Bacon’s allusion to himself as “a concealed poet” can be clearly understood by those who study his works. He would have called the “Utopia” of Sir Thomas More a concealed poem, as he did call his own “New Atlantis,” (See “De Augmentis Scientiarum,” Book II, Poesy, chap. 13.)
On the other hand, he distinctly states, “I profess not to be a poet, but I prepared a sonnet directly tending to draw on her Majesty’s reconcilement to my Lord of Essex, which I showed to a great person, who commended it!” Spedding, Bacon’s most able editor and biographer, says of the poor versions of certain psalms put into English metre, “These were the only verses certainly of Bacon’s making that have come down to us, and probably, with one or two slight exceptions, the only verses he ever wrote.”
With Bacon and with Spedding I agree, and with Shakespeare.[105]
“Broad Views,” April 1904.
FOOTNOTES:
[104] Mr. Sinnet, the Editor of “Broad Views,” had in March 1904 written an article in that Review under the above title in support of Bacon’s authorship of Shakespeare’s Works, and had allowed me to reply the following month.
[105] I had published my volume called “The Bacon-Shakespere Question Answered” at a time when I was under the dominance of Dr. Furnivall in regard to the spelling of the name, 1889.
XXX
SIXTEENTH CENTURY WOMEN STUDENTS
Though we are all familiar with the lives of certain notable ladies who reached a high standard of learning during the sixteenth century, little or nothing is known concerning the general education of girls and women of that period. No Royal Reports enlighten us concerning their opportunities, and no private study has elicited and combined a definite series of details. It is therefore important to note and collate all that may be gleaned concerning this interesting subject.
There is reason to believe that in earlier times the schools that were founded, were intended for “liberi”—not “pueri” alone—and that what education there was for the people was open to children of both sexes, as the trades were. I may illustrate what I mean by the statute enacted 7 Henry IV, c. 17.