The King's confidence in Bacon's opinion on questions of law and general administration remained unshaken. A few months after his freedom, James consulted him respecting the reform of the Courts of Justice, and Bacon, taking courage, makes overtures to the King as to his reinstatement and employment. He never again, however, acted in a public capacity.

In his retirement we find him still pursuing his studies, and writing various pamphlets and letters, some of which have been preserved. Two of these tracts, entitled Some Considerations touching a War with Spain, and An Advertisement touching a Holy War, were written for Buckingham, and are supposed to be a kindly acknowledgment for his offices in relieving him of the final portion of his sentence.

But the important work which issued from his pen at this time was his History of Henry VII, first published in 1622. The subject of this philosophic history is said to have been suggested by James himself. With the preparation of it he took the greatest care; even the manuscript was corrected by the King and others. On its completion copies were presented to the King, Queen of Bohemia, Buckingham, and the Lord Keeper. The latter's acknowledgment of the book "to his very good Lord-the Lord Viscount St. Alban," well illustrates the character of this dignitary, who had so recently opposed Bacon's complete liberation. My very good Lord-I heartily thank your Lordship for your book, and all other symbols of your love and affection, which I will endeavour, upon all opportunities, to deserve, and in the meantime do rest your lordship's assured faithful poor friend and servant."

Bacon was anxious that it should be translated into Latin, as he says "those modern languages will, at one time or another, play the bankrupts with books," so it soon appeared both in Latin and French, and many editions followed.

In the translations of many of his best works, especially this history, it has been said that he was much indebted to Ben Jonson, Herbert, and other friends.

In the year 1623 the Provostship to Eton College became vacant, and it is remarkable as an evidence of his energy and zeal for work even now, that he applied for the position. In a letter written to Sir Henry Saville many years before, after a visit to Eton, one finds that Bacon, among all his other exercises, had not neglected the question of the education of the young. It may have been that he now wished to turn his attention, in his declining years, to a more serious study in this department, also, probably, to augment his income, his pecuniary needs becoming more pressing. However that may be, he was unsuccessful in his application, and Sir Henry Wooton received the appointment.

This was the last occasion on which Bacon sought any definite occupation outside his book-world.

He now proceeded with his literary labours, publishing his De Augmentis, Historia Vitæ, Historia Ventorum, and other books, among which must be mentioned the .final and complete edition of his Essays in the year 1625.

An allusion must also be made here to certain literary productions, of a somewhat different character, which proceeded from his pen, viz., his translations into English verse of a number of the Psalms, dedicated

to George Herbert, as well as a few separate poetical pieces which are well known. Many of his prayers are beautiful, and are to be found, not only as special supplications in his hours of trouble, but also embodied in his best prose works, as at the beginning of the Instauratio Magna and the conclusion of the preface.

His writings were mostly published both in English and Latin. He always had a predilection for the latter, and felt that his works would best live in the minds. of posterity in that tongue, and be more universally read. He frequently takes the opportunity of emphasizing this. For instance, in presenting the King with his De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum, he says, For since my end of putting it into Latin was to have it read everywhere, it had been an absurd contradiction to free it in the language, and to pen it up in the matter." Referring to the Great Instauration, Tenison says in the Baconiana: Bacon "knowing that this work was desired beyond the seas, and being also aware that books written in a modern language, which receiveth much change in a few years, were out of use, he caused that part of it, which he had written in English, to be translated into the Latin tongue by Mr. Herbert and some others, who were esteemed masters in the Roman eloquence."

Bacon was delicate from his birth, and never enjoyed robust health. We have this on the authority of many observers, such as Rawley, Aubrey, etc.; and, indeed, he himself points to the fact in the Novum Organum : "If anyone, therefore, should despair, let him consider a man as much employed in civil affairs as any other of his age, a man of no great share of health, who

must therefore have lost much time.” ... He seems to have been especially prone to attacks of giddiness and fainting. He was, however, most careful in his regimen, taking much precaution against ordinary ailments, and we do not know that he ever suffered from any protracted or serious illness.

During the year 1625 it was noticeable that his health was beginning to fail, and the latter part of that year he remained altogether at Gorhambury. In a letter to a friend he writes: "I thank God by means of the sweet air of the country I have obtained some degree of health"; also to Buckingham he says, “I have gotten some step into health"; all showing that he was somewhat concerned as to his condition. Early in the following year, however, as an evidence of his improvement, he returned to Gray's Inn, the retreat he loved so well.

Devotion to the cause of research and scientific investigation now brought this illustrious life to a close. During one of his excursions into the country he conceived the idea that animal substances might be preserved by means of snow; as he himself puts it: "I was desirous to try an experiment or two touching the conservation and induration of bodies; as for the experiment it succeeded excellently well." He procured a fowl from an old woman at Highgate and conducted the experiment himself. A severe chill was the result, and he was put to bed at the house of the Earl of Arundel.

An acute illness,

which his enfeebled frame could not withstand, immediately followed, and he died on the 9th of April, 1626, at the age of sixty-five years.