Francis Bacon Research Trust

The Mystery Men

(Title-page to the 1642 Latin edition of Francis Bacon’s History of the Reign of Henry VII)

Two ‘mystery men’ are standing on the ground in front of the dais, beneath the wheel of fortune. At first glance they seem to be mirror images of the two men on the dais, but there are some major differences. For instance, they wear the same head-dresses, but otherwise they are dressed differently and are apparently doing something different. The one who appears to be a knight is, in fact, not really a knight at all, for although he wears a knight’s helmet on his head he wears no other armour, whereas the other knight (on the dais) wears full armour from head to feet. Instead, the ‘pretend’ knight is clothed in a tunic with a collar of lace and leggings trimmed with lace, and has buskins or actor’s boots upon his feet. He has just one spur, which is on his left boot, his sword is girt on the wrong side, and he wears but one gauntlet, which is upon his left hand and not his right. He leans forward, looking at the globe and touching it with the fingers of his gloved left hand, whilst his right hand holds the shaft of a spear that ‘pierces’ the wheel of fortune.

That this man is not a knight, but is intended to represent an actor playing the part of a knight, is apparent from his wearing actor's boots, as well as being clothed actor’s style and having his sword girt on his right side instead of his left. Furthermore, that he is a Shakespeare actor is made evident by the fact that he holds a spear in his right hand and wears a spur on his left boot, befitting Ben Jonson’s eulogy to Shakespeare: ‘…to heare thy Buskin tread and shake a stage’ and ‘…to shake a lance, as brandish’t at the eyes of Ignorance’ (Shakespeare Folio, ‘To the Memory of my Beloved Author’). ‘Shakspur’ was another way of spelling the actor Will Shakspere’s surname. The link with the globe, which the actor touches, is a further confirmation of this—the Globe Theatre being very much Shakespeare's theatre, in which Will Shakspere had shares.

This spear is also held by the nobleman who is on Shakspere’s right. He holds it with both his hands, carefully controlling it, whilst at the same time he looks up intently at the wheel of fortune. He appears to all intents and purposes identical to the nobleman on the dais, since both wear a similar cap of estate, but in fact he lacks the long sleeves, lace collar and cuffs of the higher nobleman, does not wear shoes and has no roses on his feet. In fact he seems to wear boots rather than shoes. But it does appear as if he is trying to steady and manipulate the wheel, which matches the actions of the nobleman on the dais who is steadying and directing the goddess Fortune. The actor Shakspere is clearly helping him, by holding the spear and touching the globe, but he is not directing the process—and this also seems to be a reflection of the actions of the knight on the dais, who holds Fortune but who is, as a knight, under the command and direction of the rose-shoed nobleman. The latter is almost certainly intended to be Francis Bacon, in his higher form as the Rosicrucian master, so the nobleman who is his ‘reflection’ on the ground, in the world, would be his persona as a philosopher and poet.

Since the wheel of fortune represents the cyclic processes of life, which nevertheless can be ‘fickle’ or unsteady, bringing bad fortune as well as good, the control of this wheel by means of the spear appears to be a visual representation of the purpose of Bacon’s scheme, which is that mankind might acquire sufficient knowledge and ability to be able to control nature, according to the birthright granted him by God—such control of nature being for the purpose of love, or charity.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis i, 27-28.

Only let man regain his right over Nature, which belongs to him by the gift of God; let there be given to him the power: right reason and sound religion will teach him how to apply it.

Francis Bacon, Novum Organum, Bk I, Aph.129.

Now the empire of man over things is founded on the Arts and Sciences only; for Nature is only governed by obedience.

Francis Bacon, Novum Organum, Bk I, Aph.129.

Lastly, I would address one general admonition to all: that they consider what are the true ends of knowledge, and that they seek it not either for pleasure of the mind, or for contention, or for superiority to others, or for profit, or fame, or power, or any of these inferior things: but for the benefit and use of life; and that they perfect and govern it in charity.

Francis Bacon, The Great Instauration, General Preface (1623)

The ‘mystery men’—the philosopher-playwright Bacon and the actor Shakspere—are not only shown as partners in Bacon’s work, but would seem to portray Parts IV, V and VI of Bacon’s Great Instauration. The actor Shakspere, of course, stands for Part IV, the Shakespeare plays. Bacon as philosopher and playwright signifies Part V, the temporary speculations. The controlling of the wheel of fortune by means of the spear of light, or knowledge, is a good representation of Part VI, the Second Philosophy or Active Science, which is the charitable governing of nature for the benefit and use of all life.