The 36th Apophthegm.
In the collection of Bacon's "Apophthegms," printed in 1671, Apophthegm 36 reads as follows, and fully explains the meaning of "Hang-hog is latten for Bacon, I warrant you."
"Sir Nicholas Bacon, being appointed a Judge for the Northern Circuit, and having brought his Trials that came before him to such a pass, as the passing of Sentence on Malefactors, he was by one of the Malefactors mightily importuned for to save his life, which when nothing that he had said did avail, he at length desired his mercy on the account of kindred: Prethee said my Lord Judge, how came that in? Why, if it please you my Lord, your name is Bacon and mine is Hog, and in all Ages Hog and Bacon have been so near kindred, that they are not to be separated. I [Aye], but, replyed Judge Bacon, you and I cannot be kindred except you be hanged; for Hog is not Bacon until it be well hanged."
Page 53.
At an early date Bacon selected the number "53" to give in numerous books revelations concerning his authorship. In Florio's "Second Frutes," published in 1591, on page 53 we read:—
H. A slice of bacon, would make us taste this wine well.
S. What ho, set that gammon of bakon upon the board.
Florio was always a servant of Bacon's, and received a pension for "making my lord's works known abroad." The above is inserted on page 53 to inform us that Bacon's name may be spelled in many different ways, as students of various books will find to be the fact.
In the "Mikrokosmos," * of which editions both in Latin and in French were published at Antwerp in 1592, we find on page 53 a picture of Circe's Island, which the intelligent reader will perceive represents "the Stage." Beneath it are the words from Proverbs ix. 17, which in our English authorised version read, "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Examining this engraving, we perceive in the forefront Bacon's boar, drawn exactly as it is heraldically portrayed in Bacon's crest, but with a man's head surmounted by a "Cap of Liberty," and we should remember the words in Shakespeare's play, "As You Like It" (which means'"Wisdom from the mouth of a clown"): "I must have liberty:... to blow on whom I please, for so fools have... Invest me in my motley: Give me leave to speak my mind, and I will through and through cleanse the foule bodie of th' infected world, if they will patiently receive my medicine."
* Note.—The title page is headed with the figure of a
Chameleon, which forms the "53rd" of "Alciati's Emblems."
The Chameleon was supposed to assume various appearances,
and is therefore used as an emblem for Bacon, who assumed
numerous masks in order to do good to all mankind, though in
a despised weed."