Editing Francis Bacon (section)

====Marriage to Alice Barnham====
{{see also|Alice Barnham}}
[[File:Alice Barnham.gif|thumb|upright=1|Engraving of [[Alice Barnham]]]]
When he was 36, Bacon courted [[Elizabeth Hatton]], a young widow of 20. Reportedly, she broke off their relationship upon accepting marriage to a wealthier man, Bacon's rival, Sir [[Edward Coke]]. Years later, Bacon still wrote of his regret that the marriage to Hatton had not taken place.<ref name="Dodd-Life-Story">Alfred Dodd, ''Francis Bacon's Personal Life Story', Volume 2 – The Age of James'', England: Rider & Co., 1949, 1986. pp. 157–158, 425, 502–503, 518–532</ref>

At the age of 45, Bacon married [[Alice Barnham]], the 13-year-old daughter of a well-connected London [[alderman]] and MP. Bacon wrote two sonnets proclaiming his love for Alice. The first was written during his courtship and the second on his wedding day, 10 May 1606. When Bacon was appointed lord chancellor, "by special Warrant of the King", Lady Bacon was given precedence over all other Court ladies. Bacon's personal secretary and chaplain, William Rawley, wrote in his biography of Bacon that his marriage was one of "much conjugal love and respect", mentioning a robe of honour that he gave to Alice and which "she wore unto her dying day, being twenty years and more after his death".<ref name="Rawley" />

However, an increasing number of reports circulated about friction in the marriage, with speculation that this may have been due to Alice's making do with less money than she had once been accustomed to. It was said that she was strongly interested in fame and fortune, and when household finances dwindled, she complained bitterly. Bunten wrote in her ''Life of Alice Barnham''&nbsp;<ref>Alice Chambers Bunten, ''Life of Alice Barnham, Wife of Sir Francis Bacon'', London: Oliphants Ltd. 1928.</ref> that, upon their descent into debt, she went on trips to ask for financial favours and assistance from their circle of friends. Bacon disinherited her upon discovering her secret romantic relationship with [[John Underhill (courtier)|Sir John Underhill]], rewriting his will (which had generously planned to leave her lands, goods, and income) and revoking her entirely as a beneficiary.