Monday, May 31, 2004

I send you also a memorial of Queen Elizabeth......Of this, when you were here, I shewed you some model, though at that time me thought you were more willing to hear Julius Caesar that Queen Elizabeth commended. But this which I send is more full and hath more of the narrative. -- Letter to Tobie Matthew who was being sent a revised draft of the play 1609

For myself, I found that I was fitted for nothing so well as for the study of truth; as having a Mind nimble and versatile enough to catch the Resemblances of Things (which is the chief point) and at the same time steady enough to fix and distinguish their Subtler Differences; as being gifted by Nature with Desire to seek, patience to Doubt, fondness to Meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and as being a man that neither affects what is new nor admires what is old, and that hates every kind of Imposture. So I thought my Nature had a kind of familiarity and Relationship with Truth. On the Interpretation of Nature 1603-4

About the same time I remember an answer of mine in a matter which had some affinity with my Lord's cause, which though it grew from me, went after about in other's names. For her Majesty being mightily incensed with that book which was dedicated to my Lord of Essex, being a story of the first year of King Henry the fourth, thinking it a seditious prelude to put into the people's heads boldness and faction, said she had good opinion that there was treason in it and asked me if I could not find any places in it that might be drawn within the case of treason: whereto I answered : for treason surely if found none, but for felony (plagiarism) very many. ---Apologie in Certaine Imputations concerning the Late Earle of Essex (found in The Letters and the Life of Francis Bacon, Spedding)

Nevertheless it is important to understand how the present is like a seer with two faces, one looking toward the future, and the other towards the past. Accordingly I have decided to prepare for your instruction tables of both ages, containing not only the past course and progress of science, but also anticipation of things to come. The nature of these tables you could not conjecture before you see them. A genuine anticipation of them is beyond your scope, nor would you be aware of the lack of it unless it was put in your hands. It is a compliment reserved to some of the choicer spirits among you whom I hope to win thereby. But generally speaking science is to be sought from the light of nature, not from the darkness of antiquity.- from the "Masculine Birth of Time"

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

An Open Letter to Roland Emmerich:

It's reported that you are planning to make a film on Oxford as Shakespeare. I am wondering if you are planning to present this as real history. If so, I would welcome the opportunity to share with you the evidence which shows that there is simply no consistent scenario of Edward deVere's life which can account for the Shakespeare works. All Oxfordian attempts to make their man fit the case for the Bard must overlook crucial evidence. Whichever version of the Oxfordian fantasy then, for (sadly) that is what it is, becomes the narrative for your film, it will inevitably only serve to expose the fatal flaws in the case for his authorship. There is a simple reason for this, and no mystery: Oxford didn't write the plays, or the sonnets, not so much as a word. Francis Bacon is the true author and genius behind the Shakespeare works. The evidence is abundant and overwhelming: Promus, Northumberland,the gap in the Histories exactly filled by Bacon's Henry VII, letters, documents, signatures, parallels. Note in particular that evidence for Bacon's authorship dates from throughout the years of Shakespeare's career; the Promus notebook for example from 1595-6, so there is no question of Bacon somehow taking over the plays after Oxford's death, as many Oxfordians seem to believe. We would urge you therefore, before presenting the Oxford case to the world as true history, to review the evidence, for example at www.sirbacon.org, for Bacon's authorship. It might be that as a result you end up making an entirely different film than the one you have set out to create.

Bacon is Shakespeare: now that would make a great film. I have this idea for the opening scene: Francis, as a boy, playing in the ancient Roman Theatre on the grounds of Gorhambury where he grew up. This is the very same place where the trial of St Alban, the first Christian martyr on British soil, took place, whose name Bacon was to take when he became Viscount St Alban late in his life. The film opens with the boy playing at being an actor on the ancient stage, and then flashes back and forward in time, forward decades to the stage at the Globe with a production of Twelfth Nightin full swing, back more than a millennia in time to St Alban at his trial and forward to Viscount St Alban after his fall working at the First Folio. Then the credits. Then it opens proper with one of Queen Elizabeth's private visits to Gorhambury with all her entourage, as she goes to visit and take her special interest in Francis, her secret son. One month later young Francis is packed off to Cambridge. Etc Etc. Let's do lunch.

Monday, May 24, 2004

Ben Johnson (speaking of Francis Bacon)

My conceit of his person was never increased toward him, by his place, or honours. But I have, and doe reverence him for his greatness, that was only proper to himselfe, in that hee seem'd to mee ever, by his worke, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had beene in many Ages. In his adversity I ever prayed, that God would give him strength: for Greatness hee could not want.

...

One, though hee be excellent, and the chiefe, is not to bee imitated alone. For no Imitator, ever grew up to his Author; likeness is always on this side Truth; Yet there hapn'd, in my time, one noble Speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking. His language (where hee could spare, or passe a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more presly, more weightily, or suffer'd lesse emptinesse, lesse idleness, in what hee utter'd. No member of his speech, but consisted of the owne graces: His hearers could not cough, or looke aside from him, without losse. Hee commanded where hee spoke, and had his judges angry, and pleased at his devotion. No man had the affections more in his power. The feare of every man that heard him, was, lest hee should make an end.

...

But his learned, and able (though unfortunate) Successor (i.e.Bacon) is he, who hath fill'd up all numbers; and perform'd that in our tongue, which may be compar'd, or preferr'd, either to insolent Greece, or haughty Romy. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wite borne, that could honour a language, or helpe study. Now things daily fall: wits grow downe-ward, and Eloquence growes back-ward: So that hee may be nam'd, and stand as the marke and acme of our language.
For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itself. They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
- from The Advancement of Learning

Sunday, May 23, 2004

Generally speaking, Francis Bacon's biographers have never stressed the important fact that Francis Bacon was directly connected with the theatrical world of his early days at Gray's Inn, that he wrote Dramatic Plays and Shows that were acted before the Queen and composed Sonnets. Yet it is an open fact of the deepest significance. Parker Woodward in Tudor Problems suggests that Francis Bacon supplied all the Plays that were prepared and performed at Gray's Inn from 1583 for the entertainment of the Queen. It is highly probable. What we are definitely certain about is this: That Francis did prepare certain Plays that were performed before the Queen. Not only so, but it was well-known in Court Circles even in the time of James that Francis Bacon was a Past Master in the art of stage management and the creation of plays.

On 14th February, 1612-13, the Princess Elizabeth married the Count Palatine. There were the usual rejoicings which lasted several days. Chamberlain, a contemporary, wrote:

"On Tuesday, 18th February, it came to Gray's Inn and the Inner Temple's turn to come with their Masque, whereof Sir Francis Bacon was the chief contriver."

- from Francis Bacon's Personal Life-story by Alfred Dodd

Monday, May 03, 2004

"Nor should we neglect to mention the prophecy of Daniel, of the last days of the world, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased," thus plainly hinting and suggesting that fate (which is Providence) would cause the complete circuit of the globe (now accomplished, or at least going forward by means of so many distant voyages), and the increase of learning to happen at the same epoch."
Novum Organon