"
Bacon's punishment was not as heavy as at first sight it seems,
for the fine was forgiven him, and "the king's pleasure," made
his imprisonment in the Tower only a matter of a few days.
And now that his life was shipwrecked, though he never ceased to
long to return to his old greatness, he gave all his time to
writing and to science. He spent many peaceful hours in the
garden that he loved. "His lordship," we are told, "was a very
contemplative person, and was wont to contemplate in his
delicious walks." He was generally accompanied by one of the
gentlemen of his household "that attended him with ink and paper
ready to set down presently his thoughts."*
*J. Aubrey.
He was not soured or bitter. "Though his fortunes may have
changed," says one of his household,* "yet I never saw any change
in his mien, his words, or his deeds, towards any man. But he
was always the same both in sorrow and joy, as a philosopher
ought to be."
*Peter Boerner, his apothecary and secretary.
Bacon was now shut out from honorable work in the world, but he
had no desire to be idle.
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