Sir Francis Bacon’s life and works have generated considerable controversy. His complex life encapsulated the concerns and pressures of his turbulent times. Bacon’s works, life, and legacy provide material for a richly woven tapestry of interpretations. Perhaps no other figure of the early modern period has generated as much controversy regarding his intellectual contributions, public activities, and personal qualities. As his biographer Nieves Mathews put it, “it is not surprising that a man whose mental net was cast so wide should have aroused a considerable variety of responses” (Mathews, 1996, pp. 4, 442).