| SIR NICHOLAS BACON A Biographical Sketch
|
 |
|
| This distinguished lawyer
and statesman descended from an ancient and honourable
family in Suffolk. He was the second son of Robert Bacon,
Esq., of Drinkstone, by Isabel, the daughter of John
Gage, of Pakenham, and was born in 1510, at Chislehurst
in Kent. His academical education he received at Corpus
Christi College, Cambridge, to which he afterwards became
a very considerable benefactor : here he passed through
the usual courses of study with great reputation, and as
in those days no education was thought complete without
the polish of foreign travel, he visited France and some
other parts of the continent. On his return, he studied
the law in Gray's Inn, and rose to such distinction as to
be noticed by the reigning monarch, Henry VIII, who, on
the dissolution of the monastery of St. Edmund's Bury,
gave him a grant of the manors of Redgrave, Botesdale,
and Gislingham, with the park of Redgrave &c., which
last he made his seat. He was also promoted to the
honourable and lucrative office of attorney in the Court
of Wards. In Edward VI's reign, he was elected treasurer
of Gray's Inn. Although known to be an adherent to the reformed religion, he conducted himself with so much prudence and moderation, as to escape the persecutions in Queen Mary's reign. On the accession of Elizabeth, to whom his character and services were well known, the great seal of England was taken from Heath, archbishop of York, and given to Mr. Bacon, with the title of Lord Keeper, and the honour of knighthood. Her majesty also called him into her privy council, and was much swayed by his advice, particularly in the settlement of the reformed religion, a measure which required that consummate prudence which distinguished Sir Nicholas. It was always his object to avoid precipitation in public matters; and a maxim he often repeated, "Let us stay a little that we may have done the sooner." Once only he incurred the Queen's displeasure, owing to an opinion he had given respecting the succession to the crown; but it was of no long duration : and being restored again to favour, he continued. at the head of her majesty's councils, and made no enemies but those who were dissatisfied with the ecclesiastical establishment. He was one of the most determined supporters of the protestant cause, and consequently incurred the odium of the popish faction, but his great skill lay in balancing factions, and on this his own as well as his royal mistress's safety depended. His motto was 'Mediocria Firma' ; his wish "to be safe, but not to be 'great." When the Queen told him that his house at Redgrave was too little for him, he replied, "Not so, madam, but your majesty has made me too great for my house." It is said, however, that this remark of the Queen induced him to add wings to the house, that it might be more worthy to receive such a guest. His taste in building and laying out was not only displayed in this house, but more particularly in his fine house and gardens at Gorhambury, near St. Alban's. Sir Nicholas retained his high office and high character for more than twenty years, and died, universally regretted, of a sudden illness, Feb. 20, 1579. His death is said to have been occasioned by his being exposed to a cold air in sultry weather; but in February it cannot be supposed that the air should be sultry; and as sir Nicholas was very corpulent, the suddenness of his death may be more naturally referred to one of those attacks to which corpulent persons are subject. He was interred in St. Paul's Cathedral under a sumptuous monument erected by himself, and with an inscription from pen of the celebrated Buchanan. Sir 'Nicholas's first wife was Jane, daughter of William Fernley of West Creeting, in Suffolk; and his second, Anne, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke. By both he had descendants…. ranking among the greatest ornaments of their country. Sir Nicholas left no printed work behind him, but several of his MSS, are still extant on legal and political subjects. |
||