This comprehensive edition of the writings of Francis Bacon, the English philosopher, statesman, and essayist, includes his major works in philosophy, politics, science, and literature. Rawley, Bacon's personal secretary and chaplain, compiled and edited the volume shortly after Bacon's death, and provided valuable commentary and annotations on the texts. Students and scholars of the Renaissance and early modern period will find this volume invaluable for understanding the intellectual and cultural context of Bacon's ideas and legacy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.