Poet, dramatic author, and romance writer.
• Baudouin (Baudoin), Jean: 1590(?)–1650; A. 1634 [16]. A voluminous writer, most of whose works are mediocre translations of ancient authors. Still consulted are: Iconologie (1636); Recueil d’emblemes (1638).
• Bautru de Serrant (Seran), Guillaume: 1588–1665; A. 1634 [27]. Satirist and occasional poet.
• Bazin de Bezons, Claude: 1617–1684; A. 1643 [7]. Dignitary of state. No literary record. Took the place of Chancellor Siguier in the Academy when the Chancellor became its protector.
• Benserade, Isaac de: 1612(?)–1691; A. 1674 [37]. Dramatic author and poet. Translator, in rondeaux, of Ovid’s Metamorphoses a failure. In high favour and repute at court, where for thirty years he composed verses for the King’s ballets.
• Boileau, Gilles: 1631–1669; 1659 [23]. Poet and translator. Brother of Despreaux. His work in prose included a translation of Epictetus and of Diogenes Laertius’s Lives of the Philosophers; in poetry, his productions are preserved, or lost, in contemporary collections.
• Boisrobert, Francois le Metel, Abbe de: 1592–1662; A. 1634 [26]. Author of theatrical pieces, poems, and romances. In the comedy La belle plaideuse he utilized the extraordinary incident of President de Bercy and his spendthrift son meeting each other as usurer and would-be borrower, thus anticipating Moliere’s l’Avare on the same theme.
• Boissat, Pierre de: 1603–1662; A. 1634 [25]. Poet, historian, moralist.
• Bourzeys (Bourzeis), Abbe Amable de: 1606–1671; A. 1634 [35]. Voluminous writer on matters pertaining to the Catholic Church and faith.
• Boyer, Abbe Claude: 1618–1698; A. 1666 [28]. Dramatic author. One of a group dubbed by Furetiere Academiciens jetonniers, sans nom et sans autorite.
• Cauvigny-Colomby, Frangois de; 1588–1648; A. 1634 [11]. Poet and prose writer. Translator, in part, of Tacitus’ Annals.
• Chapelain, Jean: 1595–1674; A. 1634 [37]. Author, poet, critic, of varied erudition. His name will be associated for all time with the early French Academy, which in the critical years of its infancy he did much to keep alive. One of the four original members of the Academy of Inscriptions. Works: La Pucelle (first 12 cantos published in 1666; last 12, at the hands of an enterprising bookseller, in 1882); Lettres (correspondence with the chief savants and men of letters of his time, preserved in the Bibliotheque National): etc.
• Colbert, Jean Baptiste: 1619–1683; A. 1667 [30]. Louis XIV’s great minister. Patron of all the royal academies and creator of three of them: Inscriptions, Sciences, Architecture.
• Colletet, Guillaume: 1598–1659; A. 1634 [23]. Poet and dramatist; one of the “Five Authors” so called, collaborators on occasion with Richelieu.
• Conrart, Valentin: 1603–1675; A. 1634 [38]. The French Academy’s first permanent secretary. A man of letters, who, however, published little, so giving occasion for Boileau’s malicious line, J’imite de Conrart le silence prudent; but he left many volumes of MSS., portions of which have been given to the world. Conrart’s most memorable literary production was the charter of the French Academy.
• Cordemoy, Geraud de: 1620–1684; A. 1675 [10]. Historian and philosopher; author of works on the early history of France, on the system of Descartes, on metaphysics, etc.
• Corneille, Pierre: 1606–1684; A. 1647 [9]. Dramatic author and poet. Besides being one of the quintette whom Richelieu employed to turn his scenarios into verse, he was known as the author of several comedies before the tragedy of Le Cid (1636) raised him to the heights of fame. Its phenomenal success, more than reputed oppression, probably made him cautious, for it is not until 1640 that he reappears on the scene with Horace and Cinna. There being some uncertainty as to the exact year of production of his next pieces, until 1646, it is with this understanding that the dates are appended to them in the following list of his subsequent works: Polyeucte (1642); Pompee (1643); le Menteur (comedy, 1643); Theodore (1645); Suite du Menteur (comedy, 1645); Rodogune (1646); Heraclius (1647); Don Sanche d’Aragon (tragi-comedy, 1650); Nicomede (1651); (Edipe (1659); Sertorius (1662); Sophonisbe (1663); Othon (1664); Attila (1667); etc. Brunetiere, alluding to the wonderful flexibility of mind which enabled Corneille to apply himself by turns to comedy and severe tragedy, speaks of Le Menteur and Suite du Menteur as masterpieces.
• Desmarets (de Saint Sorlin), Jean: 1595–1676; A. 1634 [39]. A conventional poet and play writer until 1645, when his productions took on a marked religious tone. His Comparaison de la langue et de la poesie frangaise avec la grecque et la latine, et des poetes grecs, latins et frangais (1670), in which he asserted the superiority of the French language and of the Christian social organization over the ancient tongues and polities, is said to have started the long quarrel between the Ancients and Moderns.
• Estoile (Etoile), Claude de l’: 1597–1651; A. 1634 [17]. Dramatic author and poet; one of the quintette of poets, called specifically the “Five Authors” who collaborated on occasion with Richelieu.
• Faret, Nicolas: 1596–1646; A. 1634 [8]. Historian, moralist, poet, translator. Works: Histoire chronologique des Ottomans (1621); Histoire romaine (1626, trans, of Eutropius): l’Honnâte homme, ou l’Art de plaire (1630); etc.
• Furetiere, Antoine, Abbe de Chalivoy: 1619–1688; A. 1662 [25]. Writer and lexicographer; author of romances, poems, fables. His famous Dictionary, the cause of his expulsion from the Academy (1685), was not published until after his death.
• Giry, Louis: 1596–1666; A. 1636 [28]. Author and translator.
• Godeau, Antoine: 1605–1672; A. 1634 [34]. Bishop of Grasse and Vence. Author in prose and verse, whose earlier literary essays were read before the Conrart coterie, the germ of the French Academy.
• Gombauld, Jean Ogier de: 1567–1666; A. 1634 [29]. Poet and prose writer. Works included romances, poems, Sonnets, plays, letters, epigrams.
• Gomberville, Marin Le Roy de: 1600–1674; A. 1634 [36]. Man of letters. Singular works from a youthful pen were: Tableau du bonheur de la vieillesse (1614); Discours des vertus et des vices de l’histoire (1620) together with Traite de l’origine des Francois. Among works of his maturity were: Polexandre (1638-41, 5 vols. romance); La Cythérée (1640, 4 vols. romance); Doctrine de mœurs (1646).
• Granier, Auger de Mauleon de: A. 1635 [5]. An ecclesiastic, dropped from the Academy’s rolls in May, 1636, for malversation.
• Habert, Germain, Abbe de Censy: 1615–1654; A. 1634 [21]. Poet and prose writer. Author of an essay (1636) on the multiplicity of languages, of which the purpose was to illustrate the utility of a universal language.
• Habert, Philippe: 1605–1637; A. 1634 [3]. Poet and prose writer. Chief work: Le temple de la mort (1637).
• Hay du Chastelet, Daniel, Abbe de Chambon: 1596–1671; A. 1635 [33]. Literary amateur.
• Hay du Chastelet, Paul: 1592–1636; A. 1634 [2]. Historian and publicist.
• La Chambre, Marin Cureaude: 1594(?)–1669; A. 1635 [31]. Physician to the King and writer. Chief literary work: Characteres des passions (1640-1662).
• La Fontaine, Jean de: 1621–1695; A. 1684 [30]. Poet. Works: Contes (1655); Fables (1669); Adonis (1671); Psyche (1671); etc.
• Méziriac, Claude Gaspard Bachet de: 1581–1638; A. 1634 [4]. Of considerable contemporary reputation as a linguist, mathematician, and poet hardly sustained by his published works.
• Porcheres, Frangois d’Arbaud de: 1590–1640; A. 1634 [6]. Poet and prose writer. So little is known of the two Porcheres that they are sometimes confounded.
• Porcheres, Honorat Laugier de: d.1653; A. 1634 [20]. Poet.
• Priézac, Daniel de: 1590–1662; A. 1639 [5]. Man of letters. Protege of Chancellor Seguier, by whom he was called to Paris from Bordeaux, where he was a doctor of law.
• Saint Amant, Antoine Girard de: 1594–1661; A. 1634 [24]. Poet. A complete edition of his works was published in 1855 for Charles Livet.
• Seguier, Pierre: 1588–1672; A. 1635 [7]. Keeper of the Seals and Chancellor of France; surrendered his place in the Academy at the end of 1642 to become Richelieu’s successor as protector.
• Serisay (Serizay), Jacques de: 1590–1653; A. 1634 [18]. A member of the Conrart coterie.
• Servien, Abel: 1593–1659; A. 1634 [22]. Diplomatist and politician.
• Silhon, Jean de: 1600(?)–1667; A. 1634 [30]. Writer on the immortality of the soul, human knowledge, politics, etc.
• Sirmond, Jacques: 1559–1651; A. 1634 [13]. Writer; appointed King’s historiographer by Richelieu in recognition of literary services of a controversial character.
• Vaugelas, Claude Favre de: 1585–1650; A. 1634 [14]. According to Gaston Boissier Revue des Deux Mondes, 15th July, 1909, art. Chamfort et l’Academie Franchise), the most illustrious of French grammarians. Works: Remarques sur la langue francoise (1647); etc.

French writers Du Bartas, Montaigne, and Rabelais are the only French writers whom Bacon quotes, though he perhaps alludes in one passage to the celebrated jurist D’Argentré and seems to have read Charron. Du Bartas’ writings were held in great esteem by James I., he is quoted in The True Law of Free Monarchies and in a declaration against Vorstius, and is in both places termed the divine poet; a designation which perhaps refers merely to the nature of his subject. In the third book of the Basilicon Doron [King’s Gift] he is particularly recommended to Prince Henry’s studies. Cardinal du Perron’s criticism on Du Bartas is that instead of calling the sun the King of Lights, he would prefer to call him the Duke of Candles. Bacon’s reference to Du Bartas is in his De Augmentis, Bk. I.

Funeral of the High and Mighty Prince Henry Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell and Wriothesley, Count Palatine of Chester, Earl of Garick, and late Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garters. Prince Henry, eldest son of King James I. Other Princes who died young, namely, Edward VI., Henry, Duke of Gloucestor, brother to Charles II., and William Duke of Gloucestor, son of the Prince and Princess of Denmark. It is remarkable, that James, who thought himself eclipsed by the splendour of his son’s character, ordered that no mourning should be worn for him. 4 [See Appendices Funeral of the High and Mighty Prince Henry for complete description of the funeral procession.]

Furnivall’s belief Dr. F.J. Furnivall, founder and leading Director of the London Shakespeare Society, pronounces Gervinus’s Commentaries as the best books “thus far written to help the student to understand Shakespeare’s mind, growth and purpose.”

Fytton family Mason Doug Pickford, in I Am Who I Am, The Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire invites Freemasonry Today to his historic home and states that “the fifteenth century Gawsworth Hall, once the home of Mary Fytton, the supposed Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, her ghost is still said to haunt the ancient timbers and stone of this friendly, yet stately, home, but no longer does the Fytton family, once known as the “Fighting Fyttons” hold the family seat. It is now in the incumbency of the Richards family and, more to the point, the Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, Timothy Richards and his lovely wife Elizabeth.” Gawsworth Church dates mainly from the fifteenth century. In the chancel are the tombs of some of the Fytton family, including Sir Edward (1550–1606) who became Lord President of Munster, and Mary Fytton 5 who was a maid of honour to Elizabeth I., but was soon disgraced following an affair with the Earl of Pembroke. The large parish of Gawsworth is a peaceful corner of rural Cheshire situated between the towns of Macclesfield to the north and Congleton to the south.  High on the Pennine foothills, its eastern boundary lies at a height of 370 metres above sea level on Gawsworth Common. Westwards, the parish stretches across undulating hummocky country and extends into the flatter, rural countryside of the Cheshire Plain. Much of Gawsworth comprises agricultural land, predominantly grass and pasture mainly for dairy cattle along with some sheep. Dane’s Moss, Site of Special Scientific Interest, is one of the few remaining lowland peat bogs and is now a nature reserve. Gawsworth Common provides an area of rough grazing; its scenery verging on the typical moorland scenery of the higher grit stone areas between Macclesfield and Buxton. The most extensive areas of woodland occur on the Pennine foothills, these being the least suited for cultivation and containing mixed, deciduous species. Small areas of deciduous woodland can also be found in the steep valleys created by stream erosion and there are also a number of coniferous and deciduous tree plantations. 6 [Also see Rosicrucianism].