In Essays of Sir Francis Bacon he considers a diverse range of subjects, such as death and marriage, ambition and atheism. Bacon believed that rhetoric, the force of eloquence and persuasion, could lead the mind to the pure light of reason. Sir Francis Bacon was one of the major political figures of his time, served in the court of Elizabeth I and ultimately became Lord Chancellor under James. A scholar, wit, lawyer and statesman, he wrote widely on politics, philosophy and science - declaring early in his career that 'I have taken all knowledge as my province'.