£Ii:f^ DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY KkANK 15AKKK COLLKCTION oi WESLEY AN A ANM) li k n ISH METHODISM Jt^ \ y THE ESSAYS, O R Counciifii, €m anD ^o^ai, O F Sir Francis ^ a c o n, Lord Verulam, Vifcount St. Alban, With a TABLE of the Colours O F Good and EviL And a Difcourfe Of tlie WISDOM of the ANCIENTS. To this Edition is added the Charatler of Qneen ELIZABETH; never before Printed in Englifh, LONDON. Printed for H. Heyrirgman^ R, Scoty R, Chlfwell^ yi. Swalle^ and R, Bentley, 16^6, TO T H E Right Honourable my very good Lord^ THE Duke of "Buckingham his GraceJ Lord High-Admiral England: Excellent Lord, Solomon fays^ A Good Name is ^ precious Oyntmcnt 5 and, I ajfure my feif^ fuch mil Tour Graces Name be with Pofterity 3 for your Fortune and Merit, both have been Eminent ; and Toti have "planted things that are like to lajl. I do now publifh viy Ellavs 3 which^ of all my other Works, have been moji current: For that^ as it feems, they come home to Metis Bufinefs, aiid Bofonis. / have en-* largedthePt both in Number ^W Weighty At. fo The Eplftle Dedicatory. fb that they are indeed a New work. / ftoughf it t here f or B agreeable to my Af- fe^ion, and Obligation to Your Grace, to prefix ycur Name before them^ both in Eng- lifh and Latin : For I do conceive^ that the Latin Volume of them^ {being in the Uni- verfal. Language^) may laft as long as Books laji. My Inftauration / dedicated to the King 5 my Hiftory of Henry the Snjerjh {which I have now alfo nan^ated into Latin) ^;?^ Wy Portions of Natural Hiftory to the Prince. And thefe I dedi- cate to Youj GtZQC.being of the beft Fruits, that^ by the good increase which God gives to my Pen and Labours^ I cotdd yield, God lead Your Grace by the hand. Your Graces moft obliged and Faithful Servant, Fr. St. ALB AN. Elogies on the llluftrious Author. Ben, Johtjfon, in his Difcoveriesy p. lor. THere happened in my time^ one Noble Speaker (Lord Verulam] who was full of gravity in his fpeaking. His Language (where he could fpare or pals by a jeft) was nobly cenforious. No Man ever fpake more neatly^, more preftly, more weightily^ or fufiered lefs emptinefs, lefs Idlenefs in what he uttered. No member of his Speech but con filled of his own gra- ces. His Hearers could not cough or look afide from him without lofs. He commanded where he Ipoke ; and had his Judges angry and pleafed at his devotion. No Man had their afledions more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him, was, left he lliould make an end. Andaftirwards^ hoTdEgerton^ the Chan- cellor, a great and grave Orator, &c. But his Learn- ed and able, (though unfortunate) Succeflbr, [Lord Bacofj] is he, who hath filled up all members, and per- formed that in our tongue, which may be compar'd or preferd, either to infolent Greece or haughty Rome, in ihort, within his view, and about his times, were all the Wits boin, that could honour a Language or help ftudy. Now things daily fall,- Wits grow downward, and Eloquence goes backward : So that he may be nam d and ftand as the mark and aV>) of our Language. Jnd a little after^ My conceit of hi: i^erfon was ne- ver increafed toward him, by his place or honours. But I have and do reverence him for aie grcatnefs that was only proper to himfelf, in that ne feem'd to me e- ver by his work, one of the greateft Men, and moft worthy of admiration, that had been in many Ages. In his Adverfity I ever prayed, that God would give hrni ftjrength, for greaf nefs he could not want. Neither could j»uM I condolein a wordfor fyllable for him,- as know- i ing no Accident could do harm to Vertuc, but rather ^ help to make it manifeft. -^. Cowley^in his Poem to the Royal Society, after fome refle(9:ions upon the State of Philofophy aforetime, goes on. SOme feiv exalted Spirits this latter ^Age has ^own. That labour d to ajfert the Liberty {From Gt4 rdiansy ivho were now Vfttrfers groivn) Of this Old Minor ftill, C apt i'u'd Philofophy* But twas Rebellion caUd to fight For fuch a lon^ ofprejfed Right. BACON at laft^ a ntighty Man, arofe^ Whom a wife King and Nature chofe Lord Chancellor of both their Laws, And boldly undertook the injur d Tupilj catifh m. Authority, which did a Body boafi, Though twas but Air condensed, and (lalh/d aboU^^ Like fome old Giants more Gigantic Ghofl^ To terrifie the Lear?jed Rout With the plain Magick of true Reafons Light ^ He chacd out of our fight. Nor fujferd Living Mm to be mifud By the -vain Jhadows of the Dead : To Gra'vesfrom whe7jce it rofe, the conquer d Vhantome fled * He broke that Monftrotts God ^Mch (hod lij mi aft oftU Orchard, and the whole did claim. Which with a ufelefs Sithe of Wood, And fome thing elfe not Worth a name^ {Both "vaftforjhcw, yet neither fit Or to Defend, or to Beget ^ Ridiculous Ridiculous andfcncelefs Terrors I ) f?taJe Children and fuferftitious Men afraid. The Orchard's of en noWy and free; BACON haf broke that Scare-crow Deity; Come^ enter y all that j^illj Behold thi rip'ned Fruity come gather now your fS. TetftiUy methinksy we fain would he Catching at the Forbidden Tree, We would he like the Deitiey When Truth and Faljhoody Good and Evily we Without the Sences aid within our f elves would fee; For Yts God only who can find All Nature in bis Mind. IV. From Words y which are but ViBures of the Thought y (Though we our Thoughts from them ferverjiy drew) To ThingSy the Minds right ObjeHy he it brought, Likefoolipj Birds to painted Grapes we flew; He fought and gather dfor our ufe the True; And when on heaps the chofen Bunches lajy Ueprejkthem wifely the Mechanic way. Till all their juyce did in oneVeffel joyn^ Ferment into a Nourifiment Di'viney The thirfty Souls refrejhing Wine, Who to the Life an exail Piece would make^ Mufi not from others Work a Copy take; Noy not from Rubens ^r Vandike^ Much lefs content hi?nfelfto make it like Ty Idaas and the Images which lie In his own Fancy y or hjs Memory. Noy he before his fight mufi place The Natural and Living Face ; The real Ohjcti mufi command Each Judgment of his Eye, and Motion of his Hand, V. From thefe long Errors of the 'way^ In 'which our wandring Fredecejjors Wint^ And like tl> old Hebrews many yean did fir ay- In defarts but of [mail extent^ B A C O N^ like Mofes, led us forth at la^^ The barren Wildernefs he pafiy Did on the very Border ft and ^ Of the bkfi promised Land, And from the Mountains Top of his Exalted WlPy Saw it himfelfy andjJiew'd us it. But life did never to one Man allow Time to Difcover Worlds^ and Conquer too^ Nor canfo fljorta Line fufficient be To fathom the ifafi dephs of Natures Sea: The work he did we ought f ' admire^ And were unjufi if we fltould more require From his few years ^ divided 'twixt th* Excefs Of low AffliBiony and high Happinefs : For who on things remote can fix his fight y Thais always in a Triumph y or a fight ? A. Cowley, ESSAYS ESSAYS. I. Of Truth. WHAT h Truth? faid jefting P/X^r^ , and would not flay for an anfwer. Cenainly there be that delight in giddinefs, and count it a Bon- dage to fix a Belief; affedling free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And though the Seds of Philofophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain difcourfing Wits^ which are of the fam^ Veins, though there be not fo much Blood in them, as was in thofe of the Ancients. But it is not only the dif- ficulty and labour, which men take in finding out of Truth ; nor again, that when it is found, it impofeth up- on Mens thoughts, that doth bring Ljes in favour ; but a natural, though corrupt Love, of the Lye it fel£ One of the later Schools of the Grecia?7s examineth the matter, and is at a Hand, to think what ftiould be in it, that Men fhould love Ljes ; where neitlier they make for pleafure, as with Poets, nor for Advantage, as with the Merchant, but for the Lyes fake. But I cannot tell. This fame Truth is a Naked and Open day-light, that doth not ftiew the Masks, and Mummeries, and Triumphs of the World, half fo llately and daintily as Candle-light. Truth may perhaps C5)me to the price of a Pearl, that fheweth beft bv day ; but it will hot rife to the price of B . a Dia- 2 Sir Francis Bacon ^ Efays. a Diamond or Carbuncle^ that rtieweth beft in varied lights. A mixture of a Lye doth ever add pleafure. Doth any man doubt, that if there were taken out of Mens minds vain Opinions, flattering Hopes, falfe Va- luations, Imaginations as one would, and the like,- but it would leave the minds of a number of Men, poor inrunken things^, full of melancholy and indifpofition, and unplealing to themfelves? One of the Fathers in great fererity called Poefie, Vimm D^momm, becaufe it iilleth the Imagination, and yet it is but with the fha- dow of a Lje, But it is not the Lye that palTeth through the mind, but the Lje that finketh in, and fettleth in it, that doth the hurt, fuch as we Ipake of before. But howfoever thefe things are thus in Mens depraved judg- ments and aifedions ; yet Truth^ v/hich only doth judge it felf, teacheth, that the enquiry of 7"n/r/^, which is the love-making, or wooing cfi: : the knowledge of Truths which is the prefence of it; and the belief of 2>«f^, which is the enjoying of it, is the ibveraign good of Humane Nature. The firil Creature of God in the works of the Days, was Light of the Senfe,- the laft was the Light of Reaion ,* and his Sabbath-Work ever fince, is the illu- mination of iiis Spirit. Firft, he breathed light upon the face of the Matter or Chaos ,• then he breathed light in- to the face of Man ; and Hill he bi^eatheth and infpireth light into the face of his Chofen. The Poet that beauti- fied the Seel, that was ctherwife iaferiour to the reftj iaith yet e>:cellentiy well : // is a pleafure to fiar;d upon tioe JhorCy and to Jee Ships tofi upon the Sta • a pleafure to fitrnd in :hc Wlndovj of a Caftlc^ and to fee a Battel^ and the ad-venture therccf belvju : but 710 pleafure 'is comparable to the fianding upon the 'vantags-groufid of Truth : (an Hill not to be commanded, and where the Air is always clear and krtnQ :) arJ to fee the Errors^ and fVojtdrwgSy and MiBsy and Terr, f efts in the Vak below : So always that this profped. be with Pity, and not with fwelling or Pride. Cer- tainly it is Heaven upon Earth, to have a Mans mind move in Charity, reft in Providence, and.tarn upon the Poles of Truih. To Of Truth. 5 To pafs from Theological and Philofophical Truth, to the Truth of Civil bufinefs^ it will be acknowledged, even by thofe that pra^ife it not, that clear and round dealing is the honour of Mans nature, and that mixture of faljhood is like allay in Coin of Gold and Silver, Which may make the Moral work the better, but it em- bafeth it. For thefe winding and crooked courfes are the goings of the Serpent, which goeth bafely upon the Belly, and not upon the feet. There is no Vice that doth fo cover a Man with fliame, as :o be found falfe and perfidious. And therefore Mount aigm faith prettily, when he enquired the reafon. Why the word of the Lye fhould be fuch adilgrace, and fuch an odious charge: Saith he. If it he well weighed. To fay that a Man lyeth, is as much as to fay, that he is a Brave towards God, and a Coward towards Me7j, For a Lye faces God, and ihrinks from Man. Surely the wickednefs and Fallliood, and breach of Faith, cannot poffibl>' be fo highly expreffed, as in that it fhall be the laft Peal, to call the Judgments of God upon the Generations of Men; it being fore- told, that when Chrilt Cometh, He Jliall not find faith u^^ en the Earth. IL Of Death ME N fear Death, as Children fear to go in the dark: And as that natural fear in Children is encreafed with Tales, fo is the other. Certainly the contemplation igi ditations, there is fometimcs a mixture of vanity and fa- perftition. You iliall read in fome of the Friers Books of Mortification, that a Man iliould think with himfeif, what the pain is, if he have but his fingers end preiTed Bz or 4 Sir Francis Bacon 5 E/fays. or tortured^ and thereby imagine what the pains oi Death are^ when the whole body is corrupted and diffolved ; when many times Death paffeth with lefs pain_, than the torture of a Limb ; For the mofi: Vital parts are not the quickeft of Senfe. And by him that fpake only as a Philofopher^ and natural man^ it was well faid ,• Pompa mortis magis terret^ quam Mors ipfa, Groans^ and Con- vulfionSj and difcoloured Face^ and Friends weeping, and Blacks^ and Obfequies^ and the like^ fhew Death terrible. It is worthy the obferving, that there is no paffion in the mind of Man fo weak, but it mates and maftejs the fear of Death : and therefore Death is no fuch terrible Enemy, when a Man hath fo many attendants about him, that can win the combat of him. Revcj^ge triumphs over D^^r/:>j Lo-u^ flights it ,• H(?;?a^r alpireth to it ,• Grief flieth to it,* Fear pre-occupateth it. Nay we read, after Otho the Emperor had flain himfelf. Pity (which is the tendereft of Affedions) provoked many to die, out of meer compaffion to their Soveraign, and as the trueft fort of Followers. Nay, Seneca adds Nicetiefs and Satiety; Cogita quandiu eademfaceres ; A4ori ^elle, non tantum Fortisy aut Mifer^ fed etlam Fafiidiofus fotefi, A man would die, though he were neither valiant nor mi- ferable, only upon a wearinels to do the fame thing fo oft over and over. It is no lefs worthy to obferve, how little alteration in good Spirits the approaches of Death make. For they appear to be the fame Men till the laft inftant. Augufiiis C^efar died in a complement ,• Livla^ Conjugii noftri memor^ ^vive^ & uale, Tiberius in Diffimu- lation, ^s Tacit us faith of him,* JamTikrium Vires^ c^ Corvusy non Diljimulatio deftrehant. Vefpafian in ajeftXitting upon the llool ; IJt puiOj Deus fie, Galba with a Sen- tence ,• Ferij fi ex re fit populi Romania holding forth his neck. Septirf'/jus Scvtrus in difpatch ; Adcfie^ fi quid mihi refiat agendum. And the like. Certainly the Stoicks be- ftowed too much coft upon Dcath^ and by their great preparations made it appear more fearful. Better^ faith •he, Qui fi?ie:n I'ltt^ i'-r^tr^j'-am ir-tcr mnvera ponat Natur4e. It Of Vnity in Religion. 5 It IS as natural to die^ as to be born ; and to a little in- fant perhaps the one is as painful as the other. He that dies in an earned purfuit, is like one chat is wounded in hot blood, who for the time fcarce feels the hurt ; and therefore a Mind fixt, and bent upon fomewhat that is good, doth avert the dolours of Death. But above all, believe it, the fweeteft Canticle is. Nunc dlmitth^ when a Man hath obtained worthy ends and expectations. Death hath this alfb ,• that it opencth the Gate to good Fame, and extinguiflieth Envy. '^ ' ExtinBus (imahkur idem. III. Of Unity in Religion. REligio7t being the chief band of Humane Society,ic is a happy thing when it felf is well contained with- in the true band of Vmty. The Quarrels and Divifions about Religioit were Evils -unknown to the Heathen. The reafon was, becaufe the Religion of the Heathen confifted rather in Rites and Ceremonies, than in any conftant belief For you may imagine what kind of Faith theirs was, when the chief Doctors and Fathers of their Church were Poets. But the true God hath this Attribute, that he is a Jealous God, and therefore his Worfhip and Religion will endure no mixture or Vartmr. We fhall therefore fpeak a few w^ords concerning the U- nity of the Church ,• IVLit are the Fruits t hereof , -ivhat the Bonds y and what the Means, TheFruits of Unity (next unto thewell-pleafingof God, which is All in M\) are two j the one towards thofe that are -without the Churchy the other towards thofe that are ivithin. For the former. It is certain, that Herefics and Schifms are of all others the greateft Scandals, yea, more than corruption of Manners. For as in the Natural ^ Body^ a Wound or Solution of continuity, isv/orfethan B, ; a corrupt 6 Sir Francis Bacon 5 E([ap. a corrupt Humour j fo in the Spiritual. So that nothing doth fo much keep Men out of the Churchy and drive men out of the Church as a breach oi Unity: And there- fore whenfoever it cometh to that pafs_, that one faith, Ecce in deferto^ another faith, Ecce in penetralibus ; that is, when fome Men feek Chrill in the Conventicles of He- reticks, and others in an outward face of a Church, that Voice had need continually to found in Mens E^rs, Nolite exire^ Go not out. The Dodor of the Gentiles (the pro- priety of whofe vocation drew him to have a Ipecial care of thole without) faith. If an Heathen come in and hear yon fpeak with federal Tongues ^ will he ?Jot fay that you are mad^ and certainly it is little better, when Atheifts and pro- phane perfons do hear of fo many difcordant and con- trary Opinions in Religion ; it doth avert them from the Church, and maketh them to fit down in the Chair of the Scormrs, It is but a light thing to be vouched in fo feri- ous a matter^ but yet it expreifeth well the deformity. There is a Mailer of Scoffing, that in his Catalogue of Books of a feigned Library, fets down this Tide of a Book, The Morrice-dance of Hereticks. For indeed every Sed of them hath a diverfe pofture, or cringe by them- felves, which cannot but move derilion in Worldings, and depraved Politicks who are apt to contemn holy things. As for the Fruit toii^ard thofe that are within. It is Feace^ where containeth infinite Bleffings ,• it eftablilheth Faithj; it kindleth Charity ,• the outward peace of the Church diftilleth into peace of Confdence ,• and it turnefh the Labours of Writing and Reading of Contro; crlies, in- to Treatifes of Mortificatlcn and Demotion, Concerning the Bonds of Unity ^ the true placing of them importerh exceedingly. There appear to be two extreams. ' For to certain Zclots all Ipeech of pacification is odious. Is it fcr.cc^ Jehu ? What haft thou to do with -peace ? tura thee hehmd me, Feace is not the matter, but allowing a party, Contrariwife certain Laodiceans^ and uke-warm perfons, think they may accommodate points Of Unity in Religion. 7 of Religion fay middle vvays^ and taking part of both, and witty reconcilements, as if they would make an ar- bitrement between God and Man. But thefe extreams are to be avoided ; which will be done, if the league of Chriftians, penned by our Saviour himfelf, were in the two crofs claufes thereof^ foundly and plainly expound- ed. He that is mt with us, is again fi us : And again. He. that is mt against us^ is with us : That is, if the points Fundamental, and of Subllance in ReUgioTi, were truly difcerned and dlftinguifhed from points not meerly of Faith, but of Opinion, Order, or good Intention. This is a thing may feem to many a matter trivial, and done already ; but if it were done lefs partially, it would be embraced more generally. Of this I may give only this advice, according to my fmall model: Men ought to take heed of rendringGods Church by two kinds of controverfies : The one is^ when the matter of the point controverted is too fmall and light, not worth the heat and llrife about it, kindled only by contradidion. For^ as it is noted by one of the Fathers, Chrlfi's Coat indeed had no [cam , hut the Chur- ches Vefmre was of di'vcrs colours ,• whereupon hc faith, In ^sfie 'varietas Jit , fcijfur anon Jit- they be two things jLhrty and Uniformity. The other is, when the matter of the point conti-o verted is great, but it is driven to an over- great fubtilty and obfciiricy, fo that it bccometh a thing rather ingenious than fubilantial. A Man that is of judgment and underlianding, Ihall fometimes hear ig- norant Men differ, and knov/ well within himfclf, that thofe which fo differ, mean cnc thing, and yet they themfelvcs would never agree. And ii it come fo to pafs, in that diftance of judgment which is between Man and Man, jliall we not tliink, that God above , that knows the heart, doth not difcern that f;aii Men in fome of their contradiclions intend the lame thing, and accepteth of both ':! The nature of iuch controver/ies is excellently cxpieffcd by St. P^iul, in tlie warning and pxecept that he giveth conceniing the fame, De^hap^u- B 4 fLmai 8 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. fanas "uocum novitatesy d^ of fofit tones falfi mminis [clentla ; Men create oppofitions which are not^ and put them into new terms Co fixed, as whereas the meaning ought to govern the term^ the term in efFed governeth the mean- ing. There be alfo two falfe Veaces^ or Unities; the one;, when the Peace is grounded but upon an implicite ignorance ; for all Colours will agree in the dark : the other when it is pieced up upon a dired admiffion of contraries in Fundamental points. For Truth and Falfliood in fach things^ are like the Iron and Clay in the toes of NchHchadnez.z.ars Image ^ they may cleave, but they will not incorporate. Concerning the Means of procuring Unity ; Men muft beware^ that in the procuring or muniting of Religions Unity ^ they do not diffolve and deface the Laws of Cha- rity, and of Humane Society. There be two Swords amongft Chriftians, the Spiritual and Temporal ; .and both have their due office and place in the maintenance of Religion. But we may not take up the third Sword, which is Mahomet's Sword, or like unto it ; that is, to propagate Religion by Wars, or by fanguinary Perfecu- tions to force Confciences, except it be in cafes of overt Scandal, blalphemy or intermixture of pradice againft the State ; much lefs to nourifh Seditions, to authorize Confpiracies and Rebellions, to put the Sword into die peoples hands, and the like, tending to the fabverlioa of all Government, which is the Ordinance of God. For this is but to dafli the Firfl: Table againft the Second, and fo to confider Men as Chriftians, as we forget that they are Men. Lucretius the Poet, when he beheld the Ad of jlgameinnon^ that coulcJ endure the facrificing of his own Daughter, exclaimed,- Ta7Jtum Religlo fctult fuadere malornm. what would he have fald, if he had known of the Maf- facre in frajjcey : or the Powder-Treafon oi ^E?7gland ? lie would have been fs\ en < times more Epicure and * Atheift Revenge. ^ Atheift than he was : For as the Temporal Sword is to be drawn with great circumfpedion in cafes oi Religion; fo it is a thing monftrouSj to put it into the hands of the common people. Let that be left unto the Anabap- tifts^ and other Furies. It was great blafphemy, when the Devil faid^ / 'ii'ill afcend and be like the highefi ; but it is greater blafphemy to perfonate God, and biing him ih, faying;, I will defcetjd and he like the Vrince of Darkncfs ; And what is it better, to make the caufe of Religion to defcend to the cruel and execrable adions of Murthering Princes, Butchery of People, and Subverfion of States and Governments } Surely this is to bring down the Ho- ly Ghoft, infleadof the likenefs of a Dove, in the fhape of a Vulture or Raven ,• and to fet out of the Bark of a Chriftiajt Church, a Flag of a Bark of Py rates and Jf- fdjfms. Therefore it is mofl: neceflary, that the Church by Do6lnne and decree. Princes by their Sword, and all Learnings both Chriftian and Moral, as by their Mercury Rod, do damn and fend to Hell for ever thofe Fads and Opinions, tending to the fupport of die fame, as hath been already in good part done. Surely in Coun- cils concerning Religion^ that Counfel of the Apoftl# would be prefixed, Ira homiyiis nan imflet jitftttiam Dti, And it v/as a notable obfervation of a wife Father, and no lefs ingenioufly confeffed. That thofe which held and ferj waded pcffure of Conjciences^ were commonly mtei-ejjtd therem themjel'ves for their own ends. IV. Of Revenge. RE'Vcrge is a kind of wild JufHce ,• which the more Man's Nature runs to, the more ought Law to weed it out. For as to the firlt wrong, it doth but offend i!. c Law^ bu: the R<^utnge of that v/roiig putteth iho, Law out of Oilice. Certainly In caking iv!an is •. .. ^ - ' bur lo Sir Francis Bacon'^ ^jF^ys- but even with his Enemy ,- but in pa fling it over he is fuperiour : for it is a Princes part to pardon. And So- lomon^ I am fure^ faith^ It is the Glory of a Man to pafs by an offence. That which is paft^ is gone^ and irrecovera- ble,* and wife Men have enough to do with things pre- fent^ and to come: therefore they do but trifle with themfelveSj that labour in paft matters. There is no Man doth a wrong for the wrongs fake^ but thereby to purchafe himfelf profit^ or pleafure^ or honour^ or the like. Therefore why ftiould I be angry with a Man for loving himfelf better than me ^ And it any Man fhould do wrong meerly out of ill nature why ? yet it is but like the Thorn or Bryar, which prick and fcratch^ be- caufe they can do no other. The moft tolerable fort of Revenge J is for thofe wrongs which there is no Law to remedy : But then let a man take heed^ that the Re^venge be fuch;, as there is no Law to punifli ; elfe a Man's E- nemy is ftill before-hand^ and it is two for one. Some when they take Re^venge^ are defirous the Party fliould know whence it cometh : this is the more generous. For the delight feemcth to be not fo much in doing the hurt^ as in making t\'\Q. party repent. But bafe and crafty Cowards are like the Arrow that flieth in the dark. Cof- mus Duke of Florence had a defpcrate faying againft per- fidious or negleding Friends^ as if thofe wrongs were unpardonable: Tou jhall read f faith he) that we are com- manded to forgive our Enemies ^ hut you never read, that we are commanded to forgive cur Friejids, But yet the Spirit of Job was in a better tune ; jhall we ffaith hej take good at God^s handy and not he content to take evil aljo ? And fo of Friends in a proportion. This is certain^ that a Man that ftudieth Revenge^ keeps his own wounds green^ which otherwife would heal^ and do well : Tublick Re- venges are for the moft part Fortunate^ as that for the death of C^far, for the death of Fert}?iaxy for the death of Hen-ry the Third of France, and many more. But in private P.evenges it is not fo. Nay^ rather vindicative perfons live the life of Witches j who as they are miC- chicvous, fo end they unfortunate. - Of II V. Of Adverfity. 1 TeT was an high Speech of Seneca^ (after the manner of ^ the StoicksJ That the good things which belong to profperi^ ty are to he Ji^ified, hut the good things that belong to ad'ver- fity are to he adsnired : Bona rcrum fecundarum cptabiliay ad^ 'verfarum mirahilia. Certainly^ if Miracles be the com- mand over Nature, they appear moft in Adverfity. It isyct a higher Speech of his, than the other, fmuch too high for a Heathen) It is true greatnefs to have in one the frailty of a Man^ and the fecuritycfa God: Vere magnum ha- bere fragilitatem hominis.^ jecuritatem Dei, This would have done better in Poefie, where tranfcendencies are more allowed. And the Po.v, indeed have been bu He with it ; for it is in effect the thing, which is figured in that flrange Fidion of the ancient Poets, which feemeth not to be without myftery ; nay, and to have fome ap- proach to the State of a Chriftian : That Hercules^ when he went to unbind tWorr* heus) by whom Humane Nature is TCprQicnted) failed the length of the great Ocean in an Ear- then Pot or Pit char ; lively defcribing Chriftian refolution, that faileth in the f ail Bark of the Flefli, through the waves of the Wojld. But tolpeak in a mean : The Vertue o( Prof per it j .5 Temperance, the Vertue oi Adver- fity is Fortitude, v dch in Morals is the more heroical Vertue. Profperity is the Bleffing of the Old Teftament, Adverfity is the P ' .fing of the New, which carrieth the greater Benedidu- n,and the clearer Revelation of God's favour. Yet ev. i in the Old Teftament, if you liften to David's Ha; you Ihall hear as m.any Hearfe-like Airs, as Car: And the Pencil of the Holy Ghoft hath laboured ir^rre in defcribing the Affiidions of Jcb^ lhcint\\QTcVLck:c^ oi^ Solomon, Prof per ay is not without many {ears and diftaftes,- and Adverfity is not withouu ^omforts' and hope^. We fte in Needle- works and Lni- t" ^ . ' ' broyderies, 12 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. broydsries, it is more pleafing to have a lively work ; upon a fad and folemn ground^ than to have a dark and ' melancholy Work upph a lightlbme ground. Judge therefore of the pleafure of the Hearty by the pleafure of the Eye. Certainly Vertue is like precious Odours^f moft fragrant when they are incenfed or crulhed: For* Trofferity doth bell difcover Vice^ but Adverjtty doth beft . difcover Vertue. VI. Cf Smulation and DiffimulatiotL DlJJimuUtion is but a faint kind of Policy or Wifdom^fof. it asketh a ftrong Wit and a ftrong Hearty to know when to tell truths and to do it. Therefore it is the weak- er fort of Politicks^ that are the great Diffemblers. Tacitus faith^ LMa fcrted well with the Arts of her Hus- band and Dijfimulation of her Son ; attributing Arts or Volicy to Augufiusy and DJjfmulation to Tiberius, And again, when Mucianus encouragcth Vefpafian to take Arms againft Vi- tellius, he faithj IVe rife not agai?ifl the j>i€rci?;g 'Judgwejit of Augullus, 92or the extream Caution or Clvjt?iejs of Tiberi- us. Thefe properties of Arts^ or Tolicy and Difjimvlation^ or Clcfenefsy are indeed habits and faculties, feveral, and to be diftinguiilied. For if a man have that penetration of Judgment^as he can difcern^ whac things are to be laid- open, and what to be fecreted, and what to be iliewcd at half lights, and to whom, and when (which indeed are Arts of State, and Arts of Life, as Tacitus well call- eth themj to him ,♦ a habit of Difimulation is a hindrance, and a poornefs. But if a Man cannot attain to that Judgment, then it is left to him generally to be Clofe, and a Diffmhkr. For where a man cannot chule or va- ry in Particulars, there it is good to take the fafell and, Vw-earieftway in general ,• like the going foftly by one that cannot \vd[ fee. Certainly the ablcft iMen that ever were,. Of Shnulation and Diffimulation. 1 3 were^have had all an opennefs. and franknefs of dealing, and a Name of Certainty and Veracity : but then they were like Horfes^ well managed ; for they could teU pafling well, when to flop or turn ,• And at fuch times^ when they thought the cafe indeed required Dijfimtdati- on, if then they ufed it, it came to pafs, that the former Opinion fpread abroad of their good faith, and clearnefs .01 dealing, made them almoft invifible. '. There are three degrees of this hiding and veiling of Mans lelf. The firft Clofenefs^ Refervation^ and Secrecy ; when a Man leaveth himfelf without obfervation, or without hold to be taken what he is. The Second D/^/T- mulation in the Negatiije^ when a Man lets fall Signs and Arguments, that he is not that he is. And the third Si- mulation in the Affirmati'vey when a Man induftrioufly and exprefly feigns and pretends to be that he is not. For the firft of thefe. Secrecy : It is indeed the vertue of a ConfeiTor ,• and affuredly the Secret Man heareth many Confeffions: For who will open himfelf to a Blab, or a Babler ? But if a man be thought Secret^ it inviteth difcovery, as the more clofe Air lucketh in the more open : And as in confeffion, the revealing is not for worldly ufe, but for the eafe of a Mans heart ,• fo Se- cret, Men come to the knowledge of many things in that kind, while Men rather difcharge their minds, than im- part tlieir minds. In few words, Myfteries are due to Secrecy, Befides fto fay truth) Nakehefs is uncomely, as well in mind as in body ,• and it addeth no fmall reve- rence to Mens manners and actions, if they be not alto- gether open. As for Talkers, and Futile perfons, they are commonly vain, and credulous withal. For he that talketh what he knovveth, will aifo talk what he know- eth not Therefore fet it down, that an habit of Secrecy is both politick and ry:oraL And in this part it is good, that a Mans face give his tongue leave to Ipeak. For the dif- covery of Mans felf, by the trads of his countenance, is a great weaknefs and betraying, by how much it is ma- ny times more marked and believed^ than a Mans words. For 14 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. For thefecond^ which is Dljjlmulation : It followeth Jmany times upon Secrecy by a neceffity ,• fo that he thact will be Secret^ muft be a Dijfembler in ibme degree. For men are too cunnings to fuffer a man to keep an indif- ferent carriage between both, and to be Secret without fwaying the ballance on either fide. They will fo befet a Man with queftions, and draw him on, and pick it out of him, that without an abfurd filence, he muft ftiew an inclination one way ; or if he do not, they will gather as much by his Silence, as by his Speech : As for Equivo- cations, or Oraculous Speeches, they cannot hold out long : fo that no man can be Secret ^ except he give him- felf a little fcope of DiJJimulation^ which is, as it were, but the skirts or train of Secrecy, But for the third degree, which is Simulation, and falfe prof effion : That I hold more culpable, and lefs politick, except it be in great and rare matters. And therefore a general cuftom of Simulation (^which is this laft degree) is a Vice, rifing either of a natural falfenefs or fearful- nefs, or of a mind that hath fome main faults ,• which becaufe a man muft needs dilguife, it maketh him pra- <5life Simulation in other things, left his hand lliould be out of ufe. The great ad^vantages of Simulation and Dijjlmulation are three. Firft, To lay afleep oppofition, and to fur- prife : For where a Mans intentions are publiflied, it is an alarm to call up all that are agairift them. The fe- cond 183 to referve to a Mans felf a fair retreat : For if a man engage himfelf by a manifeft Declaration, he muft go through, or take a fall. The third is, the better to difcover the mind of another : For to him that opens himfelf. Men will hardly ftiew themfelves averfe, but will (fair) let him go on, and turn their freedom of Ipeech to freedom of thought. And therefore it is a good fhrewd Proverb of the Spaniard^ Tell a Lye^ and find a Truth; as if there were no way of difcovery, but by Si^ mulation, Th5r^ Of Parents and Children. 1 5 There be alfo three difad^antages to fet it even. The firft^ Thac Simulation and DiJJlmuIation commonly carry with them a fhew of fearfulnefs^ which in any bufineis doth fpoil the feathers of round flying up to the mark. The fecond. That it puzzleth and perplexeth the conceits of many, that perhaps would otherwife co-operate with him^ and makes a man walk almofl: alone to his own ends. The third and greateft is^ That it depriveth a man of one of the moil principal inftruments for a6tion^which is Trtffi- and Belief, The compofirion and temperature is^ to have Opejmefs in fame and opinion, Secrecy in habit, Dif* fimulatiott in feafonable ufe^ and a power to feign^if there be no remedy. VIL Of Parents and Children. TH E joys of Parents are fecret, and fo are their griefs and fears ; they cannot utter the one, nor they will net u:rer the other. Children fweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter : they incrcafe the cares of Life, but they mitigate the remembrance of Death. The perpetuity by generation is common to Beafis ,• but m.emory, merit, and noble works are proper to Men : and furefy a man ihall fee the nobleft Works and Foundations have proceeded from Childkfs Men^ which have fought to exprefs the Images of their minds^ where thofe of their bodies have failed : So the care of pofterity is mou in them that have no pofterity. They that are the firft raifers of their Houfes, are moft indul- gent towards their Childnn'^ beholding them as the con- tinuance, not only of their kind, but of their work^ and fo both Childnn and Creatures, The difference in affcdion of Parents towards their le- val Children^ is many times unequal, and fometimes un- worthy,. 1 6 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. worthy^ elpeeially in the Mother ; as Solomon faith, A wife Son rejoyceth the Father, hut an ungracious Son pames the Mother, A man fliall fe^ where there is a Houfe full of Children, one or two of the eldeft relpeded^ and the youngeft made wantons,- but in the midft, fome that are as it were forgotten, who many times neverthelefs prove the beft. The illiberality of Parents in allowance towards their Children, is an harmful error, makes them bale, ac- quaints them with Ihifts, makes them fort with mean company, and makes them furfeit more when they come to plenty: and therefore the proof is beft, when men keep their authority towards their Children, but not their purle. Men have a foolifli manner (both Parents, and School-Mafters, and Ser'vants) in creating and breeding an emulation between Brothers, during Childhood, which - many times forteth to difcord when they are men, and difturbeth Families. The Italians make little difference between Children and Nephews, or near Kinsfolks ,• but fo they be of the lump they care not, though they pals not through their own body. And to fay truth, in Na- ture it is much alike matter, infomuch that we fee a Ne^ phew fometimes refembleth an Uncle, or a Kinfman, more than his own Parent, as the blood happens. Let ' Parents chufe betimes the vocations and courfes they mean their Children ftiould take, for then they are moft flexible ,* and let them not too much apply themfelves tothe difpofition of theirCMir^», as thinking they will take beft to that which they have moft mind to. It is true, that if the affection or aptnels of the Children be extraordinary, then it is good not to crofs it : but gene- rally the precept is good. Optimum elige, Jmue ^ facile ilhidfacit confuetudo, younger Brothers are commonly for- tunate, but icldom or never where the elder are difin- herited. 0/ 17 VIIL Of Marriage and Single Life. HE that hath Wife and Children^ hath given hoftages to Fortune^ for they are impediments to great enterprifes^ either of Vertue or Mifchief. Certainly the be(i: works, and of greatefl: merit for the publick, have proceeded from the unmarried or Childlefs Men, which both in affeclion and means have married and endowed the publick. Yet it were great reafon^ that thofe that have Children^ fhould have greateft care of fu- ture times^ unto which they know they mud tranfmit their deareft pledges. Some there are^ who though they lead a Single Life^ yet their thoughts do end with themfelves^ and account future times imperrinencies. Nay^ there are fome other, that account Wife and Chil- dren but as Bills of Charges. Nay, more, there are fome foolifh rich covetous men, that take pride in ha- ving no Children^ becaufe they may be thought fo much the richer. For perhaps they have heard fome talk. Such an one is a great rich Man ; and another except to it, Ttdy hut he hath a great charge of Children ; as if it were an abatement to his riches. But the molt ordinary caufe of a Single Life is Liberty, efpecially in certain felf-plea- fing and humorous minds, which are fo feniVble oteve- ry reftraint, as they will go near to think their Girdles and Garters to be Bonds and Shackles. Unniarried mm are beft Friends, bed Mafters, beft Servants, but not al- ways beft Subjeds^- for they are light to run away^and almoft all Fugitives are of that condition. A fingU life doth well with Church-jntn : for Charity will hardiy wa- ter the Ground, where it muft tirft hli a Pool. It is' indifferent for Judges and Magifl-rates ; for if they be fa- cile and corrupt, you iliall have a Servant five times worfe than a Wife. For Souldiers, I find the Generals C commonly 1 8 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejfays. commonly in their hortatives put men in mind of their JVs'ves and Children. And I think the defpifing of Mar» riage amongR the Turks^ making the vulgar Souldier more bafe. Certainly TVife and Children are a kind of humanit}' ; and Single mm^ though they be many times more chaiitable^ becaufe their means are lefs exhauft : yet on the other fide^ they are more cruel and hard hearted^, (good to make fevere Inquifitors) becaufe their tenderncfs is not fo oft called upon. Grave natures, led by cuftom, and therefore conftant, are commonly lo- ving Hushavds; as was faid of L/V;;/^^ j, Vetulam fuam fr.^- ttdh immortalltatl. Chaft Women are often proud and froward^ as prefuming upon the merit of their chafticy. It is one of the bcft bonds both of chafliry and obedi- ence in the Wife^ if ilie thinks her Bushar.d wile, which ihe will never do, if ihe find him jealom. IVi^es are young mens MiftrifTes, Companions for middle Age, and old mens Nurfes ^ fo as a man may have a quarrel to marry when he will. But yet he was leputed one of th.e wife men, that made anfwer to the queltion j When a m*an ihould marry ? A yoiwg man not yet^ an elder man liot at alL It is often feen, that bad Husbands have ve- ry good V/l^-es ; whether it be, that it raifeth the price of their Hushajids kindnefs when it comes, or that the JVl'ves take a pride in their patience. But this never fails, if the bad Husbands were of their own chufmg, againft their Friends confent ; for then they will be fure to make good their own folly. IX. Of Envy. "1 HERE be none of the 4f a7/Wf, which have been -* noted to iacinate or bewitch, but Lo^je and En^y. I iuy both have vehemcn: wiihes, they frame them- fclves Of Envy. i^ felves readily into imaginations and fuggeftions ,♦ and they come eafily into the eye, efpecially upon the pre- fence of the objeds^ v/hich are the points that conduce to fafcination, if any fuch thing there be. We fee like- wife the Scripture calleth E^t^vy^ ane^li eye ; and the A- llrologers call the evil influences of the Stars, Evil Af- fecis ; fo that iiill there feemeth to be acknowledged iji the ad of £?;t7/5 an ejaculation or irradiation of the Eye. Nay, lome have been fo curious, as to note, that the times, when the ftroke or percufficn of an Ewkus Eye doth moft hurt, are, when the Tarty r/i'vied is beheld in Glory or Triumph ,• for that lets an edge upon En^y : And befides, at fuch times the fpirits of the Fcrfon envi- ed do come forth moft into the outward parts^ and fo meet the blow. But leaving thefe curiofities, (though not unworthy to be thought on in fit place ) we will handle, Whra Terfons are aft to envy others^ ivbat Verfcns are mofi fubjcci to be efjvicd themfelvesy and what is the difference hetii^een 'puhlick and private En'vy, A man that hath no virtue in himfelf, ever envieth virtue in others. For mens minds will either feed upon their own good, or upon others evil ,• and who want- eth the one, will pray upon the other ; and who fb is out of hope to attain to anothers vertue, will feek to come at even-hand by depreffing anothers For- tune. A man that is bufie and inquifitive, is commonly En-- 'vious: for to know much of other mens matters cannot be, becaufe all that ado may concern his eftate ; there- fore it muft needs be, that he taketh a kind of play- pleafure in looking upon the fortunes of others ,* nei- ther can he that mindeth but his own buluiefs, find much matter for E.nvy : For Envy is a gadding paffion, and walketh the Streets, and doth not keep home, Ison efi curiofusj quln idem fit malevolus. Men of noble Birth are noted to be eKvicus tcwards new Men when they rife ; For the diftance is altered ; C ^ and 20 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. and it is like a deceit of the eye^ that when others come on, they think themfelves go back. Deformed perfons, and Eunuchs, and old Men, and Baitards are envious : for he that cannot poflibly mend his own cafe, will do what he can to impair anothers, except thefe defeds light upon a very brave and heroi- cal nature, which thinketh to make his natural wants part of his honour ; in that it fhould be faid, that an Eunuch, or lame man, did fuch great matters, afFed- ing the honour of a miracle, as it was in Narfes the Eu- nuch, and jlg^fiUnSj and Tamherlanes ^ that were lame men. The fame is the cafe of men that rife after calamities and misfortunes ,• for they are as men fallen out with the times, and think other mens harms a Redemption of their own fufferings. They that defire to excel in too many matters, out of levity and vain g'Ory, are ever Envious -^ For they can- not want work, it being impoffible but many in fbme one of thofc things fhould furpafs them ; which was the character of Adrian the Emperour, that mortally enz^ied Foets and Taivtersy and Artificers in works wherein he had a vein to excel. Eaftly, near Kinsfolks and Fellows in Office^ and thofe that have been bred together, are more apt to E;;~ vj their equals, when they are raifed : For it doth up- braid unto t\\cn\ their own fortunes, and pointeth at them, and comcth oftncr into their remembrance, and incurreth likcwife more into the note of others ,• and Envy ever redoublerh from Speech and Fame. Cain s Envy was the more vile and malignant towards his Bro- ther Abel, becaufe when his Sacrifice was better accept- ed, there was no body to look on. Thus much for thofe that are aft to E7:vy, Concerning thofe that me more or lefs fuhjccl to F.nvy : Firftj Perfons of eminent virtue, when they are advan- ced are lefs envied : For their fortune feemeth but due unto them j and no man envyetb the payment of a Debt^ but Of Envy. 2X but Rewards and Liberality rather. Again, Ent'y is e- ver joyned with the comparing of a man's felf ; and where there is no comparifbn, no E?ivy ; and therefore Kings are not en-vkd^ but by Kijigs. Neverthelefs it is to be notcd^ that unworthy perfons are moft envied at their firft coming in^ and afterwards overcome it bet- ter; whereas contrariwife, Perfons of worth and merit are moft envied^ when their fortune continueth long. For by that time^ though their virtue be die fame^ yet it hath not the fame Luftre; for frefti men grow up that darken it. Perfons of noble blood are lefs envkd in their riling,* for it feemeth but right done to their Birth. Befides^ there feemeth not much added to their fortune ; and Envy is as the Sun-beams^ that beat hotter upon a Bank or iteep riling Ground^ than upon a Flat. And for the fame reafons, thofe that are advanced by degrees are lefs envied y than thofe that are advanced iiiddenly^ and per fait um. Thofe that have joyned with their Honour great Travels^ Cares or Perils^ are lefs fubjed to Envy : For men think that they earn their Honours hardly^ and pi- ty them fometimes ; and Pity ever healeth Envy ; Wherefore you (hall obferve^ that the more deep and fbber fort of politick Perfons in their greatnefs, are e- ver bemoaning themfelves^ what a life they lead, chant- ing Quanta patiwur. Not that they feel it (b^ but only to abate the edge of Envy. But this is to be underftood of bufmefs that is laid upon men^ and not fuch as they call unto themfelves. For nothing increafeth Envj more than an unnecefTary and ambitious engroiling of bufinefs ; and nothing doth extinguiili Envy more^than for a great Perlbn to preferve all other inferior Officers in their full rights and preheminencies of their places : for by that means there be fo many Skieens between him and Envy, Above all^ thofe arc moft fubjecl: to Envy which ear- ly the gicatncfs of their fortunes in an infolent and C 3 proud 2 2 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejfap. proud manner^ being never well but while they are fhewing how great they are, either by outward pomp, or by triumphing over all oppolition or competition ; whereas wile men will rather do Sacrifice to En^^fj^ in fuffering themfelves fom^ecimes of purpofc to be croft and over-born of things that do not much concerxTi them. Notwithftanding fo much is true, That the car- riage of greatnefs in a plain and open manner (To it be without arrogancy and vain-glory) doth draw lels Et/- ^y^ than if it be in a more crafty and cunning fajhion. For in that courfe a man doth but diiavow fortune, and feemeth to be confcious of his own want in worth, and doth but teach others to Enuy him. Laftly, To conclude this part ,• As we faid in the be- ginning, that the Ad of E^n^j had fomewhat in it of ivitchcraft^ fo there is no other cure of En'vy but the cure of -witchcraft ; and that is, to remove the Lot fas they call it) and to lay it upon another. For which purpole, the V\/ifer fort of great Perfons, bring in ever upon the Stage fome body upon whom to drive the £w- "uj that would come upon themfelves ,• fometimes upon Minifters and Servants, fometimes upon Colleagues and Affociates, and the like • and for that turn there are never wandng fome Perfons of violent and undertaking Natures, who, fo they may have Pov/er and Bufinefs, will take it at any colt. jNow to Ipeak of juhUck En^uy. There is yet Ibme good in fuhlick Envy ^ whereas in private there is none. For juhlick E.nvy is an Ofiradfm^ that eclipfeth men when they grov/ too great. And therefore it is a bridle alio to great ones, to keep them within bounds. This R'fi'vy being in the Latine word InvkUa^ goetli in" the m.odern Languages by the name of Difccntent-^- - merit,- of which we fftaii Ipeak in liandling Sed'itkn, It is a difeafe in a State hke to infedion ,• for as infediori fpreadeth upon that which is found, m\(i tainteth it,- fo when E7:vy is gotten once in a State, it traduceth even tiie belt actions thereof,' and turneth them into an ill odour.' Of Love. 23 odour. And therefore there is little won by interming- ling of plaufible anions. For that doth argue but a weaknefs and fear of E7i%'y, which hurteth fo much the more^ as it is like wife ufual in mfdl'mis ,• which if you fear them^ you call them upon you. This fuhlick Eji'vy feemeth to bear chiefly upon prin- cipal Officers or Minifters^ rather than upon Kings and Eftates themfelves. But this is a fure rule, that if the Envy upon the Minifters be gieat^ when the caufe of it in him is fmall ^ or if the Eiriy be general, in a manner^ upon all the Minifters of an Eitate, then the Envy (thougii hidden) is truly upon the State it felf And lb much oi' piiblick Envy or Difccntentmcnt^ and the dif- ference thereof from private Envy^ which was handled in the firft place. We will add tliis in general, toucliing the Affection oS.Env) ; that, of all other AffecHons, it is the moft im- portune and continual. For of other Affections there is occahon given but now and then. And therefore it was well faid, Invidia fefios dies non agtt. For it is ever working upon fome or other. And it is alfo noted^ that Love and E7ivy do make a man pine, which other Af- fedions do not i becaufe they are not fo continual. It is alfo the vileft Affedion, and the moil depraved : for which caufe it is the proper Attribute of the Devil, who is called the envious Man, that foii^eth Tares ayr.ovgfi the Wheat by night : as it always cometh to pafs, that Envy worketh fubtilly, and in the dark, and to the prejudice of good things, fuch as is the U''heat. Of X. Love. TH E Stage is more beholding to Love than the Fife of Man. For, as to the Stage, Love is even matter of Comedies, and now and then of Tragedies: but in C + Flic 24 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. life it doth much mifchief ^ fometimes like a SyreTj, fometimes like a Furj. You may obferve^ that amongft all the great and worthy perfons (whereof the Memo- ry remaineth, either Ancient or Recent) there is not one that hath been tranfpoited to the mad degree of Lcue : which ftew^ that great Spirits, and great Buli- nefs^ do keep out this w^eak Pa (Ion. You muft except neverthelefsj Marcus Jntonius^ tlie half Partner of the Empire ofRcTne ^ and Jj^fius Chudlus the Decemuir^ the Law-giver : whereof the' former was indeed a Volup- tuous Man^ and Inordinate ,• but the Latter was an Au- ftere and Wife Man. And therefore it feems^ (though rarely) that L(n;e can fnci entrance^ not only into an open Heartj but alfo into a Heart well fortified^ if watch be not well kept. It is a poor faying o( Epicurus ^ Satis magnum Alter Alteri Theatrum fumus. As if Man, made for the contemplation ofHeaven^, and all noble Objeds^ ftould do nothing but kneel before a little I- dol^ and make himfelf a Subjed:, though not of the Mouth (asBeaftsarej yet of the Eye^ which was given him for higher purpofes. It is a Itrange thing to note the Lxcefs of this paffion; and how it braves the Nature and value of things by this^ that the fpeaking in a per- petual Hyperhok is comdy in nothing but in Love, Nei- ther is it meerly in the Phrale: for^ whereas it hath been well faid^ that the Arch-fiarterer^ with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence^ is a Man's felf ; cer- tainly^ the LoTje is more. For there was never a proud Man thought fo abfurdly well of himfelf^ as the Lo'vtr doth of the Perfon Lcnjed : and therefore it was well faidj that it is impcjjihle to Lonje^ and to he ivife. Neither doth this weaknefs appear to others only^ and not to the Party Loved : but to the Loved moll of all ; except the Love be reciproque: for it is a true rule, that Love is e- ver rewarded, either with the reciproque, or with an inward and fecret Contempt. By how much the more men ought to beware of this Paffion, which lofeth riot only other things, but it felf. As for the other loffes, the Of Great Place. 25 the Voets Relation doth well figure them ,• that he that preferreth Helena^ quitteth the gifts of Juno and Vallas. For whofoever efteemeth too much of amorous affedi- on^ quitteth both Riches and TVifdom. This Paflion hath his Floods in the very times of weaknefs : which aje great Trofperity, and great J^verfty ; though this latter hath been lefs obferved. Both which times kindle Lo^e, and make it more frequent^ and therefore /hew it to be the Child of Folly. They do beft^ who^ if they can- not but admit Lo've • yet make it keep Quarter, and fe- ver it wholly from their ferious Affairs and Adions of Life : for if it check once with Bufinefs^ it troubleth mens Fortunes, and maketh men that they can no ways be true to their 'own Ends. I know not how, but mar- tial men are given to Love ; I think it is but as they are given to PP'ive ; for Ferils commonly ask to be paid in Ple^fures, There is in a mans Nature a fecret Incli- nation and Motion towards Love of others ; which if it be not fpent upon fome one^ or a few, doth natural- ly fpread it felftowards many, and maketh men be- come Humane and Charitable • as it is feen fometime in Friars, Nuptial Love maketh Mankind ^ Friendly Love per fe Beth it ; but wantm Love corrupt eth and ewbafeth it. XL Of Great Place. MEN ill Great Tkice are thrice Servants : Servants oftho Soveraign or State; Servants of F^w^ ,• and Servants of Bufinefs, So as they have no Freedom, ei- ther in their Perfons, nor in their Mlions, nor in their Times, It is a ftrange defire to feek Power, and to iofe Likrty; or to feek Power over others, and to lofc Pow- er over a Mans [elf. The Riling unto Place is laborious,- and by Paips men come to greater Pains : and it is fome- times 26 Sir Francis Bacon'i? Efays. times bafe • and by Indignities men come to Dignities. The Standing is Slippery, and the Regrels is either a Downfall^ or at leall an Eclipfe, which is a melancho- ly thing. Cum no?i fisj cfui fuerls, non ef]e^ cur fells 'vi've- re, Nay^ retire men cannot when they would ^ nei- ther will they, when it were Reafon : but are impati- ent of Privatenefs, even in Age and Sicknefs, which require the Shadow : Like old Tov/nlmen ; that will be ftill fitting at their Street Door, though thereby they offer Age to Scorn. Certainly Great Perfbns had need to borrow other mens Opinions^ to think themfelves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it: but if they think with themfelves what other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then they are happy, as it were by report ,• when perhaps they find the contrary within. For they are the fir ft that find their own griefs ,• though they be the laft that fiiid their own fault. Certainly, Men, in great Fortunes are ftrangers to themfelves, and while they are in the puzzle of Bufinefs, they have no time to tend their Health, either of body or mind. lUi Mors gra'vrs incuhat^ qui notus nimis omnibus^ igfiotus mori^ tur Jihi, In P/e6b lead a Man, he fliall never be without, as Solomon iaitli^ To refpeB Terfons is not good j for fuch a Man will tranfi grefs for a piece c^ bread. It is moft true that was anci- ly Ipoken ,• A Place Jheweth the Man : and it ilieweth lome to the better, an^ fome to the worfe : Omnium confenfu ; capax -mperii, n'tfi imperajfet j faith Tacitus of Galha : but of F^fpa/ian le faith. Solus imperantium Vef^a^ fanus mutatus in ivelius. Though the one was meant of Sufficiency, the odier c f Manners and Affedion. It is an afTured Sign of a we rey to thofe that are tyrannical arid unju^ : which he ipaKC, becaufe indeed there was never Law, or Scd, or Opinion, did fo much magnifie Coodnefs as the Chriftian Religion doth : therefore, to avoid the fcandal, and danger both, it is good to take knowledge of the errors of an Habit fo excellent. Seek the good of other men, but be not in bondage to their faces or fancies ; for that is but fa- cility or loftnefs, which taketh an honeft mind prifoner. Neither give the ^j^^for Nc- bility attempers So'veraignty, and draws the eyes of the People fomewhat afide from the Line Royal. But for Democracies they need it not : and they are commonly more quiet^ and lefs fubjed tQ Sedition^ than where there are Stirps of Nobles. For mens eyes are upon the bufinefs^ and not upon the perfons ; or if upon the per- ibnSjit is for bufinels fake^ as the fittelt, and not for flags and pedigree. We fee the S'witz.ers lafl: well, notvvith- ilanding their diverfity of Religion^ and of Cantons : for Utility is their Bond_, and not Refpeds. The Uni- ted Provinces of the Low-Countries in their Government excel : for where there is an equality^ the Confuitations are more indiflerent^ and the payments and tributes more chearful. A great and potent Nobility addeth Ma- jefty to a Monarchy but diminiilieth Power ,• and put- teth Life and Spirit into the People^ but preffeth their Fortune. It is well when Nobles are not too great for Soveraignty, nor for juftice ; and yet maintained in that height^ as the Infolency of Inferiours may be bro- ken upon thenij before it come on too faft upon the Majefty of Kings. A numerous Nobility caufcth Pover- D ty 54 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. ty and inconvenience in a State : for it is a furcharge of expence ; and befides^ it being of neceflity that many of the Nchilitj fall in time to be weak in Fortune^ it maketh a kind of Difproportion between Honour and Means. As for Nohllity in particular Terfons^ It is a reverend thing to fee an ancient Caftle or Building not in decays or to fee a fair Timber Tree found and per fed: : iiow much more to behold an Ancient Nobk Family^ which hath flood againft the Waves and Weathers of Time. For Mew Nobility is but the Ad: of Power j but Anci- ent Nchility is the Ad of Time. Thofe that are firft raifed to Nobility are commonly more virtuous^ but Icfs innocent than their Defcendents ; for there is rarely any Rifing^ but by a commixture of good and evil Arts. But it is reafon the memory of their Vertues remain to their Pofterity ,• and their faults die with themfelves. Nobility of Birth commonly abateth induftry ; and he that is not induftrious^ envieth him that is. Befides^ Noble Terfons cannot go much higher; and he that ftandeth at a ftay when others rife, can hardly avoid motions of En- vy. On the other fide^ Nobility extinguiflieth the Paffive Envy from others towards them; becaufe diey are in poffellion of Honour. Certainly Kings that have able Men of their Nobility ^{[\2\\ find eafe in employing them, and a better Hide into their bufinefs : for people naturally bend to them, as born in fome Ibrt to command. Of Seditions and Troubles. SHepherJs of Feofle had need know the Kalendcrs of Tcmfcsh in State ; which are commonly greateft when things grow to equality; as natural Tewpefis are grcateil about the ' ^yi^^mmc^tia. And as there arc cer- tain Of Seditions and Troubles. 35 tain hollow blafts of Wind^ and fecretfwellings of Seas before a Tempeft^ fo are there in States. 'Ilk etiam coecos infiare Tumultus Sape movety Fraudefcjue (jr operta tumefccre Bella. Libels and Licentious Difcourfes againft the State, when they are frequent and open; and in like fort/alfe News often running up and down to the difadvantage of the State, and haftily embraced ; are amongft the Signs of Troubles, Virgil giving the pedigree of Fame^ faith^ Sbs %^as Sifier to the Gyarits. lUam Terra Parens ira irritata Deormny Extremam {at perhibent) Cao Enceladoque fororem Tregenuit. ' ■ As if Fames were the Relicks of Seditions paft • but they are no lefs indeed, die Preludes of Seditions to come. Howfoever he noteth it right, That Seditious Tumults^ and Seditious Fames^ differ no more but as Brother and Sifter, Mafculine and Feminine ,• efpecially if it come to that, that the beft Adions of a State, and the moil plau- fible, and which ought to give greateft contentment, are taken in ill fence, and traduced : for that fliews the envy great , as Tacitus faith , Conflata magna In'vidia^ feu benc^ feu male^ gefta premunt. Neither doth it follow, that becaufe theie Fames are a llgn of Trou- hles^ that the fupprefling of them with too much fe ve- rity, fhould be a Remedy of Troubles : for the defpillng of them many times checks them beft ,* and the go- ing about to ftop them, doth but make a Wonder long- livd. Alfo that kind of obedience which Tacitus ipeaketh of is to be held fufpecled ,• Erant in ojfcio^ fed tamen qui malknt ma?jdata Impera7itui?n ir/t.rpretari^ (juam exe^ui * Difputing, Excufmg, Cavilling upon Mandates and Dii-edionSp is a kind of ftiakmg off the voak, and efiay D ^ ' of 3^ 5^/^ Francis Bacon'^ Effays. of difobedience; efpecially^ if in d^ofc Difputings^ they which are for the direcftion, fpeak fearfully and tender- ly ; and thofe that are againll: it audacioafly. Alfoj as Alachianjel noteth well j when Princes^ that ought to be common Parents, make themfelves as a Party^ and lean to a fide, it is a Boat that is overthrown by uneaven weight on the one fide ; as was well ko^r). in the time of Hc72ry the third of Frmice : for fir it him- felf enrred League for the exrii-pation of the Vrotefiants^ and prefently after the fame League was turned upon himfelf : for when the Authority of Princes is made but sn Acceffary to a Caufe, and that there are other Bands that tie fafter than the Band of Soveraignty^ Kings be- gin to be almoft put out of polleffion. Alfo^ when Difcords^ and Quarrels^ and Fadlions are carried openly and audacioufly^ it is a fign the Re- verence of Government is lolh For the Motions of the greatelt Perfons in a Government^ ought to be as the motions of the Planets under Trimum Mobile (ac- cording to the old Opinion : ) which is, that every of them is carried fwifdy by the higheft Motion , and foftly in their own Motion. And therefore when great Ones in their ow^n particular Motion move violently ; and as Tacitus expreffeth it well, Llher'ms cjuam ut Im- pranuum ?mmmij]t7it^ it is a fign the Orbs are out of Frame : for Reverence is that wherewith Princes are girt from God, who threatneth the diffolving thereof ,• Sol'vam clngula Regum» So when any of the four Pillars of Government are mainly Hiaken or vveakned, (which are Religion ^ Jnfitce^ Coiiijfdy and Tnafure) Men had need to pray for fair weather. But let us pafs from this part of Predidions ( con- cerning which, nevcrthelels, more light may be taken from that wiiich followeth) and let us fpeak firft of the Materials of Seditions ,• tlien of the Motives of them j and thirdly, of the Remedies, Con- Of Seditions and Troubles. 37 Concerning the Materials of Seditions ; It Is a thing well to be confidered : For the fureft way to prevent Seditiojis (\i the times do bear it) is to take away the matter of them. For if there be fuel prepared, ic is hard to tell whence the fpark iliall come that fhall fct it on fire. The Matter of Seditions is of two kinds ^ mtub Poverty and wi^cb Difcovtentment. It is certain, fo many Overthrown Efiates, {o many votes for Troubles, Lucan noteth well the State oi Rome before the Civil War. HincJJfura vorax, rapidum^ue i7i tempore Fanus^ Hinc concujja Fides y O' wultls utile Bellum. This fame mtdtls utile Bellum is an afTured and infalli- ble fign of a State difpofed to Seditions and Troubles, And if this Poverty and broken Edate in the better fort, be joyned with a want and neceility in the mean Peo- ple, the danger is eminent and great ,• for the Rebel- lions of the Belly are the worft. As for Difcof)te?nments, they are in the Politick Body like to Humours in the Natural, which are apt to gather pre-natural Heat, and to enflame. And let no Prince meafure the danger of them by this, whether they be juil or unjufl: : for that were to imagine People to be too reafbnable, wlio do often fpurn at their own good : nor yet by this, whe- ther the griefs whereupon they rife, be in fad great or fmall : for they are the moft dangerous Difco72tent^ m^ntsy where the fear is greater than the feeling. Dc- lendl modus y Timendi non item, Befides, in great Oppref- fions, the fame things that provoke the Patience, do withal make the courage ,• but in fears it is not fo. Neither let any Prince or State be fecure concerning Dlfcontentments becaufe they have been often, or havs been long, and yet no Peril hath enfued ; for as it is true, that every Vapour or Fume doth not turn into a Storm : So it is ncverthelefs true, that Storms though they blow over divers times, yet may fall at laft : and as the Spanijlj Proverb noteth well ; 7'hs Qor4 hrscikcth at th^ lafi hj tU iveahfi ptdL D ^ The 38 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. The Caufes and Motions of Seditions are^ Innovation in Religion, Taxes, Alteration of Laws and Cufioms, breaking cf Trl'vilcges, General Oppnjjion, A d'u an cement of unworthy Ferfons, Strangers, Dearths, Disbanded Souldiers, FaBions £rown defperate. And whatfoever in oifending People^ joynedi and knittedi them in a Common Caufe. For the Remedies ; there may be fome general Pre- fervatives whereof we will fpeak , as for the jufi: Cufe, it muft anfwer to the pardcular Difeafe^ and fo be left to Counfel rather than Rule. The hr{{ Remedj or Prevention is^ to remove by all means poffible that Material Caufe of Sedition, whereof we fpeak j which is Warit and Fcutrty in the Efiatc. To which purpofe fcrveth the Opening and well Ballancing of Trade^ the Cherifhing of Manufadures^ the Banilh- ing of IdlenefSj the Repreffing of Wafte and Excefs by Sum.ptuary Laws, the Improvement and Husbanding of the Soyl, the Regulating of Prices of Things vendi- ble^ the Moderating of Taxes and Tributes^ and the like. Generally it is to be foreleen, that the Populati- on of a Kingdom (efpeclally if it be not mowen down by Warsj do not exceed the Stock of the Kingdom, which fhould maintain them. Neither is the Populati- on to be reckoned only by num.ber ,• for a Imaller num- ber that Ipend more^ and earn lefs_, do vvear out an Eflate Iboner than a greater number that live lower, and gather more. Therefore the multiplying of Nobi- lity, and other Degrees of Quality, in an over Propor- tion to the Common People, doth fpeedily bring a State to Neceffity: and io doth likewife an overgrown Cler- gy, for they bring nothing to the Stock. And in like manner, when more are bred Scholars than Preferments can take off. It is likewife to be remembred, that forafmuch as the increafe of any Eftate muft be upon the Foreigners ,• Cfor whatfoever is fomewhere gotten, is fomewhere loft.) There be but three things which one Nation fell- eth unto another j the Commodity as Nature yieldeth it; Of Seditions and Troubles. 3 ^ the ManiifaBtire and the VeBure or Carriage : So that if thefe three Wheels go. Wealth will flow as in a Spring- tide. And it Cometh many times to pafs, that Alauri- am ftiferabit Opus ; that the Work and Carriage is more worth than the Matsrials, and inricheth a State more : as is notably fcen in the Low Couynry~men^ who have the beft Mines above Ground in the World. Above all things good Policy is to be ufedj that the Treafure and Moneys in a State be not gathered into few Hands. For otherwife a State may have a great Stock, and yet ftarve. And Money is like Muck, not good except it be fpread. This is done chiefly by fup- preffing, or at the leaft keeping a itraight hand upon the Devouring Trades of Vfury^ Ingrcfing^ great Fajhira-^ gesy and the like. For removing DifcGnte7itme7itSy or at leafl the danger of them, there is in every State ( as we know) tvi^o por- tions oi Subjects, the Noblcfsznd the Commo'^alrj. When one of thefe is Djfcomcut^ the danger is not great ; for common people are of flow motion, if they be not ex- cited by the greater fort; and the greater fort are of fmall ftrength, except the multitude be apt and ready to move of themfelves. Then this is tiie danger, wlien the greater fort do but wait for the troubling of the Waters amongft the meaner, that then they may declare themfelves. The Poets feign, that the reli: of the Gods would have bound Jufiter ,• which he hearing of, by the Counfel of Fallas, fent for Briareus Vv^ith his hun- dred hands, to come in to his aid. An Emblem no doubt, to ihew hov/ fafe it is for Monarchs to make fure of the good will of common people. To give moderate liberty for Griefs and D/fccnte77t^ me fits to evaporate (lb it be without too great info- lency or bravery) is a fafe way. Foj' he that turneth the Humours back, and maketh the Wound bleed in- wards, endangcreth malign Ulcers, and pernicious Im- poilhumacions. P 4 ^The 4o Sir Francis Bacon'^ Ef^ysl The part of Epimet/mts might well become Vrowcthetts. in the cafe of Difcontcntwejtts ; for there is not a better provifion againft them. Epimetheus^ when griefs and evils flew abroad^ at laft fliut the Lid^ and kept Hope in the bottom of the VeiTel. Certainly the politick and artificial noarijliing and entertaining of Hopes^ and carrying men from Hopes to Hopes, is one of the beft Antidotes againft the Poyfon of Dlfcontentmevts. And it is a certain fign of a wife Government and Proceed- ings when it can hold mens hearts by Hopes when it cannot by fatisfaclion, and when it can handle things in fuch manner^ as no evil fhail appear fo peremptory but that it hath fome out-let of Hope : which is the lefs hard to do^ becaufe both particular Perfons and Fadi- cns art apt enough to flatter themfelves^ or at leaft to brave that which they believe not. Alfo the fore-flght and prevention^ that there be no likely or fit Head, whereunto D If contented Perfajs may refort, and under v^/hora they may joyn^ is a known, but an excellent point of caution. I under ftand a fit Head to be one that hath Greatnefs and Reputation, that hath Confidence with ihc Jifccnfcmed Party^ and upon whom they turn their eyes ; and that is thought Bifcontented in his own particular ; which kind of Per- fons are either to be won^ and reconciled to the State, and that in a fait and true manner ; or to be fronted with fome other of the fame Party that may oppofe them, and fo divide the Reputation. Generally the dividing and breaking of all Factions and Combinati- ons thai are adverfe to the State^ and fetting them at diltance, or at leaft difl:ruft among themfelves, is not one of the worii; Remedies. For it is a defperate cafe, if thofe that hold with the proceeding of the State^ be full of Difcord and Fadion^; and thofe that are againft it, be entire and United. ' I have noted, that fome v/:,tty and fharp Speeches, which have fallen from Princes, have given fire .to .Se^ ditions. Cafar did himfelf infinite hurt in that Speech, •-" , . Sylla Of Atheifm] ^7 Sylla nefchh Jlteras^ non ptuit ditlare : for it did Utterly cut off that Hofe which men had entertained, that he would at one time or other give over his Didatorfliip. Galba undid himfelf by that Speech^ Legi a fe milltem non emiy for it put the Soldiers out of Hope of the Do- native. Vrobus likewife by that fpeech. Si ^vixero^ mn opus erit awpllMs Romaijo Itnperio milhibus : A Speech of great defpair for the Soldiers : And many the like. Surely Princes had need, in tender matters, and tickli/h timesj to beware what they fay ; efpecially in thefe fliort Speeches, which fly abroad like Darts^ and are thought to be fhot out of their fecret Intentions. For as for large Difcourfes^ they are flat things^ and not fo much noted. Laftly, Let Princes againft all Events not be without fome great Perfon^ one^ or rather more^ of Military Valour near unto them, for the reprefling of Seditions in their beginnings. For without that, there ufeth to be more trepidation in Court^ upon the firft breaking out of Troubles^ than were fit. And the State runneth the danger of that, which Tacitus faith ; Jtque is ha- bitus animorum fuit, ut pej/imum f acinus auderent pauci, plu- res "vellent^ omnes paterentur. But let fuch Military Per- fons be aifured^ and vv^ell reputed of, rather than Fadi- ous and Popular,holding alfo good correfpondence with the other great Men in the State^ or elfe the Remedy is worfe than the Difeafe. XVI. Of Atheifm. T Had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend ^ and ^ the Talmud^ and the Alcoran^ that tliis Univerfal Frame is without a Mind. And therefore God never wrought 42 Sir Francis Bacon V Ejfays. wrought a Miracle to convince Atheifm^ becaufe his ordinary Works convince it. It is true, that a little Philofophy inclineth Mans mind to Atheifm^ but depth in Philofophy bringeth Mens minds about to Religion ^ for while the mind of man lookerh upon fecond Caufes fcatteredj it may fometimes reft in them, and go no further : but when it beholdeth the Chain of them Confederate and Linked together, it muft needs fly to Tro'vidence and Deity. Nay, even that School which is moft accufed of Atbeifm, doth moft demonftrate Religi-r on : That is, the School of Leucippus and DcmocrituSy and Epicurus. For it is a thoufand times more credible, that four mutable Elements, and one immutable fifth Ef- lence, duly and eternally placed, need no God, than that an Army of infinite fmall Portions, or Seeds un- placed, fhould have produced this order and beauty w^ithout a Divine Marllial. The Scripture faith. The Fool hath [aid in his hearty there is fio God : it is not faid. The fool hath thought in his heart : So as he rather faith it by rote to him.feif, as that he would ha\^e, than that he can throughly believe it, or be perfwaded of it. For none? deny there is a God, but thofe for whom it maketh that there were no God. It appsareth in nothing more, that Atheifm is rather in the Lip^ than in the Heart of Man, than by this ; That Atheifts will ever be talking of that their Opinion, as if they fainted in it within themfelves, and would be glad to be ftrengthned by the confent of others. Nay more, you rtiall have Athafis ftrive to get Difciples^ as it fareth with other Se6ls. And, wiiich i? moft of all, you ihall have of them that will fuffer for Atheifm and not recant j whereas if they did truly think, that there were no fuch thing as God^ why ftiould they trouble themfelves ? Epicurus is charged, that he did but diffemble for his credits fake, when he affirmed, there vv^ere BUfj'ed Natures ^ but fuch as enjoyed them- felves, without having refpe6l to the Government of the World : wherein, they fay, he did temporize ,• though in fecrct he thought there was no God. But certainly^ hu Of Atheifpi. 45 he is traduced ; for his Words are Noble and Divine ; JS^on Decs ^uulgi mgare profanum^ fed 'vttlgi Oftntoms Diis apfUcare frofanum, vtato Could have faid no more. And although he had the confidence to deny the Admtniflra- tim^ he had not the power to deny the Natttre. The 7«- dians of the Wefi have names for their particular gods^ though they have no name for God -^ as if the Heathens (hould have had the names of Juplter^ AvoUo^ Mars, &c. but not the word Deus : which ihews^ that even thofe barbarous People have the notion^ hough they have not the latitude and extent of it. So that againft the At hei^ the very Savages take part with the very fubtileft Phi- lofophers : The Contemplative Atheifi is rare : A Dia- gorasy a Bion, a Ltician perhaps^ and fbme others ; and yet chey feem to be more than they are : For that all that impugn a received Religion or Superfiitton, are by the ad- verfe part branded with the name of Atheifts. But the great Atheifts indeed are Hypocrites, ^\-\\c\i are ever hand- ling Holy things^ but without feeling ,• fo as they mull needs be cauterized in the end. The Caufes of Atheifm are Di^lfio?js in Religion, if they be many : for any one main Di'vlfion addeth Zeal to both fides, but many Di- vifions introduce Atheifm. Another is. Scandal of Friefis, when it is come to that v/hich Saint Bernard faith, Non efi jam dicer e, ut popuJus^ fie facer dos : quia nee fie pcpulus, tit facer dos. A third is, Cuftom of 'Prophafie Scoffing in Holy Matters, which doth by little and little deface the Reverence of Religion. And laftly. Learned Trmes, e- fpecially with peace and profperity : for troubles and ad- verfities do more bow Mens minds to Rdi^ion. They that deny a God, deftroy Mans Nobility: tor certainly Man is of kin to the Beafe by his Body ,• and if he be not of kin to God by hib Spirit,- he is a bafe and ignoble Creature. It deft'-oys liKewife Magnanimity, and th'3 railing Humane N^mre : for '-ake an example of a Dog, and mark what a gc*:ercfity and courage he wili put en^ when he finds himfeVf maintained by a Mar,,, wlio to him is inftead of a God. or Melior natura : Which cou- rage 44 ^^^ Francis Bacon'5 EJfays. rage is manifeftly fach, as that Creature without the confidence of a better Nature than his own^could never attain. So Man, when he reftah and aflureth himfelf upon Divine prote(5Hon and favour^ gathereth a force and jFaithj which Humane Nature in it felf could not obtain. Therefore as Atheifm is in all relpecls hateful, fo in this, that it depriveth Humane Nature of the means to exalt it felf above Humane Frailty. As it is in particular Per- Ibns, {o it is in Nations. Never was there fuch a State for Magnanimity, as Rome. Of this State hear what Ci- cero faith, Quam z'olumus, lic^t, Patres Cmfcriptl, ms ame-< musy tamtn nee rtumero Hifpanos, nee rohore GalloSy nee cal- liditate Voenos^ nee artihus Graces ^ nee deni^ue hoe ipfo hujus Gentis d^ Terr^ domeflico nati'voque fenfu Italos ipfos d^ La- tinos ; fed Pietate ac Religioney atque hac una Sapient ia^ quod Deorum Immortalium Numine^ omnia regi guhernarique fer^ fpeximus, omnes Gentes Nationefque fuperavimus. XVIL Of Super jlit ion. IT were better to have no opinion of G<9^ at all, than fuch an opinion as is unworthy of him : For the one is Unbelief, the other is Contumely ; and certain- ly Superflition is the reproach of the Deity. Plutarch faith well to that purpofe : Surely (faith he j / had rather a gi-eat deal men fljould fay^ there n^as no fuch man at all as Plutarch, than that they jljould fay y that there was one Plu- - tarch, that ivould eat his Children as foon as they were born^ as the Poets fpeak of Saturn. And as the Contumely is greater towards Gody fo the Danger is greater towards Men. Atheifp. leaves a man to Senfe, to Philofophy, to Natural Piety, to Laws, to Reputation ,• all which may be guides to an outward Moral Vertue, though Re- hgim were not 3 But Super fit m difmounts all theie, and erecte;h Of Super/lit ion. 45 eredeth an abfolute Monarchy in the minds of Men. Therefore Atheifm did never perturb States ; for it makes men weary of themfelves^ as looking no further: And we fee the times inclined to Atheifm fas the time oi Au- guftus C^far) were civil times. But Superfiition hath been the Confufion of many States^ and bringeth in a new Vr'nnum Mobile, that ravifhcch all the Spheres of Government. The Mailer- of Superfiitmj is the People* and in all Super ft it ion, Wife men tbllow Fools^ and Ar- guments are fitted to Pradice in a reverfed order. It was gravely faid by fome of the Prelates in the Council of Tre7it, where the Do(5lnna of the School-men bare great fway^ That the School-men were like Aftro7JomerSy ojjhich did feign Ecc&ntricks, and Epicycles, and fuch e??gines of Orbs J to fa've the 'Phocncme^ja * though they kntw there were 710 fuch things. And in like manner^ that the School- men had framed a number of fubtile and intricate Axi- oms and Theorems, to fave the pradice of the Church. The Caufes oi Superftitions are^ pleating and fenfual Rites and Ceremonies : Excefs of Outward and Pharifaical Holinefs: Over-great Reverence of Traditions, which cannot but load the Church : the Stratagems of Prelates for their own Ambition and Lucre : the favouring too much of good Intentions, which openeth the Gate to Conceits and Novelties : the taking an Aim at Divine Matters by Humane, which cannot but breed mixture of Imaginations : And laftly. Barbarous Times, elpeci- ally joyned with Calamities and Difafters. Superftition without a veil is a deformed thing ,• for, as it addeth deformity to an Ape to be fo like a Man : fo the Simi- litude of Superftition to Religion makes it the more de- formed. And as wholfbma Meat corrupteth to litde Worms : fo good Forms and Orders corrupt into a Number of petty Obfervances. There is a Superfthion in avoiding Superftition, when men think to do beft, if they go furtheft from the Superflltion formerly received. Therefore Care would be had, that fas it tareth in ill Purgings) the good be not taken away with the bad, ' which 4^ Sir Francis Bacon ^ ^fay^^ which commonly is done, when the People is the Re- former. xvni. Of Travel. " I "RA VELy in the younger Sort, is a part of Edu- •*- cation ; in the elder, a part of Experience. He that Travelleth into a Countrey before he hath fome En- trance into the Language, goeth to School and not to Travel. That young men Travel under fome Tutor, or grave Servant, I allow well, fo that he be fuch a one that hath the Language, and hath been in the Country before, whereby he may be able to tell them, what things are worthy to be feen in the Countrey where they go, what Acquaintances they are to feek, what Exercifes or Difcipline the Place yieldeth. For elfe young men rtiall go hooded, and look abroad litde. It is a ftrange thing, that in Sea-voyages, where there is nothing to be feen but Sky and Sea, men fhould make Diaries ,• but in Land-Travel^ wherein fo much is to be obferved, for the moft part they omit it ,• as if Chance were fitter to be regiftred than Obfervation. Let Dia- ries therefore be brought in ufe. The things to be feen and obferved are the Courts of Princes, efpecially when they give Audience to Embaffadors : The Courts of Juftice, while they fit and hear Caufes^ and fo of Con- fiftories Ecclefiaftick : the Churches and Monafteries, with the Monuments which are therein extant : the Walls and Fortifications of Cities and Towns ,• and fo the Havens and Harbors : Antiquities and Ruins : Li- braries, Colleges, DifputatioDS and Lectures, where any are : Shipping and Natives : Houfes and Gardens of State and Pleafure near great Cities : Armories, Arfe- nals, Magazines^ Exchanges^ Burfes, Ware-houfes : Ex- ercifes Of Travel. 47 ercifes of Hoifmanfhip;, Fencing, Training of Souldiers, and the like : Comedies, fuch whereunto the better fort of Perfbns do refort. Treafures of Jewels and Robes : Cabinets and Rarities. And to conclude^ whatfoever is memorable in die Places where they go. After all which die Tutors or Servants ought to make diligent enquiry. As for Triumphs^ Mafques, Feafts^ Weddings, Funerals^ Capital Executions^ and fuch Shews ; Men need not to be put in mind of them ,• yet are they not to be neglecfled. If you will have a young man to put his Travel into a little room^ and in fhort time to ga- ther much, this you muft do. Firft, as we faid, he muft have fome entrance into the Language before he goeth. Then he muft have fuch a Servant or Tutor as know- eth the Countrey, as was likewife faid. Let him carry with him alio fome Chard orBook;>defcribingtheCoun- trey where he Tra'velleth^ which will be a good key to his Enquiry. Let him keep alfo a Diary. Let him not ftay long in one City or Town, more or lefs, as the Place deferveth, but not long : Nay, when he ftay eth in one City or Town, let him change his Lodging from one end and part of the Town to another, which is a great Adamant of Acquaintance. Let him fequefter himfelf from the Company of his Countrey-men, and diet in fuch Places where there is good Company of the Nation where he Tra'velletb, Let him upon his Removes from one Place to another, procure recommendation to fome Perfon of Quality^ refiding in the Place whi- ther he removeth, that he may ufe his Favour in thofe things he defireth to fee or know. Thus he rp?y a- bridge his Tra^jeh with much profit. As for the Ac- quaintance which is to be fought in Tra'vel^ that which is moft of all profitable, is Acquaintance with the Se- cretaries and employed Men of Embafladors; for fo in Travelling in one Country, he Hiall fuck the experience of many. Let him alfo fee and vifit eminent Perfons^ m all kinds, which are of great Name abroad ^ that he may be able to tell how the Life agreeth with the Fame, For 48 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. For Quarrels^ they are with Care and Difcretidn to be avoided : They are commonly for Miftreffes, Healths, Place^ and Words. And let a Man beware how he keepeth Company with Cholerick and Quarrelfome PerlbnSj for they will engage him into their own Quar- reh. When a TravelUr returneth home, let him not leave the Countries where he hath Tra^elled^ altogether behind hini^ but maintain a Correfpondency by Letters with thofe of his Acquaintance which are of . moft worth. And let his Tra'vd appear rather in his Dit courfe, than in his Apparel or Gcfture ^ and in his Dit * courfc let him be rather advifed in his Anfwers, than ^ forward to tell Stories : And let it appear3 that he doth not change his Countrey Manners for thofe of Foreign Parts ,• but only prick in fome Flowers of that he hath learned abroad^ into the Cuftoms of his own Countrey. XIX. Oj Empire. |T IS a mifeiable State of Mind^ to have few thing^ •* to defire, and many things to fear^ and yet that commonly is the Cafe of Kings^ who being at the high- eft^ want matter of defire^ which makes their minds more languirtiing^ and have many Reprefentations of Perils and Shadows^ which makes their minds the left clear. And this is one reafon alfo of that effed which the Scripture fpeaketh of ^ That the Kings heart 'n infcru- table For^ multitude of Jealoufics, and lack of ibme predominant defire that fhould mar/hal and put in or- der all the reft^ maketh any Mans heart hard to find or found. Hence it comes likewife, that Princes many times make themfelves Defire, and fet their Hearts up- on Toys : fometimes upon a Building, Ibmetimes upon creeling of an Order^, fometimes upon the advancing Of Empire. 4^ of a Perfon^ foinetimcs upon obtaining excellency in fbme Art or Feat of the Hand ,• as Nero for playing on the Harp^ Pomhmn for Certainty of the Hand with the Arrovv^ Co77jmodits for playing at Fence, Caracalk for dri- ving Chariots^ and the like. This feenicth incredible unto thofe that know not the principal ,• That the mind of Man ii more chetired and refrefied by fyofiting in [wall things, them by fianding at a fttry In great. We fee alio that the Kings that have been fortunate Conquerours in their firft ye^rs, it being not poffible for them to go for- ward infinitely, but that they muft have fome check or arreft in their Fortunes, turn in their latter years to be Superftitious and Melancholy : as did Alexander the Gre^t^ DlocUfun ; and in our memory, Charles the Fifths and others: For he that is ufed to go forward, and find- eth a flop, falleth out of his own favour, and is not the thing he was. To Ipeak now of the true Temper of Empire ; It is a thing rare^ and hard to keep ,• tor both Temper and Difterriper confift of Contraries. But it is one thing to mingle Contraries, another to interchange them. The Anfwer of JpollonlUs to Vefpafian is full of excellent In- ftrudion • Vefpafian asked him, IVhat was NeroV (n.'cr- thro-w ? He anlwered, Nero cotdd touch and tune the Harp well, but in Qove^-nment jometimes he ufed to wind the pins too high, fometlmes to let them down too low. And certain it is, that nothing deftroyeth Authority fo much, as the unequal and untimely interchange of Power Treffed too far, and Relaxed too much; This is true, that the Wifdom of all thefe latter Times in Princes Affairs, is rather tine Deliveries, and Shift- ings of Dangers and Mifchiefs, when they are near, than Iblid and grounded Courfes to keep them aloof. But this is but to try Mafteries with Fortune ; and let men beware how they negle«fl and fuffer matter of Trouble to be prepared : for no man can forbid the fpark, nor tell whence it may come. The difficulties in Princes Bufmefs are. many and great ^ but the great- 50 Sir Francis Facon*5 Efays. eft difficulty is often in their own mind. For it is com- mon with Princes (faith Tacitus) to will Contradidories. Sunt fkruTtK^ue Regum zfolimtatas vehemmtes,' d^ inter fs cotitraria. For it is the Solecifm of Power^ to think to Command the end^ and yet not endure the means. . Kings have to deal with their Neighbours^ their JVi'vesy their ChiUrcn^ their Prelates or Ckrgie^ their Nobles^ their Second Nobles or Gentlemen^ their Merchants, their Cow- wonsy and their Mm of War, And from all thefe arife Dangers^, if Care and Circumfpedion be not ufed. -. . Firfi:^ For their Neighbours : There can no general Rule be given (^the occafions are fo variable) fave one, which ever holdeth^ which is^ that Princes do keep due Centinel^ that none of their Neighbours do over-grow fo, (by increaiing of Territory, b)^ imbracing of Trade, by Approaches, or the like) as they become more able to annoy them, than they vyere. This is generally the work of ftanding Counfels to forcfee, and to hinder it. During that Trium'vir at e,o{ Kings , King Henry the Stho£ Enghmdy Fmncis the jfi ^^^^ ot France^ and Charles the ^tb Emperour^ there was fuch a Watch kept, that none of the Three could win a Palm of Ground, but the o- ther Two would ftraight-ways balance it, either by Confederation, or if need were, by a War, and would not in any wife take up Peace at Intereft. And the like was done by that League, (which. Quic<;iardine Jaith, was the Security of /^7//J .made between Ferdinando King of Naples^ Lorenz>ius Mcdices, and Ludovicus Sfoxza^, Poten- tate, the oncof i-^^rf^^rf, the other of Af/Z^v'^V. Neither is the opinion of fomc of the School-men tp , be. received,- 'That. a IV^r cannot jfufilj be maAh tu; .upon a precedent Injtt- -ti-orProvocatimi. Forthej-fi il jlO:queftion, but ,a juft Ffiar of an imminent Dangei!> though there be noBlovy given, is a lawful Caufe-of a.War. .^ -ju-.w:,*-:! aom For their IVI^es : There are cruel exanlples of theiti'. Li^jia is infaiiied for the poyfoning of . her Husband : Rdaxana^ Solyman'i^WiiQ^ w^sdie deltrmaiOA. of .that r.Cr nowned Prince, Sidtcin Muji^apha, ^nd otherwifc trou- ' bled . Of Mwpre. 51 bled his:Houfe and Succeffipn ; Eihvardt\\^ Second of England', his(5ueen h^c^rfhe principal hand in die depo- ling and murther of her Husband. This kind of dan- ger is then to be .feared, '.ghieliy when the Wi^es have Plots for the railing of thj^k.own Children^ or elfe that they be Advoutrefies. ;<.;-. For their Children i Th$! Tragedies, likewife of dan- gers from them have been many. And generally the entring of Pathers iiuo fiifpiaion of their Children^ hath been ever unfortunate. The deftruftion of MufiiJfhd (that we named before) was fo fatal to SclymansVinQy as the Succcjjion of the Turks from Sclyman until tliis day, is fufpedled to be untrue, and of ilrange blood ,• for that Sdpnus the fecond was thought to be fuppolititious. The deftruclion of Oifpus, a young Prince of rare to- wardnefs, by Ccnfiantivus the Great, his Father, was in like manner fatal to his Houfe ; for both Confiantiv'us and Covjhwce his Son died violent Deaths; and Conftan- tins his other Son did little better, who died indeed of Sicknefs, but after that Juliamu had taken Arms againft him. The deftrudion of Demetrius^ Son to Thilip the Second of Macedon, turned upon the Father, vv^ho died of Repentance. And many Hke Examples there are, but few or none where the Fathers had good by fuch diftruft, except it were where the Sons were up in open Arms againft them ,• as was Selymus the firli: againil Bajaz^ety and the three Sons of Henry the Second, King of England. For their Prelates : When they are proud and great, there is alfb danger from them ,• as it was in the times ■of Anfelwus and Thomas Beckett Arch-Bifhops of Canter^ huryy who with their Grofiers did almoft try it with the Kings Sword ,* and yet they had to deal with ftout and haughty Kings ,• William Rufus^ Henry the Firft, and Henry the Second. The danger is not from the State^ laut where it hath a dependance of Foreign Authority ; ov where the Church-men come in, ' and are eleded, not- by the collation of the King, or particular Patrons, but by the People. E 2 For 5 2 Sir Francis Bacon's Effays. For their Nobles : To keep them at 3 diftance it is ndr • amifsj but to deprefs them may make a King more ab- folute, but lels lafe, and Icfs able to perform any thing that he defires. 1 have noted it in mV Hilary of King Henry the Seventh, of Evgland, who deprclTcd his ISohi^ lity ; whereupon it came to paft, that his times were full of Difficulties and Troubles ; for the Nobility^ though they continued loyal unto him, yet did they not co-ope- rate with him in his builnefs ^ To that in effect he was fain to do all things himfelf. For their Second Nobles : There is not much danger from them^ being a Body difperfed. They may fome- times difcourfe high, but that doth little hurt. Befides • they are a counterpoize to the higher Nobility ^ that they grow nof too potent : and laftly^, being the m6ft imme- diate in Authority with the Common People, they do bcft temper popular Commotions. For their Mtrchants : They are Vena jofta ; and if they flourifh not, a Kingdom may have ^ood Limbs, but will have empty Veins, and nouri/h little. Taxes and Impofts upon them, do feldom good to the Kings Revenue ,• for that he wins in the Hundred, he loofeth in the Shire ; the particular Rates bein^ increafed^ but the total bulk of Trading rather decrealed. For their Commons : There is little danger from them_, except it be where they have great and potent Heads^ or where you meddle with the point of Religion^ or their Cuftoms, or means of Life. For their Men of JVar : It is a dangerous State, where they live and remain in a Body, and are ufed to Dona- - tives, whereof we fee examples in the 'famz.aries and fretorian Bands of Rome : But Trainings of Men, and Arming them in feveral places, and under fever al Com- manders, and without Donatives, are things of Defence, d,n.d no danger. Princes are like to Heavenly Bodies, which caufe good or evil times ^ and which have much Veneration^ but no Rtjf: All Precepts concerning Kings^ are in effed com- prehended Qj Counsel. 5 5 prchended in thofe two Rernembrances, Memento c^uod es Hem), and Memento ^uod es DeuSy or Vice Dei; thc One bridicth their Powcfj and thc other their Will. XX. Of Counftl. THE greateft truft between Man and Man is thc truft of Giving Counjel : For in other confidences Men cornmit the parts of Life^ their Lands, their Goods, their Children, their Credit, fome partiqilar Affair: but to fuch as they make their Counfeliors, they commit the whole, by how much the more they are obliged to all faith and integrity. The wifeft Princes aeed not think it any diminution to their Greatnefs, or derogati- on to their Sufficiency, to rely upon Counfel, God him- felf is not without, but hath made it one of the great Names of his blefTed Son : The Counfellor. Solomon hath pronounced , that in Counfd is Stability. Things will have their firfl or fecond agitation ; if they be not tof- fed upon the arguments of Counfel, they will be tofTed upon the w*aves of Forttme, and be full of inconflancv, doing and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken man. Solomons Son found the force of Counfel, as his Father faw the neceflity of it. For the beloved Kingdom of God was hrft rent and broken by ill Counfel ; upon which C^tt»^y^/ there are fet for inftruction the two marks, whereby Bad Counfel is for ever beft difcerned, that it y/2s young Counfel for the Perfons, and z'iohnt Counfel for the Matter. The ancient times do fet forth in Hgure, both the incorporation, and infeparable conjundion of Counfel with Kings, and the wile and politick ufe of Counfel by Kings ; the one in that they fay, Jupiter did marry Afftis, which fignificth Counfel, whereby they intend that E 5 Sov^raignty 54 S^^ Francis Bacons ^Jf^y^* So^eraignty is married to Couttftl ^ the other in that which followeth^ which was thus : They fey/ after y^^j/rfr was married to Metis ^ fhc conceived by him, and was with Child : but Jafitar fuffered her not to ftay till llie brought forth^ but eat her up ; whereby he became himfelf with Child^ and was delivered of Tallas Armed out of his Head ^ which monflrous Fa- ble containeth a fecret of Eimlre^ how Kings are to make ufe of their Cotmcll of State, That firft they ought to refer matters unto them^ which is the firft begetting or impregnation ,• but when they are elaborate^ mould- ed^ and ftaped in the Womb of their Council ^ and gi'dw ripe^ and ready to be brought forth^ that then they fufier not their Conncil to go through with the refolution and diredion^ as if it depended on them ^ but take the matter back into their own 'hands, and make it appear to the World^ ihat the Decrees and fi- nal Diredions (which^ becaufe they come forth with Trudence and ?ower\, are refembled to Tallas Armed) proceeded from themfelves: And \.ot only from their Authority^ but (the more to add reputation to themfelves^ from their Head and Device. Let us now Ipeak of the h:cGnvemcncies of Counfel^ and of the Remedies, The Inccn'veritnces that have been noted in calling and ufing Ccmfd, as three : Firft, the revealing of Affairs, whereby they become lefs fecret. Secondly, the weakningof the Authority of Princes, as if they were lels of themfelves. Thirdly, the dan- ger of being unfaithfully Ccurftlled^ and more for the good of them that Counfd^ than of him that is Coun^ j tiled. For which Inccfivemevcies^ the Dodrine of Italy^ and pradice of France in fome Kings times, hath in* troduced Cahiiut Comicils ; a Remedy worfe than the Difeafe. As to Secrecy: Vrinces are not bound to commmicate sU matters ' with all Comfellors, but extracft and feledl. Neither is it heceffary, that he that confulteth what he ifeciilcj doy hcnld declare what te wiU do; But let frinces Of Counfel. 55 Vrlficei beware^that the mfecretwg of their Affairs comes not from themfelves. And as for Cah'met Comfels^ it may be their Motto ; Tlenus rimarum fum : One futile Perfon, that maketh it his glory to teil^ will do more hurt, than many that know it their duty to conceal. It is true, there be fome Affairs which require extream Secrecy, which will hardly go beyond one or two Per- fons befide the King : Neither are thofe CoimfeU un- proiperous ,• for befides the Secrecy, they commonly go on conftantly in one Spirit of Dirediion without di- ftra(5Hon. But then it muft be a prudent King, fuch as is able to grind with a Hand-mill^ and thofe Inward Comfellors had need alio be wife Men, and efpecially true and trufty to die King's ends ; as it was with King Henry the Sevendi, of England, who in his greateft bu- finefs imparted himfelf to none, except it were to Morton and F(?a;. ' ' « For weahmg of Authority : The Fable fheweth die Remedy, Nay, the Majefty of King's is rather exalted than dimini/heti, when they are in the Chair of Qww- feL Neither was there ever Frince bereaved of his de- pendencies by his Counfel, except where there hath been either an over-greatnefs in one Counfellor, or an over- ftrid combination in divers,which are things foon found and holpen. For the laft Inc^ivenience, that Men will Camfd with an Eye to themfelves : Certainly, ISlon inveniet fidem fu- fcr terram, is meant of the nature of times, and not of all pardcular Perfons. There be, that are in nature, faithful and fincere, and plain, and dired, not crafty and involved : Let Princes above all draw to themfelves fuch natures. Befides Counfellors are not commonly fo iinited, but that one Counfellor keepedx Centinel over another^ fo that if any do Counfel, out of fa<5Hon, or private ends, it commonly comes to the King s Ear. But the bell Remedy is, ii Princes know their Coujrjellors as well as theix Counjellon know them ; ■ , E -^ • Trlmlfh 5 6 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays, Trincifis efi virtue nfiixima nojfe fuos. And on the other fide, Counfellors /hould not be too {peculative into their Soveralgns Perfpn. The tru$: compolltion of a Counfellor, is rather to be skill'd in their Mafters bufinefs, than in his Nature ,• for then he is like to advife him, and not to feed his humour. It is of lingular ufe to Trinces^ if they take the Opinions of their Counfdy both fepqrately and together For pii- vate opinion is naore free, but opinion before others is more reverend. In private, M?n are more bold in their pwn humours ; and in confort, Men are more obnoxious to others humours : therefore it is good to take both. And of the inferiour fort, rather in private^ to preferve freedom ; of the greater, rather in confortj, to preferve refpe6^. It is vain for Vrinces to take Coun- fd, concerning Matters^ if they take no Coimfel like.- \vife concernipg Ferfons : for all Matte-rs are as dead Images ,• and the life of the execution of Affairs reftetli in the good choice of Ferfons. Neither is it enough to- confult concerning Perfpps^ fecmdum gtmra^ as in an Idea or Matha77(itical Defcrhticny vi'hat the kind and cha-r rader of the Ferfai iliould be ; for the greateft errors are committed, an^ the mpft judgment is ihev/n in the 5:hoice o^ Individuals. It wa^ trul}' faid, Opiwi Cgnjllir aril Ttiortul ; Booh will fpeak plain when CouMlors blanch. Therefore iti? good to be converfant in them^ ^fpecially ^the Bcgks of fuch as themfelves have beeq. Adors upon the Stage. The Councils at this day in moft places are but famir li^r meetings, where matters are rather talked on than debated. And they run too fwift to the Order or Kdt of Caunfel. Jt w^re better, that in' Caules of weight^ thp M^ttpr were propounded one day^ and not ipoken , till tb^e next ^ay, InnoEte Corfjtllum,' So Was it dqjri6 in the Comrniilion'of t7wes of reference to the Perfon, are great waflers of time J- and though they feem to proceed of haod^fty, they are bravery. Yet beware of being too material, when there is any impediment orobftrudion in mens Wills ,• for pre-occupatiou of mind ever requireth pre- face of Speech, like a fomentadon to make the unguent enter. Above all things. Order ^ ^ndDiffrihmony and • Swg" ling out of Ffjrts^ is the life of Dlffatch", fb as the Dlftri- hution be not too fubtle ; ,for he that doth not divide , will never enter well, into bufmefs ; and he that - divi- deth Of Seeming Wife. • ^7 deth too much will never come out of It clearly. lb chufe time^ is to favc time^ and an unfeafonable mo- tion is but beating the Air. There be three parts of Bufinefi 5* the Preparation^ the Debate or ILxaminatio77y and the Ferfiffio?} ; whereof if yoti look for Drfpatch^ let the middle only be the work of many, and the firft and lalt the work of fcv/. The proceeding upon fome- what conceived in writing, doth for the moll part fa- cilitate Dijpatch: for though it ihould be wholly rejed- cd, yet that Negative is more pregnant of diredion^ than an Indefinite ; as Alhes are more generative than Dlift. XXVI. I Offeeming Wife. IT hath been an opinion^ that the Frenclj are wifer than they feem^ and the Spmnards feem wifer than they -are. But howfoever u be between Nations^' ctt- tainly it is fo between Man and Man. For as the A- pofile faith of Godlinefsj Ha^vlig a pjew of Godlinefsy hut denying the power thereof ^ fo certainly there are in points of wildom and fufficiency, that to do nothing or little very folemnly ; Magna conatu nugas. It is a ridiculous things and fit for a Satyr^, to perfons of judgment, to fee what fhifts thefe Formalifts have,, and what pro- fpedives to make Superficies to feem Body, that hath depth and bulk. Some are fo clofe referved, as they will not ihew their Wares, but by a dark light ,• and feem always to keep back fomewhat : And when they know within themfelves , they fpeak of that they do -not well know, would neverthelefs feem to others, to know of that which they may not well fpeak. Some help themfelves with countenance and gefture, and F 2 are 6S Sir Francis Bacon'^ ^f^y^- are wife by Signs ; as Cicero faith of Pifo, that when he anfwered him, he fetched one of his Brows up to his Forehead, and bent the other down to his Chin : Re- fpondes, altero ad Frontem fuhlato^ altera ad Mentum de^ prejjofupercilwy crudelitatem tlbi von flaccrc. Some think to bear it, by fpeaking a great word, and being per- temptory j and go on , and take by admittance that which they cannot make good. Some, whatfoever is beyond their reach, will (eem to defpife or make light of it, as impertinent or curious, and fo will have their Ignorance leem Judgment. Some are never vt^ithout a difference, and commonly by amufing men with a fub- ^ tilty, blanch the matter j of whom A, Gellius faith. Ho- mimm dtlirum mi 'verhorum rr/inutiis rerum fravgit fo7jdera* . Of which kind alfo P/^ffl m\\\s Vrotagoras bringeth in Trodlciis in fcorn, and maketh him make a Speech, that confiileth of diiHndions from the beginning to the end. Generally fuch men in all deliberations find eafe to be of the Negative fide, and affe6l a credit to objecTr and foretel difficulties : For when Propofitions are denied^, there is an end of them ; but if they be allowed, it re- quireth a new work ,• which falfe point of wifdom is:i the bane of bufinefs. To conclude, there is no decay- - ing Merchant, or inward Beggar, hath fo many tricks.^ to uphold the credit of their Wealth, as thefe empty Perfons liave to maintain the credit of their fufficiency. Seemivg V/ife Men may make fhift to get opinion, but let no man chufe them for employment ^ for certainly . you were better take for bufinefs a man fomewhat ab- . ibrd, than over-formal. XXVII. Of Of Friendfhip: 6^ XXVIL Of Frknc/fhip. It had been hard for him that Ipake k, to have put ^ more truth and untruth together in few words^ than in that Speech, Wbofoe'uer is delighted in folitude^ is eiibcr a wild Beafi, or a God. For it is moft true, that a na- tural and lecrec hatred^ and averfation towards Society in any Man, hath fomewhat of the favage Bead ; but it is moft untrue, that it fhould have any character at all of the Divine Nature, except it proceed not out of a pleafure in Solitude, but out of a love and defire to fcquefter a mans felf for a higher converfation ,• fuch as is found to have been falfly and feignedly in (bme of the Heathen, as Epmentdes the Candiany Nnma the Re- man, Empedocles the Sicilian, and Afollonius of Tyana ; and truly and really in divers of the ancient Hermits and Holy Fathers of the Church. But litde do men perceive what Solitude is , and how far it extendeth : for a Crown is not Company , and Faces are but a Gallery of Pidures, and Talk but a Thinking Cymbal , where there is no Love, The Latine Adage meetcth with it a little. Magna Cizfitas, magna folitudo; becaule in a great Town Friends are fcattered, fo that there is not that fellowfhip, for the moft part, which is in lefs Neighbourhoods. But we may go further, and affirm moft truly , that is a meer and miferable foUtude to want Friends, without which the World is but a Wilder- nefs: and even in this Senfe alfo of Solitude, whofoe- yer in the Frame of his Nature and Affedions is unfit for Friendjljif, he taketh it of the Beaft, and not from Humanity. A Principal Fruit of Friendjhip is, the Eafe and Dit charge of the Fulnefs and Swellmgs of the Heart, which Paflions of all kinds do caufe and induce* We know F J Dif- 70 Sir Francis Bacon ^ ^f^y^- Difeafes of Stoppings and Suffocations are the moft dan- gerous in the Body, and it is not much otherwife in Mind : You may take Sarz,a to open the Liver, Steel to open the Spleen, Flower of Sulphur for the Lungs, Cafhreum iov the Brainy but no Receipt openeth the Heart, but a true Friend, to whom you may impart Griefs, Joys, Fears, Hopes, Sufpicions, Counfels, and whatfoever lieth upon the Heart to opprefs it, in a kind of Civil Shrift or Confeffion. It is a ftrange thing to obferve , h.cw high a Rate great Kings and Monarchs do fet upon, this. Fruit of FrienJjhip whereof we fpeak; fo great, as theypurchafe It many rimes at the hazard of their own Safety and Gre atnefs. For Princes, in regard of the diftance of rheir Fortune from that of their Subjeds and Servants, cannot gather this Fruit, except (to make themfelves capable thereof) they raife fome Perfons to be, as it v/er-e. Companions, and almofl: Equals to themfelves, which many times forteth to Inconvenience. The mo- dern Languages give unto fuch Perfons the name of Fa'vourites ov Pri^adoes, as if it were matter of Grace or Converfarion. But the Reman name artaineth the true Ufe and Caufe thereof, naming them Fartkipes Cura- rum; for it is that which tyeth the knot. And we fee plainly that this hath been done, not by weak and pat ilonate Princes only, but by the Wifefc, and moft Po- litick that ever reigned: who have oftenrimcs joyned to themfelves fome of their Servants, whom both them- felves have called Friends, and allowed others likev,/ife to call them in the fame manner, uling the word which is received between private men. L, Sylla^ when he commanded Rome, raifed Tomfey (after furnamed the Great) to that Height, that Fo7rmy vaunted himfeif for Syllas Over-match : for when lie had carried the Confuljhip for a friend of his againft the purfuit of Syl'a , and that Sylla did a little refent thereat, and began to fpeak great, To?npey turned upon Hm again, and in elfed bad him be quiet ^ For that wore Of Frk7iJjhif. yi fmre TTjen adored the Sm-rifing than the Sun-fettivg. With Julius, Deems Bi'utus had obtained that Intereft^ as he let him down in his Teftament^ for Heir in Remainder after his Nefhcw.knd this was the man that had power with him^ to draw him forth to his Death. For when Cafar would have difcharged the Senate^ in regard of fome ill prefages, and efpecially a Dream oi Calfwm'ia ; This man lifted him gently by the Arm out of his Chair^ telling him, he hoped he would not difmifs the Senate, till his Wife had dreamed a better Dream. And it feemeth his favour was fo great, as ylntonius in a Let- ter which is recited verbatim in one of Cicero s Fhtlippi^ ijues, called him Ve^jeficd, Witch ,• as if he had enchanted C/ejar, Auguftus raifed Jgrippa (though of mean Birth) to that Meighth, as when he confulted with Macems about the Marriage of his Daughter Jdia , Maanas took the Liberty to tell him. That he 7%ufv either marry his Daughter to Agrippa, or take away his Life', there was tJo third way, he had made him jo great. With Tiberius Cafar, Sejanks had afcended to that Heighth, as they two were termed and reckoned as a pair ot luiends. 77- herius in a Letter to him, faith, Hac pro Amicitia nojhci 71071 occulta'vi ; and the whole Senate dedicated an Altar to Friendjliip, as to a Goddefs, in refped of the great Dearnefs oi Frieiidjlnp between them two. The like or more was between Septimius Sevcrus and Thnttatjus ^ for he forced his eldeft Son to marry the Daughter of ZV^w- tianus, and would maintain Flafnianus in doing affronts to his Son, and did write alfo in a Letter to the Senate thefe words,' / love the manfo well, as I wifi he may over love me. Now if thefe Princes had been as £iJ'rajan, or a Marcus Aurelius, a Man might have thought, that this had proceeded of an abundant Goodnefs of Nature ,• but being men fo Wife, of fuch ftrcngth and feverity ot Mind, and fo extream Lovers of themfelves, as all thefe were,* it pro veth moft plainly, that they found their crwn Felicity (diough as great as ever happened to mor- tal man) buf as an half Piece, except th^y might have F4 a 72 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. a Friefi^ to make It Entire ; and yet^ which is more^they were Frinces that had Wives_, Sons, Nephews, and yet all thefe could not fupply the Comfort of Frkndfljif It is not to be forgotten, wl^at Commims obferveth of his >lafter, Duke Chcirles the Hardy ^ namely, That he would communicate his Secrets with none ; and leaft of all thofe Secrets which troubled him moft. Where- upon he goeth on, and faith, that towards his latter time ; Tbat clofenejs did impair y and a little perip his un-^ dtrflandivg. Surely , Commines might have made the fame Judgment alfo, if it had pleafed him, of his fe- cond Mailer , Le-wis the Eleventh, " whofe Clofenefi was indeed his Tormentor. The Parable oiTythagoras is diark, but true. Cor ne edito. Eat vot the Heart, Cer^ tainly if a rnan would give it a hard Phrafe, thofe that want Friends to open themfelves unto, are Cannibals of their own Hearts. But pne thing is moft admirable, fvvherewith I will conclude this lirft Fruit of Friendt fhipj which is. That this Communicating of a Man's Self to a Friend y works t\vo contrary efieds ,• for it re- doubleth Jojs^ and cutteth Griefs in Halfs ,• for there is no man that imparteth his Joys to his Friend, but he ■Jojeth the more ; and no man th^t imparteth his Griefs to his Friend^ but he grie^eth- the lel^. So that it is in truth an Operation upon a Man's mind of like virtue, as thQyi Ichjmifis ufe to attribute to their Stpne for Man's Body, that it worketh all contrary effpd:?, but ftill to the Good and Benefit of Nature ,- but yet without bring- ing in the Aid of Jlchy mp^th^rp is a manifeft;Image of this in the ordinary courfe pf Nature : For in Bodies Unio?? llrengthneth and cheri/heth any natural A<3ion ; and on the other fide, weakneth and dulleth ^ny vio- lent Imperflion^ and even fo it is pf Minds; The fecond Fr^it of Friendjhip is Healthful and Sove- raign for the Vnderftanding, as the ^v?t is for the Aife^li- ons : for Friendfiip maketh indeed a fair Day in the Jf-^ /fawns from Storm and Tempers ,• but it maketh Day- light \n the Affifiio^'js from Tempell? ; b^rit maketh Day^ . ' \ " . . . ^ lighp Of Friend jhip. 75 ' llgljt m the Under ft anding out of Darknefs and Confufion of Thoughts. Neitherjis this to be underftood only of Faithful Counfel which a man receiveth from his Friend : but before you come to that, certain it is, that whofoever hath his Mind fraught with many Thoughts, his Wits and Underftanding do clarifie and break up in the Communicating and Difcourlnig with another ; he tofleth his Thoughts more eafily , he marflialleth them more orderly, he feeth how they look when they are turned into words. Finally, he waxeth wifer than Himfdf ; and chat more by an hours Difcourfe, than by a days Meditation. It was well faid by Tljemifiocks to the King of Perjiay That Speech was like Cloth of Arras opened avd put abroad* whereby the Imagery doth appear in Figure^ whereas in Thoughts they lie ht4t as /« Packs. Nei- ther is this fecond Fruit of Fnemljlnpy in opening the Vnderfianding^ reftrained only to fuch Friends as are able to give a Man Counfel ,• (they indeed are beft) but e- ven without that a Man learneth of himfelf, and bring- eth his own Thoughts to Light, and whetteth his Wits as againft a Stone, which its lelf cuts not. In a word, a Man were better relate himfelf to a Statue or Piclure, ^an to fuffer his Thoughts to pafs in Another. ^ And now, to make this fecond Fruit of Friendship cpmpleat, that other Point which lieth open, and fal- 'leth within Vulgar Obfervation, which is Faithful Coun- fel from a Friend, Hcraclitus faith well in one of his i^nigma's ,• Dry Light is ever the hefl. And certain it is, that the* Light that a Man receiveth by Counfel from a- nother, is drier and purer than that which cometh from Jiis own Underftanding and Judgment^ which is ever in- ' fufed and drenched in his Jjfe8ions and Cuftoms, fo as there is ^s ^ much difference between the Counfel that a Friend givethy and that a man giveth himfelf, as there is between the Counfel of a Friend^ and of a Flatterer ; for there is no fuch Flatterer as in a Man's Self,- and there is no fuch remedy againft Flattery of a man's felf^ as the liberty of a Fris?jd, Counfel is of two forts ; the - one 74 ^^^ Francis Bacon sEf ays. one concerning Maimers^ the other concerning Bujtnefs, For the firft ; the beft prefervativ^e to keep theNlind in Healthy is the faithful Admonition of a Friend. The calling of a Man's felf to a ftrid account is a Medicinev fometime too piercing and Corrofive. Pleading good ^ Books of Morality^ is a litde Flac and Dead. Obfer-. ving our Faults in others^ is fometimes unproper for our cafe. But the beft Receipt (beft, I fay) to work, ' and beft to take, is the Admonition' of a Friend. It is--^ a ftrange thing to behold, what grofs Errors, and ex- ; tream abfurdities many (efpecially of the greater font) 1 do commit, for want of a Friend to tell them of them^ ' to the great damage both of their Fame and Fortune ; for, as St. James faith, they were as Men that look fome- times into a Glajsy and frefently forget, their own fliafe and fauour. As for Bufinefs, a man may think, if he will,- that two Eyes fee no more than one,* or that a Game-v fter feeth always more than a Looker on,- or that at Man in Anger is as wife as he that hath faid over the ; four and twenty Letters ; or that a Musket may be /hot pif as well upon the Arm, as upon a Reft ,• arvd fucK ^ other fond and high Imaginations, to think himfelf All in All. But when all is done, the help of good Counfefi is that which fetteth Bufinefs ftreight ,• and if any man think that he will take Counfel^ but it fliall be by pieces, • asking Counfel m one bufinefs of one man, and in ano- ther bufinefs of another man^; it is well, (diat is to fay, • - better perhaps than if he asked none at all) but he run- neth two dangers," onej-that he fhall not faithfully be!: Counfelled ; for it is a rare thing, except it be from ^a perfed: and entire FrJend^ to have Couv/el givQti, butfuch v^ as fliall be bowed and crooked tofome ends, which he K* iiath that giveth it. The other, that he (hall have Coujjfel gi- ven, hurtful and unfafe^ (though with good meaning) and mixt; partly of mifdiief,and partly of remedy : even as if you would call a Phyfician,that is thought good for the Cure of the Difeafe you complain of, but is unac- quainted with your Body,* and therefore may put you: . m Of Friendjoip. 75 in n way for prefent Cure , but overthroweth your Health in fome other kind^ and fo cure the Difeafe , and kill the Patient. But a Frie??d that is wholly ac- quainted widi a Man's Eftate^ will beware by furthering any prefent Bufinej^^ how he dafheth upon other Incon- venience^ and therefore refh not Uf on fcattered Counfelsy, for they will rather diftra(5l and mif-lead^ than fettle and direct. After thefe two noble Fruits of FrieTjJjJnp, (Peace hi the /iffeBicnSj and Support of the Judgment) followeth the laft Fruit which is like the Pomegranate^ full of many kernels ; I mean Jid, and Bearing a part in all Jftions and Occjjions. Here the bell .way to reprefent to the life the manifold ufe oi Friend jlnp, is to cart and fee^ how many things there are, which a man cannot do him- felf ,• and then it will appear, that it was a {paring Speech of the Ancients, to fay. That a Friend ts a7iother himfelf; for that a Friend is far more than himfelf. Men have their time, and die many times in defire of fome things, which they principally take to heart ; The beftowing of a Child, the finilhing of a work, or the like. If a Man have a true Friend^ he may reft almoft fecure, that the care of thofe things will continue after him ; fo that a Man hath as it were two Lives in his defires. A Man hath a Body, and that Body is con- fined to a place ,• but where Friendjljip is, all Offices of Life are as it were granted to/him and his Deputy ,• for he may exercife them by his Friend. How many things are there, which a Man cannot, with any face or com- linefs, fay or do himfelf? A man can fcarce alledge his own merits with modefty^ much lefs extol them : A man cannot fometimes brook to fupplicate or beg ; and a number of the like. But all thefe things are grace- ful in a Fricfid's mouth, which are blulliing in a man's own. So again, a man's Perfcn hath many proper Relations, which he cannot put off. A man cannot fpeak to his Son, but as a Father ; to his Wife but as a fliusband ; tg his Enemy, but upon terms. Whereas a Friettd rj6 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejfays. Friend may fpeak as the cafe requires and not as it Ibrt- eth with the PeiTon : But to enumerate thefe things |j were endlefs: I have given the Rule, where a man can- f not fitly play his own part : If he have not a Friend, he may quit the Stage. ; XXVIIL Of Expe7ice. RICHES are for (pending, and (pending for Ho^ nour and good Actions : Therefore Extraordinary Rx fence muft be limited by the worth of the occafion. For Voluntary Undoing may be as well for a man's Coun- try , as for the Kingdom of Heaven, but Ordinary Expence ought to be limited by a Man's Eftate, and governed with fuch regard, as it be within his compafi, and not fubjed to deceit and abufe of Servants, and ordered to die bed fhew, that the Bills may be lefs than the Efti- macion abroad. Certainly, if a man will keep but of even hand, his Ordinary Expences ought to be but to the half of his Receipts : And if he think to wax Rich, but to the third part. It is no bafenefs for the greateft to delcend and look into their own Efiate, Some forbear it, not upon negligence alone, but doubting to bring themfelves into melancholy, in refped they iliall find it broken ; but Wounds cannot be cured without fearch- ing. He that cannot look into his own Eftate at all, bad need both chule well thofc whom he employeth, and change them oftner ; for new are more timorous, and lefs fubtle. He that can look into his Eftate but feldom, it behoveth him to turn all to certainty. A man had need, if he be plentiful in fome kind of Ex- pence, to be as faving again in fome other : as if he be plentiful in Diet, to be faving in Apparel : If his be plentiful in the Hall, to be faving in the Stable, and ^e like. For he that is plentiful in Expences of all kinds, will Of Kingdoms and Eft ate s. 77 will hardly be preferved from decay. In clearing of a man's Eftatej he may as well hurt himfelf^ in being too fudden^ as in letting it run on too long. For hafty Selling is commonly as difadvantageoas as Interelh Be/ides^ he that clears at once will relapfe ,• for fin- ding himfelf out of llreights^ he will reveit to his cuftoms : But he that clearcth by degrees^ induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his mind as upon his Eflate. Certainly, who hath a State to repair, may not defpile fmall things : and commonly it is lefs dimonou table to abridge petty Charges, than to iloop to petty Gettings. A man ought warily to be- gin Charges, which once begun will continue ,• but in matters that return not, he may be more magnifi- cent. XXIX Of the true Greatnefs of KingJovis and Eftates. " I 'HE Speech oiTIjewiftocks the Athenian ^ which was ^ haughty and arrogant, in takingfo much to him- felf, had been a grave and wife obfervation and cen- fure, applyed at large to others , Defired at a Feaft to touch a Lute, he faid. He could not fiddle, hut yet he could make a fmall Toti/?} a mat City. Thefe words, ("holpen a little with a Metaphor) may exprefs two dif- fering abilities in thofe that deal in bufinefs of Eftate. For if a true Survey be taken of Counfellors and StateC- men, there may be found ("though rarely^ thofe which ipan make a fmall State great, and yet cannot fiddle : As on the other fide, there will be found a great many that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are fo far from being able to make ufm^ll it]ite great, as their Gift lieth thf 78 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. the other way^ to bring a great and flourilliing Eftate to ruine and decay. And certainly thofe degenerate Arts and Shifts^ whereby many Counfellors and Go- vernours gain both favour with their Mafters^and efti- mation with the Vulgar^ deferve no better name than Fidl'mg^ being things rather pleating for the time^ and graceful to themfelres only^ than tending to the weal and advancement to the State which they ferve. There are alfo (no doubt) Counfellors and Governours which may be held, fufficient (Negptih pares) able to^. manage Affairs^ and to keep them from Trecifkes, and manireft inconveniences, which neverthelefs are far from the ability to raife and amplifie an Eftate in power^ means, and fortune. But be the Workmen what they may be, let us fpeak of the Work ,• That is, the true Greatnefi of Kingdoms and Efiatesy and the Means thereof.' An Argument fit for Great and Mighty Princes to have in their hand, to the end, , that neither by over- meafuring their Forces/ they leefe themfelves in vain Enterpriies ,• nor on the other fide, by undervaluing them , they defcend to fearful and pufillanimous Counfels. ' .^ '"^ The Greatnef of an Eftate in Bulk and Territory, doth fall under meafure ; and the 'Greatnef of Finances and Revenue, doth fall under computation. The Po- pulation may appear by Mufters^ .and the Number and Greatnefs of Cities and Towns by Cards, and Maps. But yet there is not any thing among Civil Affairs, more fubjed to error, than the right valuation, and true judgment, concerning the Power and Forces of an Eftate. „ ■■'■■[ ■ \ ; ' ./^ , • The Kingdom of Hedven is tomp^a not to any great Kernel or Nut, but to a Grain of Mujiard-feed^ which is i&ne of the leaft Grains, but hath in it ' a p'fpperty and Spirit haftily ^'to get up and fpread. So arq their States "^ great in Territory, and yet not apt to Enlarge or Com- mand ,• and fome that have but a fmall dimenfion of Stem, and yet apt to be the Foundations of great Mo- n*-chies. ; Walled Of Kingdoms and Ejlate^ j^ Walled Towns , Stored Arfenals and Armouries, Goodly Races of Horfe^ Chariots of War, Elephants, Ordnance, Artillery, and the like : All this is but a Sheep in a Lions skin, except the breed and difpofition of the People be ftout and warlike. Na}^, Number (\t felf^ in Armies importeth not much ," where the People is of weak courage : For, (as Virgil faith) It m^ 'ver troubles a ff^clf] how many the flyeep he. The Army oit\\Q 'Pcrfia7iSy in the Plains oi Arbela^ was fiich a vaft Sea of People, as it did fomewhataftonifli the Comman- ders in Jkxavdtrs Army ,• who came to him tb.erefore, and wilhed him to fet upon them by night ,• but he anfwered. He -would itot plfer the Vi6lory : And the de- feat was eafie. Wlien Tigranes the Armenian^ being encamped upon a Hill with /jooooo Men, difcovered the Army of the RvT^jans ^ being not above 14000 marchine towards him, he made himfelf merry with it, and (aid, Xmder Men are too maiiy for an Amhaffage^ and too few for a ¥izj:>t : But before the Sun fet, he found them enough to give him the Chafe with infinite flaughter. Many are the examples of great odds between Number and Courage; fothata man may truly make a judgment, That the principal point ot Greatnefl in aily State, is, to have a Race of Military men. Neither is Money the Sinews of 'War, fas it is trivially faid) where the Sinews of Mens Arms in Bafe and EfTeminative People are fai- ling. For Solon faid well to Crxffus, ('when in often- lation he ftiewed him liis Gold) Sir, If any ether come, that hath better Iron than you, he will he Majhr of all this Geld, Therefore let any Prince or State think Ibberly of iiis Forces, except his Militia of Natives be of good and valiant Soldiers. And let Princes on the other fide, that have Subjeds of Maitial -dilpofition, know their own ftrength, unlefs they be other wife wanting unto themfelves. As (ov Mercenary Forces, (^ which is the Help in this Cafe) all examples fhew, • that whatfoever Eftate or Prints doth reft upon diem. He may ff read '■ '" his 8o Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejfays. bis Feathers for a tiwe, but he will mew themfoort after. The Blcfwg of Judas and IlJ'achar will never ftieee^ J7)at the fame Feople er Nation fwitld be both the Lionfi TiMpyandj^fs between Ewthcns : Neither will it be^ that a People over-laid with Taxes, fhould ever become Va- liant and Martial. It is true, that Taxes levied by Confent of the State, do abate mens Courage lefs^ as it hath been fecn notabl}'in the Excifes of the Low Cotm- tries ; and in fome degree, in the Subftdies oi' England: for you muft note, that we fpeak now of the Heart, and not of the Purfe. So that although the fame Tri- hute and Tax, laid by Confent, or by Impofing, be all one to the Purfe, yet it works diverdy upon the Cou- rage : fo that you may conclude, That no People, over- charged with Tribute, is fit for Empire, Let States that aim at Greatnef take heed how their Nobility and Gentlemen do multiply too fail : For that maketh the Common Subjed grow to be aPeafant, and a bafe Swain, driven out of Heart, and in effect but a Gentlemans Laborour : even as you may fee in Coppice Woods, if you leave your Stadles too thick, you fljali never have clean Underwood^ but Shrubs a?id Rujhes, So in Countries, if the Gentlemen be too many, the Com- mons will be bafe : and you will bring it to that, that not the hundredth Poll will be fit for an Helmet ,• elpe- cially as to the hifantry, which is the Nerve of an Ar- my,- and fo there will be great Population and little Strength. This wliich I fpeak of, hath been no where better feen, than by comparing of England and France: whereof England, though far lefs in Territory and Po- pulation hath been neverchelefs an Over-match ; in re- gard the Middle Feople of England make good Soldiers, which the Feafajjts ox Fra?ice do not. And herein the de- vice of King H^w/ the Seventh (whereof I have fpoken largely in the Hiftory of his Life) was Profound and Ad- mirable in making Farms and Houfes of Husbandry^ of a Standard : that is, maintained with fuch a Pro- portion of Land unto them, as may breed a fubjecl to live Of Kingdoms and Eftates. 8 i Hve in Convenient Plenty, and no Servile Condition > and to keep the Plough in the hands of the Owners and not meer Hirelings. And thus indeed you ihall attain to FirgiPs Chai ader w^hieh he gives to Ancient • Terra pttns arm'ifrxue atsfue uhere Ghha, Neitlier is that State (which for any thing I know, is ahnofi: peculiar to E77gland^ and hardly to be found any where elfe^ except it be perhaps in VcLnd) to be paiTed over ; I mean the State of Free Str^^ants and At- tc7jdants upon Noblemen and Gentlemen^ which are no ways inferiour to the Ttow^^wy for Arms : and therefore, out of all Quefrion, the Spendorand Magnificence, and great Retinues, and Hofpitality of ]Sfoblt?ne?; and Gen- tlemen received into cuftom, doth much conduce unto Alartial Great?7efs : Whereas contrariwife, the clofe and referving Living of Noblemen and Gentlemen^ caufeth a Penury o{ Military Fcrces, By all means it is to be procured, that the 7?-^;?,^ of Nehuchadnez^^ars Tree of Monarchy^ be great enough to bear the Branches, and the Boughs ; that is. That the Natural SuhjeBs of the Crown or State, bear afufficient Proportion to the Stra7iger SubjeBs that they govern. Therefore all States that are liberal of Naturalizations towards Strangers are fit for Empire. For to think that an Handful oF People can with the greateft Courage and Policy in the World, embrace too large extent of Dominion, it may hold for a time, but it Vviil fail fud- denly. The Spartans were a nice People in point of Naturalization ,• whereby, while they kept their compais they Hood firm ; but when they did fpread, and their Boughs were become too great for their Stem, they be- came a Wind-fail upon the fudden. Never any State was in this Point fo open to receive Strangers into their Body, as were the Romans^ therefore it forted with them accordingly : for they grew to the greateft Mo^ fiarchy. Their manner was to grant Naturalization, (which they called Jus Civitatis) and to grant k in the G highell: 8 2 Sir Francis Bacon*5 Effays. higheft Degree ; that is, not only Jm Commcrcn^ Jus Conriibiij Jus H.vredkatis^ bat alfo Jus luff'}\':giiy and y^i Hcr.crum, And t;hi5, nor to fingular Pei Tons alone, bui likewife to whole Families ; yea, to Cities, and fome- times to Nations. Add to this their Cuiloni of Vlan- tatwn of Colivksj whereby the Rcynan Plant was /e- moved into the Soyl of other Nations j and -purring both ConllitLitions together, you will fay^ that it was not the Rcmmjs that fpread upon the F/orldj but it Wiis the World that fpread upon the Romans ,• and that was the fure Way of Grcatmfs, I have marvelled fometimes at Spain, how they clafp" and contain fo large Dominions with fo fevv^ natural Sp.inuirds : but fure the whole Compafs of 5/?^^^? is a very great Body of a Tree^ far above Rome and Spjru at the firfl: : and befides, though they have not had that ufage to Natu- ralize liberally, yet they have that which is iiQxt to it ; that is^ To employ , almoji indijf'erently'j all Nations in their Militia of ordinary Soldiers : yea^ and fometimes in their Higheft Commands. Nay^ it feemeth at this inltant^ they are fcnfible of this want of Natives .as by the Pragmatical Sanciion^ now publiilied, appeareth. It is certain, that Sedentary and jyithi^i-docr Jrts, and delicate Manufactures^ (that require rather the Finger^ than the Arm ) have m their Nature a Contrariety to a Military difpolition. And generally all Warlike People are a little idle, and love Danger better than Travel: neither muft they be too much broken of ir,if they fhall be preferved in vigour. Therefore it was great Advan- tage in the Ancient States of Sparta^ Jthms^ Rome, and others, that they had the ufe oi Slai;es^ which commonly did rid thofe Manufadures : but that is abolillied ia greatcit part by the Cbrifti^n Law. That which comedinearefttoit,istoleave thofe Arts chiefly to Stran- gers (which for tliat purpofe are the more eafily to be received ) and to contain the principal Bulk of the vulgar Natives within thofe three kinds; I'ilkrs of the Ground^ Free Servant s^^LXid Handicrafts Men of ftrong,; and Of Kingdoms and Efiates. 8 3 and manly Arts; as Smiths^ Mafons^ Carpenters^, &c, not rekoning profelfed Soldiers. But above all, for Em fire and Greatnefs it importeth moft^ that a Nation do profefs Arms as their principal Honour: Study and Occupation : for the things which we formerly have fpoken of, are but HMlitatwns towards Arms ; and what is Habllitationy without Intention and AB^ Romulus after his death (as they report or feign) fent a prefent to the Romans^ that above all they ftiouid intend Arms, and then they ftould prove the greatefi: Emfire of the world. The fabrick of the State of Sfarta was wholly (^though not wifely) framed and eompofed to that Scope and End. I'he Verfians and Macedoniayis had it for a flafh. The Galh^ Germansy Goths^Saxons ^'Normans ^ and others had it for a time. The Turks have it at this day, though in great Dechnation. Of Chrifdan Europe ^ they that have it, are in effed: only the Spaniards. , But it is lb plain. That e^very Man frcfiteth in that he mo (I; intefideth, that it needeth not tO be ftood upon. It is enough to point at it, that no Nation which doth not diredly profefs Arms, may look to have Greatitcfs fall into their moudis. And on the other lide, it is a moft certain Oracle of Time, that thofe States that continue long in that profeffion ('as the Remans and Turks principally have done) do v/on- ders ,• and thofe that have profelfed Arms but for an Age, have notwithftanding commonly attained that Great7jefi in that Age, which maintained them long after, when their Profeffion and exercife of Arms are grown to decay. Incident to this Point is, for a State to have thole Laws or Cuftoms which may reach forth unto them juft Occafions (as may be pretended) of War: for there is that juftice imprinted in the Nature of Men, that they enter not upon Wars (whereof fo many Ca- lamities do enfuc) but upon fome, or at lead: fpecious Grounds and Quarrels. The Turk hath at hand, for canfe of War, the Propagation of his Lav/ or Sect, a G 2 Quarrel 84 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Effays. Quarrel that he may always command. The Ronians, though they efleemcd the extending the limits of their Empire to be great Honour to tlicir General, when it was done ^ yet they never refted upon that alone to be- gin a War; Firil: therefore, let Nations that pretend to Grtiitnefsj have this,- that they be fenlible of wrongs, ei- ther upon Borders, Merchants, or Politick Mini(iers,and . that they fit not too long upon a Provocation. Second- ly, let them be preft, and ready to give Aids and Suc- cours to their Confederates ,• as it ever was with thei? himfelf, or his Sons ,• as it came to pafs in the times of the Roman Em- ferorsy who did impropriate the Actual Triumphs to themfelves^ and their Sons, for fuch Wars as they did atchieve in Perfons ; and left only for Wars atchieved by Subjeds^ fome Triumphal Garments and Enfigns to the General. To conclude^ No Man can^ by Care taking (as the Scripture faith) acid a cubit to bis Stature^ in this little Model of a Mans Body ; but in the great Frame of King- doms and Common-iiJeahhsy it is in the power of Princes or Eftates to add Amplitude and Greatnefi to their King-^ doms. For by introducing fuch Ordinances, Conftitu- tions and Cufloms, as we have now touched, they may fow Greatnefi to their Pofterity and Succeffion. But theie things are commonly not obferved, but left to take their chance. XXX. Of Regiment of Health. TH E R E is a Wifdom in this beyond the Rules of Vhjfick : A Mans own obfervation what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the beft Thyfick to Of Regiment of Health. 8j to preferve Health. But it is a fafer conclufion to fay, 7 7jis afreet h Kctivdl V'lth 7ne^ therefore I oi^ill VQt covtitjue it, tlian this^ I find no ojfince of this, thnfore I may ufe it. For ftrengrh of Nature in Youth palteth over many Lxccffes which aie owing b}' a Man till his Age. Dis- cern of the coming on of years^ and think not to do the fame things fiili ,• for Age will not be dc(ied. Be- ware of fudden cliange in any great point of Diet ^ and if neceflity inforce it^ fit the reft to it : For it is a fecrctbodi in Nature and State, that it is fafer to cliange — many things than one. Examine thy Cuftoms of Li- et^ Sleep, Exercife^ Apparel^ and the like : And try in any thing thou ftait judge hurtful^ to difcontinue ic by little and lirnc,- but fo^ as if thou doil: hiid any in- convenience by the change, thou come back to it again ; For itisliard to dillinguiih that which is gencially he!d good and wholefome, from that which is good particii- larly, and fit for a mans o\Yn Body. To befree mind- edj and chearfuUy difpofed at hours of Meat, and of .Sleep, and of ExercifCj is one of the beft precepts for long Life. As for the Paffions and Studies of the Mind ; avoid envy, anxious Fears , Anger fretting invv^ards, fubtil and knotty Inquiiicions, Joys, and Exhilarations in Excefs.Sadnefs not communicated ,• entertain liojcs. Mirth rather than Joy, variety of Delights, rather than Surfeit of them. Wonder and Admiration, and tliere- fore Novelties, Studies that fill the mind widi fpiendid and illuftrious Objeds, as Hiftories, Fables, and Con- templations of Nature. If you fiy Phyfjck in Hcdltb al- together, it will be too ftrange for your Body when you fliall need it. If you make it too familiar, it will work no extraordinaiy effed: when Sicknels cometh. I commend rather fome Diet for certain Seafons, than frequent ufe of Fhjfick^ except it be grown into a cu- liom : For thofe Diets alter the Body more, ^nd trouble it lefs. Defpife no new accident in }'our Body, but ask opinion of it. In 5/V>^«.;/)' relpecl: //,.;/; /j Principaliy, •and in He^lib^ ^sciion : For thofe that put their Bodies G 4 * to 8 8 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Efays. to endure in Healths may in moil Skknejjes, v/hich are not very fharp^ be cured only with Diet and tending. Celfus could never have fpoken it as a Vhyfidan^ had he not been a wife Man withal, v»/hen he giveth it for one of the great Precepts of Health and Lafting^ That a Man do vary^ and enterchange contraries^ but with an inclination to the more benign extream. Ufe Fafting and full Eatings but rather full Eating ,- Watching and Sleep^ but rather Sleep,- Sitting and Exercife^ but rather Exercife^ and the like : So fhall Nature be cheriflied, and yet taught Mafleries. Vhyfidans are fome of them fo pleafing, and conformable to the humour of the Pa- tient^ as they prefs not the true cure of the Difeafe ; and fome other are fo regular^ in proceeding according to Art for the Difeafe^ as they refped not fufficiently the condition of the Patient. Take one of a middle temper^, or if it may not be found in one Man^ com- bine two of either fort ; and forget not to call as well the beft acquainted with your Body^, as the beft reputed of for his Faculty. s XXXI. Of Sufficion. USPICIONS amongft thoughts are like Bats a- . _ mongft Birds^ they ever fly by twilight. Certain- ly they are to be repreffed^ or at leaft well guarded ; for they cloud the Mind, they lecfe Friends^ that they check with Builnefs^ whereby Bufinefs cannot go on currant and conftantly. TheydifpofeKings to Tyranny^ Hut bands to Jealoufie^ Wife Men to Irrefolution and Me- lancholy. They are defects, not in the Heart, but in the Brain ,• for they take place in the iiouteft Natures: As in the example of Herrry tViQ Seventh oi Er^ghmdy there was not a more Suffickus Man;, nor a more Stout ; - And Of Vifcoiirfe. S^ And in fuch a compofition they do fnipJl hurt. For ^ommonly they are not admitted, but with examinatioa whether they be likely or no ,• but in fcaiful Natures they gain ground too faft. There is nothing makes a M^nJhfpeB much, more than to know little ; anddierc- ; fore Men fhould remedy Sufpicion^ by prociirijig to i know more^ and not to keep their Sufpxkfis m fmother. ; What would Men have? Do they diink thole t'ney im- ;oy and deal with are Saints? Do they not think they \vill have their own ends, and be truer to themfelves ihan to them? Therefore there is no better way x6 mc- '.rate Sttfficiofis^ than to account upon fuch SufpkioTis as true, and yet to bridle them as falfe. Fpr fo flir a ivfan ought to make ufe oi Suiyidons^ as to provide, as if tliat laould be true that he Jt^fpeBs, yet it may do him no hurt. Sufpciotn that the mind of it felf gathers are but Buzzes, but Sufficions that are artificially nourillied, and put into Mtvs heads by the tales and wiiifpedng of o- thers^ have Stings Certainly tlie belt means to clear the way in this fame Wood oi Stffpictcfis, is frankly to communicate them with the Party that hcftfpccis; for thereby he fhall be fure to know more of the truth of them than he did before ; and v/ithal, fhall make that Party more circumfpect, not to give further caufe of Sujpicio'i:. But this would not be done to Men of bafe- Natures : For they^ if they find themfelves once jiffpc^^ edy will never be true. The Italians fay, So/petto licentia fede ; as if Sufpicicn did give a Pa%ort to Faith : But it ought rather to kindle it, to difchargeit felf. XXXII. Cj Vifcoiirfe, SOME in their Difcomfe deilre radier comr.iciidati- on of Wit, in being able to hold all Arguments^ than of Judgment in dilcsrnijig what is true ; As it k were ^o Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. were a praife to know what might be faid, and not what Ihould be riiought. Some have certain Comraon Places, and Tliemes, wherein they are good^ and wane variety ,- which kind of Poverty is for the moil part te- dious^ and when it is once perceived, ridiculous. The honourable!! part of Talk, is to give the Occafion, a- gain, to moderate and pafs to fomewhat elfe ; for then a Man leads tlic* Da'icc. It is good in Difccurfe and Speech of Convcrfation^to vary and intei'mingle Speech .of the prefent occafion with Arguments, lales vv^ith Reafons, asking of Queftions vv^ith telling of Opinions, and Jell with Earneft : For it is a dull thing to Tire, and as we fay now, to Jade any thing too far. As for Jeft, there be certain things which ought to be privi- leged from it ; namely. Religion , Matters of State, Great Perfons, any Mans prefent Eufinefs of impor- tance, and any Cafe that deferveth pity. Yet there be fome that think their Wits have been afleep, except they dart out fomewhat that is piquant, and to the quick : That is a vein which fhould be bridled. Farce y Tuer^fiimtiUsy (^fortius utcre lev is. And generally men ought to find the difference be- tween Saltnefs and Bitternefs. Certainly he that hath a Satyrical Vein, as he maketh others afraid of his Wit, fo he had need be afraid of others Memory. He that queftioneth much, fhall learn much, and content much,* but efpecially if he apply his Qiieilions to the skill or the Perfons whom he asketh : For he fhall give them occafion to pleafe themfelves in fpeaking, and himfelf fhall continually gather knowledge. But let his Quefti- ons not be troublefome^ for that is fit for a Pofer: And let him be fure to leave other Men rheir turns to fpcak. Nay, if there be any that would reign, and take up all- die time, let him ^ivA means to take them olf, and to bring others on, as Muficians ufe to do with thofe that ' dance too long Galliards. If you diiTcmble fometimes ^ your Of Difcourfe. pi our knowledge of that you are thought to know, you Kail be thought another time to know that you know not. Speech of a mans felf ought to be feldom, and well chofen. I knew one was wont to fay in fcorn, He muft 77eeds be a IVife Man^ he [peaks fo much of hbnfelf: And there is but one cafe, wherein a Man may com- 'lend himfelf with good Grace^ and that is^ in cora- inending Vertue in another ; efpecially if it be liich a \'ertue whereunto himfelf pretendeth. Speech of touch towards others ihould be Iparingly ufed : For Difcourfe ought to be as a Field, without coming home to any Man. I knew two Noblemen of the weft part of England^ whereof the one v/as given to Scoff, but kept ever Ro- yal Cheer in his Houfe : The other would ask of thofe that had been at the others Table, Tell truly ^ vjas there never a Flout or dry blcvf gi-ven ? To vvhich the Gueft would anfwer. Such and fuch a thing "faffed'. The Lord would fay, I thought he would mar a good Dinner, Dfcrc- tion of Speech is more than Eloquence ^ and to fpeak agree- ably to him with whom we deal, is more than to Q)eak in good words, or in good order. A good continued Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, ihev/s llownefs ; and a good Reply, or fecond Speech without a good fettled Speech, fheweth Shallownefs and Weak- nefs,- as we fee in Beafts, that thofe that are weakeftin the Courfe, are yet nimbleft in the Turn ,• as it is be- twixt the Greyhound and the Hare. To ufe too many Circumftances e're one come to the Matter, is weari- fome ; to ufe none at all^ is blunt. XXXIII. 52 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Efap. XXXIIL Of Plantations. T)LANTATI0NS are amongftAncient^ Primitive, ■^ and Heroical Works. When the World was. young, it begat more Children .; but now it is old, it begets fewer : for I may juftly account new Plantations to be the Children of former Kingdoms. I like a Plant at ion^ in a pure Soyl, that is, where People are not Djfflcmted^ to the end, to Vlant others ,• for eife it is rather ap Ex- tirpation, than a Plantation, Planting of Comicnes is like Planting of Woods ; for you muil make account to lofe almofi: Twenty years Profit, and exped your Re- compence in the end. For tlie pYincipa. tiling that hath been the defi:rud:ion of moil Plantations ^ hath been the bafe and hafty drawing of profit in the firft years. It is true. Speedy Profit is not to be negleded, as far as may ftand with the good of the Plantation^ but no fur- ther. It is a fhameful and unblefTed thing, to take the „ Scum of People, and wicked condemned Men, to be the People with whom you Plant : and not only fo, but it fpoileth the Plantation ,• for they will ever live like Ro- gues, andnotfallto work, but be lazy, and do mifchief, and Ipe.nd Viduals, and be quickly weary ,• and then certifie over to their Country to the difcredit of the Pla?:- tation. The People wherewith you Plant, ought to be Gardners, Plough-men. Labourers, Smiths, Carpenters, Joyners, Filhermen, Fowlers, with fome few Apothe- caries, Surgeons, Cooks, and Bakers. In a Countrey of Plantation^ firft look about what kind of VicStual the Country yields of it felftoHand ,* as Chefnuts, Walnuts, Pine-Apples , Olives, Dates, Plumbs, Cherries, Wild- Honey, and the like, and make ufe of them. Then confider what Victual, or Efculent things there arc, which grow fpeedily, and within the }'ear3- as Parfnips, Carrots, Of Plantations. 95 Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Raddifh, Aitichoaks of Jerufalefy/, Maiz., and the like. For Wheat , Barly , "and Oats, they ask too much labour : But with Peafe and Beans you may begin, both becaufe they ask lefs la- bour, and becauie they ferve for Meat as well as for Bread. And of Rice likevvife cometh a great encreafe^ and it is a kind of Meat. Above all, there ought to be brought ftore of Eisket, Oat-meal Flour, Meal, and the like, in the beginning, till Bread may be had. For Beafts and Birds, take chiefly fuch as are leaftfubjed to Difeafes, and multiply faileft^ as Swine, Goats^ Cocks, Hens, Turkeys, Geefe, Houfe Doves, and the like. The V^idual in Flajttatkns ought to be expended, almofl as in a befieged Town,- that is, with a certain Allowance ; and let the main part of the Ground employed to Gardens or Corn, be to a common ilock, and to be laid in, and ftored up, and then delivered out in Proportion, befides fome Spots of ground that any particular Perfbn will manure for his own pri- vate ufe. Conlider likewife what Commodities the Soyl, where the Pla7Jtation is, doth naturally yield, that they may fome way help to defray the charge of the Vlanta- tio7?. : So it be not, as was faid, to the untimely Prejudice of the main buiinefs; as it hath fared with Tobacco m Virgifna. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much, and therefore Timber is fit to be one. If there be Iron Ore, and ftreams whereupon to fet the Mills, Iron is a brave commodity where Wood aboundeth. Making of Bay Salt, if the Climate be proper for it, would be put in experience. Growing Silk likewife if any be, is a likely commodity. Pitch and Tar^ where ftore of Firs and Pines are, will not fail. So Drugs, and Sweet Woods, where they are, cannot but yield great profit. Soap Allies likevvife, and other things that may be thought of But moil not too much under Ground,- for the hope of Mines is very uncertain, and ufeth to make the Planters lazy in other things. For Government, kt k be in the hands of one affilied with fome Counfel,* and ^4 S^^ Francis Bacon'5 EjJ'aySo and let them have commiffion to exercife Martial Laws xvith fome limitation. And above all^ Let Men make that Profit of being in the Wildernefs^ as they have God always, and his fervice before their eyes. Let not the Government of the Plantar io7t depend upon too many Counfellors and undertakers in the Country that Tlantetb, but upon a temperate number ; and let thofe be rather Noblemen and Gentlemen, than Merchants ,• for thc}^ look ever to the prefent Gain. Let there be Freedoms for Cuftom, till the Tlantat'mi be of Strength ,' and not only Freedom from Cuftom, but Freedom to carry their Commodities, where they may make the beft of them, except there be fome fpecial caufe of Cau- tion. Cram not in People, by fending too faft. Com- pany after Company, but rather hearken how they wafte, and fend fupplies proportionably ,• butfo, as the number may live well in the Vlaittationy and not by fur- charge be in penury. It hath been a great endangering to the health of fome Vla77tationsy that they have built a- long the Sea and Rivers in marifii and unwholefome Grounds. Therefore, though you begin there to a- void carriage, and other like difcommodlties, yet build lull rather upwards from the Streams, than along. It concerneth likewife the health of the Vlantation^ that they have good ftore of Salt with them, that they may ufe it in their ViAuals, when it iliall be neceffary. If you Vlant where Savages are, do not only entertain them with trifles and gingles, but ufe them juftly and gracioully, with fufficient guard neverthelefs ,• and do not win their favour by helping them to invade their E- nemies, but for their defence it is not amifs. And fend oft of them over to the Country that Plant ^ that they may fee a better condition than their own, and commend it when they return. When the Plaiitation grows to ftrength, then it is time to Plant with Women as well as with Men, that the Plantation may Ipread into Gene- rations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the finfulleft thing in the World to forfake or deftitute a ^ Plantation Of Riches, P5 TJrrnti!tiononcc\n^ox\^2ixdnds^ ; forbefides the diflionour, it is guiltinefs of Blood of many commiferable Per- IbrxS. XXXI7. Of Riches. 1 Cannot call Riches better than the baggage of Vertue. The Roman word is better. Impedimenta ; for as the Eaggage is to an Army, fo is Rides to V^ertue. It can- no: be fparedj nor left behind, but it hindreth the March : Yea, and the care of it fometimes lofeth or diflurbeth the Vidory. Of great Ricbes there is no real ufe, except it be in the Diitribution, the reft is but conceit : So faith Solomon^ Where inuch is there are many to cofjfume it ^ and what hath the ov^ner^ hut the fight of it •with his eyes ? The perfbnal Fruition in any man can- not reach to feel great Riches : There is a Cuftody of them, or a power of Dole and Donative of them, or a Fame of them, but no folid ufe to the owner. Do you not fee what feigned Prices are fet upon litde Stones and Rarities ? And what works of Oftentation are un- dertaken, becaufe there might feem to be fome ufe of great Riches ? But then you will fay, they may be of uie to buy men out of dangers or troubles : as Solomon faith. Riches are a firong Hold in the Imagination of the Rich Mail. But this is excellently exprelTed, That it is in Imagination^ and not always in FaB : For certainly great Riches have fold more Men than they have bought out. Seek not proud Riches^ but fuch as thou may eft get juftly, ufe loberly, diflribute chearfuliy, and leave contentedly : Yet have no Abftrad nor Frierly contempt of them, but diftinguiih, as Cicero faith well of Rabirius Toff humus ^ In fiudio rei an^flificand^ apparehaty non Ai'a- riti^ pradam^ fed infirumentum Bonitatisj ^nari. Hear- ken 9^ Sir Francis Bicon'^ Effays. ken alio to Solonwjiy and beware of hafty gathering of Wichi:s : (^i feft'mat ad Diz^itias, non erlt ivjons. The Pocrs feign^ that when Tlums (which is Riches) is fent from Jiivlter,^ he limps and goes (lowly ; but when he • is lent from Tluto, he runs^ and isfwift of foot ,• mean-- ing, that Riclx-s got'tcn by good means^ and jufi: labour, pace flowly : But when they come by the death of o- tliers, (as L)y tlie courfe of inheritance^ Teftaments, and the like) they come tumbling upon a Man. But it' niigl":t be applied likevvife to i-hfto^ taking him for the Devil ; for when Riches come from the Devil (as by Fraud^ and Opprefiion, and unjull means) they come upon Speed. The Ways to ii^rkh are many, and mod of tliem foul ; Varfimony is one of the befr, and yet is not innocent ,• for it withholdeth Men from works of Liberality and Charity. The Imfro^jement of the ground is thtc moil natural obtaining of Riches • for it is our Great Mothers Blefling, the Earths^ but it is flow,- and yet wliere the Men of great wealth do ftoop to Husban- dry, it multiplieth Riches exceedingly. I knew a Noble- man of Efiglnnd^ that liad the greatefi: Audits of any Man in my time : A great Grafier, a great Sheep-Mai ler, a great Timber-Man, a great Collier, a great Corn- . Mafter, a great Lead-Man, and fo of Iron, and a num- ber of the like points of Husbandry,- fo as the Earth feemed a Sea to him in reiped: of the perpetual Impor- tation. It was truly obferved by One, that himfelf came very hardly to a litde Riches, and very eafily to great Riches ,• for when a Mans ftock is come to that, that he can exped the Prime of Markets, and overcome thofe bargains, which for their greatnefs are few Mens money ,and be Partner in the induftries of Younger Men, be cannot but encreafe mainly. The Gains (X ordinary Trades and Vocatiojis are honeil, and furthered by two things, chiefly, by Diligence, and by a good Name, for good and fair dealing. But the Graijjs of Bargains are of a more doubtful Nature, when Men iliall wait upon others Neceffity^ broke by Servants and Inllru- ment^ Of Riches. ^y hients to draw them on^ put off others cunningly that would be better Chapmen^ and the like pradiles which are crafty and naught. As for the Chopph7o^ of Bargains, when a Man buys, not to hold, but to fell over again, that commonly grindeth double, both upon the Seller and upon the Buyer. Sbar'mgs do greatly inrkby if the Hands be Vv^cll chofen that are trufted. Ufury is thecer- taineit means of Gain, though one of the worft ,• as that whereby a Man doth eat his Bread, In fudcre vul- tus aJlem : And befides, doth plow upon Sundays. But yet^ certain though it be, it hath Flaws ,• for that die Scriv^eners and Brokers do value unfuund Men to ferVe their own turn. The Forhme, in being the firft in an InT-evtion, or m^Fr i-v: lege, dothcauib fomcrimesa wonderful overgrowth in Riches ; as it was with thefiril Sugar-Man in the Canaries : therefore if a Man can play the true Logician, to have as well Judgment as Invention, he may do great matters, efpecially if the Tim.es be fit. He that refteth upoh Gains Certain, fliall hardly grow to great Riches ; and he that puts all upon Adveiitures, doth oftentimes break , and come to Poverty : It is good therefore to guard Ad^e?irures with Certainties that may lold lolTes. Monopolies and Coemption of Wares for Re- 'herg^they are not reftrained^ are great means to e»^||^{|rp$C|0y if die Party have intelligence what ^s a-e like to come into requeft, and to ftore him- fel^efiJ^hand. Riches gotten by Scr-vice, though it be of tBMeft Rife, yet when they are ,^ortcn by Flat- tery, feeding Flumours, and other lervilc Conditions, they may be placed anion gft the Worft. As for fiiliing for Teftaments and Executorjhips, (^as Tacitus faith of Se-fU- Tefiamenta d^ Orbos tanr^uam tndagine cap) it is yet worfe, by liow much men fubmit themfelves to mea- ner perfons, than in Struice, Believe not much them that feem to delpife Riches ; for they defpife them that defpair of them, and none worfc when they come to them. Be not Penny-wife ,• Riches have Wings, and tbmetimes they fly away of themfelves , fomedmes H tUev p2 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Efays. they muft be let fiying to bring in more. Men leave their Riches either to their Kindred, or tp the Publick ; and moderate Portions profper beft in both- A great State left to an Heir^ is as a Lure to all the Birds of preVj round about to feize on him^ if he be not the better eftabliilied in Years and Judgment, Likewife glorious Gifts and Foundations ate like Sacrifices with- out Salty aiid but the 'Palmed Sepulchres of Alms, which foon will putrefie and corrupt inwardly: Therefore mea- fare not thine adv^ancements by quantity , but frame them by meafure ; and defer nor Charities till death :• For certainly if a man weigh ic rightly, he that doth fo is rather liberal of another mans, than of liis own. xxx\r. Of Prophecies. 1ME AN not to fpeak of Divine Trofhecles, nor of Heathen Oracles, nor of Natural Predi6lions, but only of Trophecles that have been of certain M^ and from hidden Caufes. Saith the Tythc To morrow thou and thy Son Jliall be with mi diefe Verfes, At doTnHs ity£nea cunBis domlnahltur or Et nati natorttmj d^ qui najcentur ab iih A Trophecj, as it fecms, of the Roman Empire. Seneca , - thcTragediafj^ hath thefe Verfes. Vcnient Annis Secula fcrlsy quibus Oceanus Vlncida rerum laxet^ d^ mgenj Rateat Telh^s, Tiphyjque novon Detegat orbes * ?}ecfa terrb Ultima Thiik : Of Prophecies, ^p A Vrofhecy of the Difco^ucry of America, The Daugh- ter oiFoIjcrates dre^med^ that Jnfiter bathed her Father, and JpUo anointed him ; and it came to pafs that he w^s Crucified in an open Place, where the Sun made his Body ran with Sweaty and the Rain wafhed it. Thilip of Macedon dreamed he fealed up his Wife's Bel- ly ^ whereby he did expound is that his Wife fliould be barren : But Artlfamler the South-Sayer told him his Wife was with Child^ becaufe Men do not ufe to feal VefTels that are empty. A Phantafm that appeared to M. BruUis in his Tent^ faid to him, F/jilippis iterum we *uidebis, Tihey'ms faid to Galba^ Tu ejuoqtte , Gallpa ^ de-- gnftabh Imperium. InVefpafun^j time there went a Tro- fhccy in the Laft^ that'thofe that iliould come forth of 'Judea jhould reign over the V/orld : Which though it may be was meant of our Saviour ^ yet Tacitus expounds it oiVeffafian. Domltian dreamed the night beiore he was flain^ that a Golden Head was growing out of the Nape of his Neck : And indeed the iucceflion tliat fol- lowed him for many years made Golden Times. Hmry the Sixdi of £w^/.W, faid of Hemj the Seventh^ when he was a Lad^ and gave him Vv'ater^ This is the Lad ^thatt^^enjoy the Crown for 'which wefiri'je. When I was tgJ^?S, I heard from one Dodor Pena^ that the Queen mkhevy "^A^ho was given to curious Arts^ caufed the King her Husband's Nativity to be Calculated under a^an|j^me ; And the Aftrologer gave a Judgm.ent^, that IflSould be killed in a Duel ; at v/hich the Queen laughec^ thinking her Husband to be above Challenges and Duels : But he was flain upon a Courfe at Tilt^ the Splinters of the Staff oi Mo!iio?7it7y going in at his Bever. The trivial Frophecy that I heard when I was a Child^, and Queen Eliz-nkth was in the Flower of her Years, was j H 2 mc9) 100 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. lVhe7i Hemfc is fpuTf^ Eiigland'i ^o?jc. Wliereby it was generally conceived^ that after the Piinccs had Reigned^ which had the principal Letters of that Word Hcwpe, (which were Hemy , Edn^ard^ Mary J Vhllh, and Eliz^ahcth^ ) Evghwd fliould come to utter Conrufion ; which thanks be to God is verified in the Change of the Name ,• for that the King's St3lcis no more of E^glavd, but of Britaiv, There was alio a- nother Trovhecy, before the Year of 88. which I do not well underftand : There [hall hefeen upon a day^ Benveen the Baugh and the May^ The Black Feet of Norway, When that is come and go7tey England build Houjes of Lime and Stone y For after Wars [Ij all you ha^ve none. It was generally conceived to be meant of the Spajiifii Fleet chat came in 38. For that the King of SpM^^k^ name^ as they fay^ is Nonvay, The Prediction of Re- giomontanusy OSlogeJfimHS oBavus mirabilis Annus ^ V/as thought likewife accompli flicd^ in the fending of that great Fleet^ being the greateft in ftrength^ though not in number^ that ever fwain upon the Sea. As for Cltcn^ Dreanij I think it was a Jeit ; It was^ That he was devoured of a long Dragon ^ and it was expounded of a Maker of Saufages that troubled him exceedingly. There are numbers of the like kind, elpecially if you include Dreams and Frediciions oi Aftrology, But I have fet down thefe few only of certain credit for example. My judgment is^ that they ought all to bedelpifed, and ought Of Ambition. i o i ouglit to fcrv'-e but for winter-talk by fhe firc-flde: Though, when I fay Defftfed^ I mean it as for belief^ for otherwife, the fpreading or publilhing of them is in no fort to be Dcfpifed ; for they have done much mif- diief. And I fee many fevere Laws made to fupprels them. That that have given them grace, and fome credit, confifteth in three things ; tirft. That Men mark when they hit, and never mark when they mifs^ as diey do generally alfo of Dreams. The fecond is. That probable Conjedures, or obfcure Traditions, ma- ny times turn diemfelves into Propheciesj while the Na- ture of Man, which coveteth Dlvinatim^ thinks it no peril to foretell that which indeed they do but collect : As that of Semc.'is Verfe. For fomuch was then fubjcct to Demonftration, that the Globe of the Earth had great Parts beyond the Atlantlck ; which might be pro- bably conceived not to be all Sea : And adding thereto, the Tradition in Tlato\ Tlmeeus^ and his Atlanticus^ it might encourage one to turn it to a VrediBion, The third and Laft (which is the Great one) is. That al- moll: all of them, being infinite in number, have been Impoftures, and by idle and crafty Brains meerly con- trived and feigned after the Event paft. ^ XXXVI. Of Avibhtio7i. AMBITION is like Chohr, which is an tlumour that maketh Men Adive, Earned, full of Alacrity, and -Sdrring,if it be not ftopped^but if it be flopped and can- not have its way, it becomech a duft, and thereby Ma- lign and Venomous. So Ambitious Men^ if they find the way open for their Rifing, and ftill get forward, they are rather Bufie than Dengerous ,• but if they be checkt in their deilres^ they become fecredy difcontent, H ; and 10 2 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. and look upon Men and Matters with an Evil Eye^ and are beft pleafed when things go backward^ which is the worft property in a Servant of a Prince or State. There- fore it is good for Princes, if they uk A;nhltious Meit^ to handle it fo, as they be ftill Progreffive^ and not Retro- grade ; which, becacfe it cannot be without inconve- nience^ it is good not to ufe fuch Natures at all. For jf they rife not with their Service, they will take order to make their Service fall with them. But fince we have faid^ it were good not to ufe Men o^Amhitious Na- tures; except it be upon neceility^ it is fit we fpeak in what cafes they are of neceffity. Good Commanders in the Wars mufi: be taken^ be they never fo Ambitious ; for the ufe of their Service difpenleth with the reft ^ and totake a Soldier witlvoLt Amhiticn, is to pull off his Spurs. There is alfo great ufe oi Amhitious Men ^ in being Skreens to Princes in matters of danger and Envy ; for no man will take that part^ exqept he be like a feejd Dove^ that mounts and mounts^ becaufe he cannot fee about him. There is ufe alfo oi Amhitwus Mcn^ in pulling down the greatnefs of any Subjed that over-tops j as Tiberius ufed Macro in pulling down oi Sejanus. Since therefore they muft be ufed in fuch cafes^ there refteth to Ipeak ho^ they arc to be bridled^ that they may be lefs Dangerous. There is lefs Danger of them^ if they be of mean Birth, than if they be Noble ,• and if they be rather Iwlli of Nature^ than Gracious and Popular ; and if t\\^ be rather new raifed^ than grown cunning, and fortified in their Greatnefs. It is counted by fonie a v/eaknefs in Princes to have Favourites ,- but it is of all others the beft remedy againft Ambitious Great Ones* For when the way of pleafuring and dilpleafuring lieth by the Favou- rite^ it is irnpoffible any other lliould be Over-great, A- Qother means to curb them;, is to balance them by o- chcrs as proud as they. But dien there muft be fome middle Counfellors to keep things fteady ,• for without that Ballafi: the Ship will roul too much. At the leaft^ ^ Prince may animate and inure fomc meaner Perfons^ to I OfMask^ a?icf Triumphs. i^^ to be as It were Scourges to Amhlthtis Men. As for the having of them obnoxious to ruine^ if they be of fear- ful Natures, it may do well j but if they be flout and daring, it may precipitate their Dcfigns, and prove dangerous. As for the pulling of them dowji, if the , Afiairs require it, and that it may not be done with fafe- I ty fuddeoly, the only way is^ the enterchange continu- I ally of Favours and diigraces; whereby they may not ( Jcnow what to expecfr, and be as it were in a \Vood- I 0( Ambitions y it is left harmful the Ambition to prevail in : great things, than that other to appear in every thin'^ ; for that breeds confufion, and mars bufmefs. But ycc • it is lefs Danger, to h^ve an Ambitious Alan llirring ia bufinefs, than great in dependences. He that feekcth to be eminent amongd able Men, hath a great task ,• but that is ever good for the Publick ,• but he diat plots to j be the only Figure amongft Cyphers, is the decay of an j whole Age. Honour hath three things in it : The Var- I tage Ground to do good, the approach to Ki^ngs and ' Principal Perfons, and the raifing of a Mans own For- ; tune. He that hath the beft ot thefc Intentions when : he alpireth, is an honeit Man ^ and that Prince that , can difcern of thefe Intentions in another that alpireth, I is a wife Prince. Generally, let Princes and States chufe ' fiich' Minifteisas are more fenfible of Duty, than of Ri- ling ,• and fuch as love Bulineis rather upon Confcience, i than upon Bravery ,• and let them difcern a bufie Nature from a wiUing Mind. XXXVIL Of Masks and Triuv^-phs. THHESE Things are but Toys, to come amongfl * fuch ferious Obfervations. But yet, iince Prirxes will have fuch things, it is better they ihould be graced H 4 with \^4 ^^^ Francis Bacon"5 Ejfays. With Elegancy ;, than daubed with Coft. Dancingto Son^, is a thing of great State and Pleafure. I underftand it, that the Song be in Choire^ placed aloft, and accompa- nied with fome broken Mufick, and the Ditty fitted to the Device. Acthigin Song, cfpecially in Dhiloguesy hath an extream good Grace : 1 fay Aalrfg, not Dancirtg, ("for that is a mean and vulgar thing) and the Voices of the Dh-flcgue would be ftrong and manly^ ( a Bafc, and a Tenor, no Treble J and the D/V/jy High and Tragical, not Nice or Dainty. Se'ueral Choires placed one over a- gainli anpther, and taking the Voice by Catches, An- therri-wiio^j give great Pkafure. Turning Dances into F/- gurc is a childifh curiofity 5- and generally let it benpted, that thofe things which 1 here fet down, are fuch as do naturally take the Senfe, and not refped: petty Wonder- ments. It is trtie, the Alter at Ions ot Scene Sy fo it be qui- etly, and without noife, are things of great Beauty and Pleaiiire, for they feed and relieve the Eye, before it be full of the fame Objed. Let the Scenes abound with Lig/jt, ipecially Coloured and Varied ^ and let the Maf- kersj or any other that are to come down from the Scene ^ iiave Ibme motions upon the Scene it felf, before their corning down ,• for it draws the Eye ftrangely , and makes it with great pleafure to defire to fee that it can- not perfedly difcern. Let the Songs be Loud and Chear- faly and not Chirpings or Tidings, Let the Mitfick like- wile be Shar^ and Loud^ and well placed. The Colours that fhew beft by Candle-light, are White, Carnation, and a kind of Sea- water Green ,• and Oes or Spangs^ as they are of no great Coft, lb they are of moft Glory. As for Rich Embroidery, it IS loft, and not dilcerned. Let the Suits of M^j^frjbegracefiil, and fuch as become the Perfon when the Vizars are off, not after examples of known Attires 3 Turks, Soldiers, Marinfers, and the like. Let Anti-masks not be long, theyliave been com- monly of Fools, Satyrs, Baboons, Wild-men, Antiques,' Jj Beads, Spirits, Witches, Ethiops , Pigmies, Turquets,' isjymphs, Rufticks, Cupids, Statua's moving, and the ^ ' like Of Nature hi M^n. lo,^ like. As for Angels^ it is not Comical enough to put them in Anti-masks ; and any thin^ that is hideous^ as Devils^ Giants^ is on the other fide as unfit. But chiefly, let the Mufick of them be Recreative, and with fome flrange Changes. SomQfii^eet O^ain-s fuddenly coming forth, without any drops falling, are in fuch a Com- pany, as there is Steam and Heat, things of great plea- fure and refrefhraent. DotMc Mashsy one of Men, a-. nother of Ladies, addeth State and Variet}^ But all is nothing, except the Room be kept clear and neat. For 'J till s^ and Turneys^ and Barriers ^ the Glories of them are chiefly in the Chariots, wherein the Challen- gers make their Entry, fpecially if they be drawn with ilrange Bcafts, as Lions, Bears, Camels, and the li-ke ; or in the Devices of dieir Entrance, or in the bravery of their Liveries, or in the goodly Furniture of their Horfes and Armour. But ^npugh of thefe toys. xxxvm. Of NaUire in Meji. NATURE is often Hidden, fometimes Overcome, feldom Extinguished. Force maketh N.iture more violent in the Return ^ Dodrine and Difcourfe maketh Nature lefs importune : But Cuftom only doth alter and fubdue Nature. He that feeketh Vidory over his Nature^ let him not fet himfelf too great, nor too fmall Tasks, for the firft will make him dejeded, by often Failings ^ and the fecond will make him a fmall Pro- ceeder, though by often Prevailings. And at the firii, let him pradife with Helps, as Swimmers do with Blad- ders or Ruflies ,• but after a time let him pradife with difadvantages, as Dancers do v/ith thick Shooes : For it breeds great Perfedion, if the pradice be harder dian the Ufe. Where Nature is mighty, and therefore the Vidory hard, the Degrees had ' need be, Firft, to Hay £o6 Sir Francis BaconV Efays. flay and arreft Nature in time, like to him that would fay over the Four and Twenty Letters when he wa$ Angry^ than to go kfs in quantity : As if one fliould in forbearing Wine, come from drinking Healths to ^ Draught at a Meal, and laftly to difcontinue altogether : But if a Man have the Fortitude and Refolution to en-- franchife himfelf at oncC;, that is the beft ,- Optlmus ille animi 'v'mdexy l^dentia ^ecius Vincula cfui rufit^ dedoluitque femcL Neither is the Ancient Rule amifs to bend Natttre^ 8$ a wand to a contrary Extream^, whereby zo fet it right; underftanding it where the contrary Extream is no Vice. Let not a Man force a Habit upon hirnfelf with a perpe-. tual Continuance , but with fome Intermilfion ,• for both the Paufe re-inforceth the new Onfet: And if a Man that is not perfed be ever in pradife, he fliall as ' well pradife his Errors^ as his Abilities^ and induce one Habit of both ,• and there is no means to help this, but by feafonable Intermiflion. But let not a Man truft his Vidory over his Nature too far ; for Nature will lie buried a great time, and yet revive upon the Occafion of Temptation. Like as it was with ^t^fofs Damfel, turned from a Cat to a Woman, who fate very demure- ly at the Boards end, till a Moufe run before her. Therefore let a Man either avoid the Occafion altoge- ther, or put himfelf often to it, that he may be little moved with it. A Mans Nature is bed perceived in pri- vatenefs, for there is no Affedion in Paffion, for that putteth a Man out of his Precepts ,• and in a new Cafe of Experiment, for their Cuftom leaveth him. They are happj' Men whole iV^^z/r^j lort with their Vocations, Otherwife they may fay, Multum Incola fnu Jiiima wea; when they converfe in thofe they do not effect. In Studies whatfoever a man commanded upon himfelf, let him fet hours for it,- but whaifoever is agreeable to his Nature^ let him take no care for any fet Times, for his Of Cujlom and Education. 107 his thoughts will fly to it of themfeives ^ fo as the fpaces of other bufinefs or Studies will fuffice. " A mans l^latw^t runs either to Herbs or Weeds -^ therefore let him fea- fonably water the one, and deftroy the other. XXXIX. Of Cujlom and Education, MENS Thoughts are much according to their la-- clination^ their Difcourfe and Speeches according to their Learning and infufed Opinions j but their Deeds are after as they have been accujhmed : And therefore as Aiachlt'vel well noteth, fthough in an ill-favoured In- ftancey there is no trufting to the force of Nature nor to the bravery of V/'ords^ except it be corroborate by Cufiom. His inftance is_, that for the atchieving of a delperate Confpiiacy^ a Man fliould not reft upon the iiercenefs of any Mans Nature, or his refolute underta- kings^ but take fuch aa orxC as hath had his hands for- merly ill Blood. But Machia^cd knew not of a Frkr Clement^ not a Ra^ullUacy nor a y^a^'^gy? lior a Baltazcr Gerrard ; yet this Rule holdeth ftill, that Nature, nor the Engagement of Words are not fo forcible as Cv/c;?//. Only Superftition is now fo well advanced, that Mm of the firft blood are as firm as Butchers by Occi^pation, and Votary Refolution is made Equipollent to CV//^«7, even in matter of blood. In other things the predomi- nancy of Ctijmn is every where vifible, infomuch as a man would wonder to hear men Profels, Proteft, En- gage, give great Words, and then do juft as they have done before, as if they were dead Images, and Engines; moved only by the wheels of Cuficw, We fee alfo the Reign or Tyranny of Cuftom^ what it is. The Indlam (I mean the Sed of their Wife Men) lay themfelves quietly upon a ftack of Wood, and fo Sacridce them- selves io8 Sir Francis Bacons EJfays. felves by fire. Nay^ the Wives ftriveto be burned wit the Corps of their Husbands. The I. ads of S fart a ol ancient time^ were wont to be fcourged upon the Alta of Diana without fo much as Squeeking. I remember in the beginning of Queen Elizaheth^s time^ o( Englaft^, an Irijlj Rebel condemned, put up a Petition to the Dc- futjy that he might be hanged in a Wyth, and not ir an Halter^ becaufe ip had been fo ufed with formei Rebels, There be Monh in Rujfui, for Pennance^ th will fit a whole night in a Veffel of Water^ till they b engaged with hard Ice. Many examples may be pui down of the Force of Cuftom^ both upon mind and bo dy. Therefore fince Cufiom is the Principal Magiftrate of Man's life, let Men by all means endeavour to ob- tain good Cufioms, Certainly Cufiom is moft perfecl: when it beginneth in young years : This we call Edu- cation ^ which is in effecl but an early Cufiom. So we fee in Languages^ the Tongue is more pliant to all Expref- i fions and Sounds^ the Joynts are more fupple to all Feats of Adivity and motions in Youth than after- wards. For it is true, the late Learners cannot fo well take the ply^ except it be in fome minds that have not fuffered themfelves to fiXy but have kept themfelves open and prepared to receive continual amendment, which is exceeding rare. But if the Force of Cufiom^ Simple and Separate^ be great^ the Force of Cttfiom Copulate, and Conjoynedj and Collegiate, is far greater. For their Example teacheth. Company comforteth^ Emu- lation quickneth^ Glory raifeth : So as in fuch Places the Force of Cufiom is in his Exaltation. Certainly the great multiplication of Virtues upon humane Nature^ refteth upon Societies well ordained and diiciplined : for Com- mon-wealths and good Governments do nourifh Virtue Grown, but do not much mend the Seeds. But the mifery is, that the moft eflfedual Means are now apply- ed to the Ends leaft to be defired. 10^ XL Of Fortune. IT cannot be denyed^ but outward accidents con- duce much to Fortune : Favour^Opportunity^Death of others, Occafion fitting Virtue. But chiefly the mould of a Mans FoKii?ic is in his own hands. Faher ejuifc^tte Fortuv^e fu^e^ faith the Poet. And tl;c mofl frequent of External Caufcs is^ that the Folly of one man is the Fortwie of another. For no man profpers fo fuddenly, as by others errors. Soyens viji Sevpetnem comederit non fit D:-.;cG. Overt and Apparent Virtues bring forth Praife ; but there be Secret and Hidden Virtues that bring forth Fortm^e, Certain Deliveries of a Man's felf, which have no Name. The Sp^v'JJJ} Name^ Dcjemboltura^ partly exprcffeth them^ when there be not Stands nor Reftivenefs in a ALins ISfarure^ but that the Wheels of his Mwd keep v^-a)' with the Wheels of his Fortune. For lb Li^y (after he had defcribed Cato Alajor^ in thefe words_, in Mo ^nro^ tanttm Rohur Corporis d^ An'rmi ftilty ut fjtivcHncjiie toco natus ejj'et^ Fortunam fiblfacturus "Ui- Jerettfr) falleth upon that^ that he had Vtrjlnile Ingen'mm. Therefore if a man look iharply and attentively^ hefhall fee Fortune : For though (he be blind^ yet flie is not in- vifible. The way oi Fortune is like the Milkie Way in the Skie, which is a Meeting or Knot of a number of fmall Stars,* not fcenafunder^ but giving Light together: So are there a number of little, and fcarce diicerned Virtues, or rather Faculties and Cuftomsthat make men. Fortunate. The Italian note fome of them, fuch as a Man would little think : When they fpeak of one that cannot do amifs, they will through in into his other Conditions that he hath. Toco di Matto. And certainly, there be not tvvo more Forr«wjre properties, than to have a Utile of the Fool^ and not too much of the Ho77eft, There- fore extrcam Lovers of their Country, orMafters, were ;i$ver Fortunate^ neither can they be. For when a m,an placetli 1 1 o Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. placeth his thoughts without himfelf, he goeth not his own wa}% and halty Fornme maketh an Enterprifer and Remover ; (the Frencb hath it better. Enterfrenant or Remnant) but the cxercifed Fortune maketh the able Man. Fortune is to be Honoured and Refpeded^ if it be but for her Daughters_, Confidence and Reputation : For thofe two Felicity breedeth j the firft, within a Man's felf^ the latter in others towards him. All wife men to decline the Envy of their own Virtues^ ufe to afcribe them to Providence and F&rtune ^ for fo they may the better affure them : And befideS;, it is Greatnefs in a Man to be the Care of the Higher Powers. So C^cfat laid to the Pilot in the Tempeft, Cafarem prtas^ & For^ tuna?7j ejus. So Sylhi chofe the Name of Felix^ and not oi Magnus. And it hath been noted^ that thofe that at cribe openly too much to their own Wifdom and Policy, end Unfortu72ate. It is written^ That Timet heus the Athe^ man^ after he had^ in the account he gave to the State of his Government^ often interlaced his Speech^ And' in this Fortmie had no part ^ never prolpered in any thing he undertook afterwards* Certainly there be, whofe For- tunes are like Homers Verfes^ that have a Slide and EaH- iiefs more than the Verfes of other Poets, as Plutarchimth. o{ TtmoUon\ Fortune^ in relpe(5i of that oS. Agefilaus^ or Ffaminondas : And that this ihould be, no doubt it is much in a Man's felf. XLL Of Vfury. MANY have made witty Invedives againft Ufuryi They fay, That it is pity the Devil fliould have God's part, which is the Tithe. That the Ufury is the greateft Sabbath-breaker, becaufe his Plough goeth every Sunday. That the Ufiiv^r is th^ Dmic that Virgil fpeaketh of : Ignaijiiin Of Vfury. JgnavHW fticiis fecusafrafsfibus arcent. III That the Uftirer brcaketh the firft Law that was made for Mankind after the Fall ^ which was, In [udore luhus tm comedes partem tuum^ not_, In [udore 'vultus alkni. That Ujurers fhould have Orah7ge-taw?ty Bonnets^ becaufe they do Judaiz,e, That it is againft Nature, for Money to be- get Money y and the like. I fay this only, that XJfury is a Conceffiwj propfer durltiem cordis : For llnce tliere muft be Borrowing and Lending, and Men are fohard of Heart, as they will not lend freely, Ufury mufi be permitted. Some others have made Sulpicious and Cunning Pro- pofitions of Banks, difcovery of Men's Eftates^ and o- ther Inventions, but few have fpoken of L5'7/r7 ufefully. It is good toiet before us the Incommodhies 2Lnd Commodities of Vjury:, that the good may be either Weighed out, or Culled out ; and wearily to provide, that wliile we make forth to that which is better, we meet not with that which is worfe. The Difcommcdities o^ Ufury are, Firft, That it makes fewer Merchants : for were it not for this lazy Trade of Ufury ^ Money would not lie ftill, but would in great part be employed upon Merchandifing, which is the r^?;^P(?rf^ of Wealth in a State. The fecond, That it makes poor Merchants ,• for as a Farmer cannot husband his Ground fo well, if he fit at a great Rent : So the Merchant cannot drive his Trade lo well, if he fit at great Ufury, The third is incident to the other two ; and that is. The decay of Cuftoms, of Kings, or States, which Ebb or Flow with Merchandizing. The fourth. That it bringeth the Treafure of a Realm or State into a few hands ,• for the Ufurer being at Certainties, and o- thers at Uncertainties, at the end of the Game moft of the Money will be in the Box ,• and ever a State flouri- Iheth, when Wealth is more equally fpread. The fifth. That it beats dov/nthe price of Land ^ for the employ- ^neat of Money is chieliy either Merchandizing or Pur- chafing 1 1 2 Sir Hrancis Bacoh'^ Efays. chafing and Ufury way^lays both. The Sixth, That it; doth dull and damp all Induftries^ Improvements, and new Inventions, \i'heicin Money would be llirring, if 5t Were not for this Slug. The laft. That it is the Can- ker and Ruine of many Men's Eltates, which in procels of time breeds a publick Poverty. On the other fide, the Commodities o^Ufury are: Firft, That howfbever Ufury m foaie re{pe6l hindreth Mer- chandizing, yet in fome other it advanceth it ,• for it is certain, tliac the greateft part of Trade is driven by young Merchants, upon borrowing at Intereft : So as if the Ufurer either call in, or keep back his Money, there will enfue prefcntly a great ftand of Trade. The fecond is. That v/ere it not for this eafie borrovv'- ing upon hterefi. Mens neceflities would draw upon them a moll fudden undoing, in that they would be forced to fell their Means (be it Lands or Goods) far under foot ; and fo whereas Ufmy doth but gnaw upon them, bad Markets would fwallow them quite up. As for Mortaging or Pavy^ning, it will little mend the mat- ter,- for either men will not take Pawns widiout Ufe^ or^j if they do, they will look precifely for the forfeiture. I remember a ci'uel Monied Man in the Country, that would fay. The Devil take this Ufury ^ it keeps us from Forfeitures of Mortgages and Bonds. The third and laft is. That it is a vanity to conceive, that there vi/ould be ordinary borrowing without profit ,• and it is impo- fible to conceive, the number of inconveniences that will enfue, if borrowing be cramped : Therefore to Ipeak of the aboliHiing of Ufury is idle. All States have ever had it in one kind, or rate or other ; fo as that o- pinion muft be fent to Utopia, To fpeak now of the Reformation and Reiglement of U- fury how the Difcommodities of it may be beft avoided, and thcCommodities retained. It appears by the Ballarice of Commodities and Difcommodities of Ufury ^ two things are to be reconciled : The one, that the Tooth oiUjury be grinded, that it bite not too much ; The oth^r, that there Of Vfury. 1 1 5 ther^ be left open a means to invite Monied Men to lend to the Merchants^ for the Continuing and Quick- ning of Trade. This cannot be done, except you in- troduce two feveral (brts of Ujury, a hfs and a greater. For if you reduce Ufury to one low rate^ it will eafe the Common Borrower ^ but the Merchant will be to feek for Money. And it is to be noted^ that the Tr^de of Mer- chandize, being the moft Lucratl^je^ may bear IJfury at a good rate ,* other Contrads not fo. To ferve both Intentions the way would be chiefly thus : That there be two Rates of Uffnj, the one Free and General for all, the other under Licence only to cer- tain Perfons, and in certain Places of Mercbamlizing, Firft therefore, let Ufury in general he reduced to Fi've in the Hun- dred, ana let that Rate be proclaimed to be Free and Cur- rant ; and let the Sate fhut it felf out to take any penal- ty for the fame. This will preferve Borrowing from any general Stop or Drynefs. This will eafe infinite Borrowers in the Country. This will in good part raife rhe price of Land, becaufe Land purchafed at Sixteen years purchafe, will yield Six in the Flundred, andfome- whatmore, whereas this Rate of Intereft yields but Five. lliis by reafon will encourage and edge Indulhious and l^rohtable Improvements, becaufe many will rather \Tnture in that kind, than take Five in the Hundred, cfpecially having been ufedto greater profit. Secondly, Let there be certain Perjons Liccnjed to lejul to known A Icr- chants, upon Ufury, at a High-Rate ^ and let it be with the Cautions following. Let the Rate be, even with the Merchant himfelf, fomewhat more eafie than that he ufed formerly to pay : for by that means all Bor- rowers iKall havefome eafe by this Reformation, be he Merchant or whofoever. Let it be no Bank or Com- mon Stock, but every man be Mailer of his own Mo- ney. Not that I altogether miflike Banks, but they will iiardly be brooked, in regard of certain lufpicions. Let the State be anfweredlbme fmall matter for theLicenfc, and the reft left to the Lender j fof if the abatement be I bur 1 1 4 Sir Francis Bacon'^ ^f^y^- but ftiall^ it will no whit dilcourage the Lender. For he^ for example, that took before Ten or Nine in the Hundred, will foonerdefcend to Eight in the Hundred, than give over his Trade of UJhy, and go from Certain Gains to Gains of Hazard. Let thefe Licenfed Lenders be in number indefinite, but retrained to certain prin- cipal Cities and Towns of Merchandizing, for then they will be hardly able to colour other mens moneys in the Country, fo as the Llcejice of Nine will not fuck away the current Re re of Fife ; for no man will Lend his Moneys far off, nor put them into unknown hands. If it be objeded, That this doth in a fort Authorize Ufurjy which before was in fome places but permiffive : The Anfwer is, that it is better to mitigate Ufmj by De- claration ^ than to fufier it to rage by Conmfe?7ce, XLII. Of Tenth and Age. A Man that is Tcung m Years ^ m.ay be Old m Hours, •**■ if he have lofl no time, but that happeneth rarely. Generally Tvuth is like the hrft Cogitations, not (b wile as the fecond^ for t'-icre is a Touth in Thoughts as well as in Ages : And 5'et the Invendon of Toimg Men is more lively than that of Old, and Imaginations ftream into their minds better, and, as it were, more Divine- ly. Natures that have much heat, and great and vio- lent defires and perturbations, are not ripe for Adion till they have paifed the Meridian of their years ; as it was with Julius Ctcfar, and Septimus Seuerus, of the latter of Vviiom it is faid, Juventutem egit Erroribus^ hno rurorihus tlcTiam ; and yet he was the ableft Emperor al- moft of all the Lift. But repofed Natures may do well in Icuth^ as it is feen in Augufius C^far, Cofmus Duke ' of Flore??cey Gaficn de Foisy and Others. On the other (ide. Heat and Vivacity in Jge^ is an excellent Com- : pofition ^.\ Of Touth and Age. 115: poiition for buHnels. Tomg Mm are fitter to invent than 1 to judge, fitter for Execution than for Counfel, and fitter for new projec5ls than for fettled bufinefs/or the Experi- • ence of Age in things that fall within the compafs of it diredeth them, but in new things abufeth them. The Errors of Tomg Mm are the ruin of Bufinefs ; but the Errors oi Jgtd Men amount but to this, that more might have been done or fooner. Topjig Men m the condudt and manage of A(5tions embrace more than they can hold, ftir more than they can quiet i^y to the end with- ; out confideration of the means and degrees, purfuefome few Principles which they have chanced upon abfurdly, care not to innovate, which draws unknown Inconveni- encies : Ufe extream Remedies at fu"li, and that which doubleth all Errors, will not acknowledge or retrad: them, like an unready Horfe, that will neither Stop nor Turn. Men ofJge objed too much, confult too long, adventure too little, repent too loon, and feldom drive bufinefs home to the full period, but content themfelves with a mediocrity of Succefs. Certainly it is good to compound Emfvyments of both ; for that will be good , for the /)r^/ew^, becaufe thevertues oitithti Age may cor- \; red the defeds of both, and good for Succeffion, that [ 1 TGU72g Men may be Learners, while Aien in Age are Adors. ; !| And laftly, good for Extern Accidents^ becaufe Autho- , ! rity folio weth Old Mm^ and Favour and Popularity I Touth, But for the moral part, perhaps Touth will have the preheminence, as Age hath for the politick. A cer- ^ 1 tain Rabbins upon the Text, Tour young Menjhallfee 'vlficns, \. \ (tnd pur old MenjJjall dream dreams, inferreth, that Toung ] I Men are admitted nearer to God than 0/i, becaufe F/Ji-^ ,jL?/ is a clearer Revelation than 9. Drea??^, And certain- ly } ly the more a Man drinketh of the World, the more ' it intoxicateth ; and Age doth profit rather in the pow- ers of Underftanding, than in the Vertues of t^ie Will and Affedions. There be fome have an over-early , Ripenefs in their years, v/hich fadeth betimes : Thefe ^re firlt fiich ^s have brittle Wits^ the €dgQ whereof i? I 2 foort 1 1 6 Sir Francis Bacon's Efays. foon turned ; fuch as was Hermogenes the Rhetoriciofjy vvhofc Books are exceeding fubtil, who afterwards wax- ed ihipid. A fecond fort is of thofe that have fome natural Dilpofitions which have better grace in Touth than in Jgc ^ fuch 2s is a fluent and luxuriant Speech ^ which becomes Youth well, but not Jge : So 7///// faith of HortenJIuSy Idem manehat ^ Jiecjue idem decebat. The The third is^ of fuch as ta^ke too high a ftrain at the t\vi\y and are magnanimous more than Trad of years can uphold: As was Sciflo Jfrkanusy of. whom Livy fulth in effe6l^ Ultima frimis cedehant. XLIIL Of Beauty. '%7'ERTUE is like a rich Stone, beft plain fet ; and ^ furely, Vertue is beft in a I3ody that is comely^ though not of delicate Features, and that hath rather Dignity of Prefence, than Beauty of Afped. Neither h it almoft feen d^.at very Beautiful PerfonsHTQ otherwife of great Vertue^as if Nature were rather bufie not to err, t!:>an in labour to produce Excellency ; and therefore they prove accompliflied^butnot out of great Spirit,and ihidy rather Behaviour than Vertue. But this holds not always, for Augufius C^favy Titus Vefpajianus, Philip de Bdlc of France y Edward the fourth of England ^ Alcihiades of Athensy Ifmael the Sophy of Perjia , were all high 'wnd great Spirits, and yet the molt beautiful Men of t!xir times. In Beauty y that of Favour is more than that of Colmr ; and that of decent and gracious Motiony more than that of Favour. That is the beft part of Beauty which a Picture cannot exprefi, no nor the firft light of the Life. There is no excellent Beauty that hath not fome ftrangenefs in the proporrion. A Man can- not tell, whether ApHes or Albert Durer were the more ti iiier ; whereof the one would make a Perfonage by Geometrical I Of Deformity. 117 Geometrical Proportions^ the other by taking the belt Parts out of divers Faces to make one excellent. Such •Peripnages I think would pleafe no body, bur the Pain- ter that made them. Not but I think a Painter may make a better Face than ever was^ but he mull do it by a kind of Felicity^ (as a Muflcian diac maketh an excel- lent Air in Mufick) and not by Rule. A Man ihall fee Faces, that if you examine them part by part, you iliall find never a good, and yet altogerher do well. If it be true, that the principal part of BcauTy is in decent motion^ certainly it is no marvel, though Pafons m 2ears feem many times more amiable,P/Jr/^rorww Autttmnus puh- der; for no Imth can be comely, but by pardon, and conlidering the Tenth, as to make up the cornel inefs, Beasity is as Summer-Fruits, which are ealie to corrupt, and cannot laft, and for the moft part it makes a diffo- lute Jluah, and an Jge, a litde out of countenance ; bur yet certainly again, if it light well, it makech Vertues ihine, and Vices blufh. XLIV. Of Deformity. DEFORMED Terfons are commonly even with Na- ture 5* for as Nature hath done ill by them, fo do diey by Nature, being for the moft part (as the Scrip- ture faith) 'void of Natural AffeBion, and fo they have Revenge of Nature. Certainly, there is a confent be- tween the body and the mind, and where Nature err- eth in the one^ flie ventureth in the other,- Uhi pcccat in uno^jericlitatur in alter o. But becaufe there is in Man an Eledion touching the Frame of his mind, and a Ne- ceflity in the Frame of his body, the Stars of natural Inclination are fometimes obfcured by the Sun of Dif* cipline and Vertue ; Therefore it is good to confider of I 5 Deformity^ ii8 Sir Francis Bacon's Efays. Deformity^ not as a Sign which is more deceivable, bufe as a Caufe which feldom failcth of the Effecfl. Whofor ever hath any thing fixed in his Perfbn that doth in- duce Contempt, hath alfo a perpetual Spur in himfelf to relcue and deliver himfelf from Scorn. Therefore all Deformed Perfons are extream bold. Firft^ as in their own Defence^ as being expofed to Scorn^ but in pro- cefs of time, by a general Habit. Alfo it ftirreth in them indulby, and elpecially of this kind, to watch and obferve the weaknefs of others, that they may have fomewhat to repay. Again, in their Superiors, it quench- eth Jealoufie towards them, as Perlons that they think they may at pleafure defpife ^ and it layeth their Com- petitors and Emulators afleep, as never believing they Ihould be in poflibility of Advancement, till they fee |:hem in Poffeftion ,• fo that upon the matter in a great Wit, Deformity is an advantage to Rifing. Kings in an- cient times (and at this prefent in Ibme Countries^ were wont to put great Truft in Eunuchs j becaufe they that are envious to all, are more obnoxious and officious to- wards one. But yet their Truft towards them hath ra- ther been as to good Spials, and good whifperers, than good Magiftrates and Officers. And much like is the Reafbn of Deformed Ferfons, Still the ground is, they will if they be of Spirit, feek to free themfelves from Scorn, which muft be either by Vertue or Malice^ and therefore let it not be marvelled if fometimes they prove excellent Perfons ,• as was Jgefilausy Zanger the Son of Solyman^ ^^fipj Gafca Prefident of Peru^ and 5^- crates may go likewife amongft them^ with others. { XLV. 11^ XLV. Of Building. Ho us E S are built to live in, aiid not to look on: Therefore let Ufe be preferred before Uniformi- ty, except where both may be had. Leave the goodly Fabricks of Hcttfes, for Beauty only^ to^ the Fjjc/ja?;red Palaces of the PoetSy who build them with fmall coft. He that builds a fair Houfe upon an ill Seat, commkiQth him- felf to Prifon. Neither do I reckon it an ill Seat only .wherethe Air isunvvholefome^but likewife where the Air k unequal ; as you ihall fee many fine Se.it s fet upon a knap of Ground^ environed with higher Hills round a- bout it^ whereby the Heat of the Sun is pent in, and the Wind gathereth as in Troughs^ fo as you lliall have^ and that luddenly^ as great Diverfity of Heat and Cold, as if you dwelt in feveral Places. Neither is it ill Jir only that maketh an ;'// Scat, but ill ways, ill xMarkets ; and if you will confult with Momns, ill Neighbours. I fpeak not of any more ; Want of Water^ want of VVood^ Shade and Shelter^ want of Fruitfulnefs^ and mixture of Grounds of feveral Natures, want of Pio- fped;, want of level Grouj:ds, want of Places at fome near Diftance for Sports of Hunting. Hawking, and Ra- ces ; Too near the Sea too remote^ having tlie Com- modity of Navigable Rivers, or die Difcommodity of jheir Overflowing : Too far off from great Cities^which may hinder Bufinefs^ or too near them which lurcheth all Provifions^ and maketh every thing dear : Where a Man hath a great Living laid together, and where lie is fcanted. All v/hich^ as it is impoiTible perhaps to find together^ fo it is good to know them^ and think of them, that a Man may take as many as he can ; And if have feveral Dvv^ellings, that he fort them fo, that what he wanteth in th^ one^ he may find in the other. Lu- I 4 cuH'us 1 20 Sir Francis Bacon*5 EJfays. cullus anfwer Tcmpey well, who when he faw his Stately Galleries and Rooms fo large and lightfome in one of his HoufeSy faid, Surely an excellent T lace for Summery hut hmv do you in Winter ? I jf cullus anfvvered. Why do you not think me as wife as fomc Fowl are^ that e^uer change their abode towards the Winter ? To pafs from the Seat to the Houfe it felf, we will do as Cicero doth in the Orator's Art, who writes Books Be Or at ore y and a Book he Entitles Orator ; whereof the former delivers the Precepts of the Jrt, and the lat- ter the FerfeBio??. We will therefore defcribe a lYmcJy Falaccy making a brief model thereof For it is flrange to fee now in Europe fuch huge Buildings ^ as die Vat lean ^ and Efcurial, and fome others be_, and yet fcarce a very fair Room in them. Firft therefore, I fay, you cannot have a perfect P^- lace^ except you have two feveral Sides ,• a Side for the Banquet ^ as is fpoken of in the Book of Hefler^ and a Side for the Houjhold ; the one for Feaflsand Triumphs, and the other for Dwelling. I underftand both thefe Sides to be not only Returns, but Paits of the Front y and to be uniform without, though feverally Partiti- oned within, and to be on both fides of a great and Stately Tower in the midft of the Front ^ that as it were joyneth them together on either hand. I would have on the Ude of the Banquet in Front one only goodly Room above Stairs, of fome forty foot high, and under it a Room for a DnJJJng or Freparing Flace at times of Tri- umphs. On the other fide, which is the Houfiold fide, I wijh it divided at the firft into a Hall and a Chappel^ Ywith a Partition between) both of good llate and big- nefs, and thofe not to go all the length, but to have at the further end a Winter and a Summer Farlor, both fair; and under thefe Rooms,a fair andlarge Cellar funk under Ground ,* and likewife fome Frivy Kitchens, with Bute- ries and Fantries , and the like. As for the Tower, I would have it two Stories, of eighteen foot high apiece above the two Wings, and goodly Leads upon the Top, railed Of BuilJivg. 121 railed with Statuas interpofed, and the fame Tower to be divided into Rooms as fhall be thought fit ; the Stairs likewife to the upper Rooms, let diem be upon a fair open Newel, and finely railed in with Ir>7ages of IVcod^ caft into a Brafs colour, and a very fair Landing Tlace at the Top. But this to be, if you do not point any of the lower Rooms for a Dining Place of Servants, for otherwife you fhall have the Servants Dinner after your own ,• for the fleam of it will come up as in a Tunnel. And {o much for the Frcnty only I underftand the Heighth of the firfl: Stairs to be fixteen Foot which is the Heighth of the lower Room. Beyond this Front is there to be a fair Court, but three fides of it of a far lower BuUding than the Front, And in all the four Corner^ of that Court fair Stair-Cafes, caft into Turrets on theout fide, and not within the Row of Buildings themfelves. But thofe Towers are not to be of the height of the Front, but rather proportionable to the lower BuiU'p^g. Let the Court not be Paved, for that ftriketh up a great Lleat in Summer, and much Cold in Winter ^ but only fome Side-Alleys, with a Crofs, and the Quarters to Graze being kept Shorn^ but not too near Shorn. The 'Row oi Return on the Bano^uet Side, Ice it be all Stately Galleries, in which Galleries let there be three or five fine Cupola's m the length of it, placed at c- qual diftance, and fine Coloured IViiidcws of feveral Works. On the Houfliold fide, Chambers of Freftnce and oidi^ nary Entertainment, with fome Bed-Chambers, and let all three Sides be a double Houfe, without thorow Lights on the SideSj that you may have Rooms from die Sun, both for Fore-noon and After-noon. Caft italfo, that you may have Rooms both for Summer and Wintei-, Shady for Summer, and Warm for Winter. You ftiali have fomedmes fair Hcufes fo full of Glafs, that one can- not tell where to become to be out of the Sun, or Cold, for In bowed Windows I hold them of good ufe ,• (in Cities indeed Upright do better, in relpecl of the IJniformity towards the Street^ for they be pretty Retiring Places for 122 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Efays. for Conference ; and befides^ they keep both the Wind; and the Sun off: For that which v/ould ftrikealmoft through the Room, doth fcarce pafs the TVlndo-iv. But let them be but few, four in the Court on the Sides only. Beyond this Court let there be an Injvard Court of the fame Square and Heighth, which is to be environed with the Garden on all fides ; and in the infide Cloi- ftered upon all fides ^ upon decent and beautiful Arches, las high as the firft Story. On the Under Story towards thcGardenj let it beturnedtoa Grotta^ or place of Shade or Eftivation ,• and only have opening and Windows to- wards the Garden^ and be level upon Floor, no whit funk under Ground, to avoid all dampifhnefs : And let there be a Fount amy or fome fair Work of Statua^s ia the midfl: of this Court ^ and to be Paved as the other Court was. Thefe Buildings to be for Tri^y Lodgings on both Sides, and the end forPnVK Galleries : whereof you muft fore-fee that one of them be for ^n Infirmary ^ if the Prince or any fpecial perfon Ihould be Sick, with Cham^ persy Bed-Chambers, Anticamera, and Recamera, joyning to it : This upon the fecond Story. Upon the Groundi Story a fair Gallery , of en upon Villars^ and upon the third \ Story likevi^ile, an open Gallery upon Villars, to take the Prolped and Frelhnefs of the Garden, At both Cor- ners of the furtheft Side, by way of Return, let there be two delicate or Rich Cabinet s, daintily Paved, Rich- ly Hanged, Glazed with CryftalUne Glafs, and a Rich Cufola in the midft, and all other Elegancy that may be thought upon. In the Upfer Gallery too 1 wUh that there may be, if the Place will yield it, fome Fountains run- ning in divers Places from the Wall, with fome fine At voidances. And thus much for the model of the Pa- lace ; fave that you muft have, before you come to the Front, three Courts : and a Gretn Court Plain, with a Wall about it ^ a Second Court of the fame, but more Garniihed with litde Turrets, or rather Embeliiihments upon the Wall ,* and a third Court, to make a Square with the Fronty but not to b? Euilt, nor yet Enciofed widi Of Gardens. 125 with a Naked Wall^ but Enclofed with Tnrajfes leaded aloft, and fairly Garniihed on the three fides ; and Qoy- flered on the in-fide with Pillars^, and not with Arches below. As for Offices^ let than ftand at diftance with fomeLou'-G^//i:r/Vjjtopa{s from them to the Palace itfelf. XLVL 6f GardenSs (^OD Almighty firft Planted a Garden; and indeed ^J it is the pureft of Humane pleafures. It is the grea- teft refreftiment to the Spirits of Man ; without which. Buildings and Palaces are but grofs Handy- works. And a Man ftall ever fee, that wlien Ages grow to Civility and Elegancy, Men come to Build Stately, fooner than to Garden Finely : as if Gardcfiing were the greater Per- fedion. I do hold it in the Royal Ordering o^Gardensy there ought to be Gardens for all the Months in the Year, in which, feverally, things of Beauty may be then in feafbn. For December and January, and the latter part of November, you muft take fuch things as are green all Winter,- Holly, Ivy, Bays, Juniper, Cyprefs Trees, Yews, Pine- Apple Trees, Fir Trees, Rofemary, Laven- der, Perriwinckle the White, the Purple, and the Blew, Germander, Flags, Orange-Trees, Limon-Trees, and Myrtle, if they be ftoved, and fweet Marjoram warm fets. There folioweth for the latter part oi January and February, the Mezerion Tree, which then blolToms, Crocus Vernus, both the Yellow and the Grey prini- Rofes, Anemones, the Early Tulippa, Hyacinthus Ori- entalis, Chamairis, Frettellaria. For Aiarcb there comes Violets, fpecially the Single Blew, which are Earlicft, the Yellow Daffadil, the Daizy, the Almond-Tree in Bloflbm, the Peach-Tree in Bloffom, the Cornelian-Tree in Bloflbm, fweet Briar. In Avril follow the double White Violet, the Wall-Flower, tne Stock Gilly-FIovver, the 124 ^^^ Francis Bacon*5 Efays. the Cowflip^ Flower-de-Lices , and Lilies of all Na- tures^ Rofemary-Flower, the Tulippa, the Double Pio- ny:, the Pale Daffadill^ the French Honey-Suckle^ the Cherr)''-Tree in BloiToin^ the Damafcen and Plurnl>- Trees in Bloffom, the White Thorn in Leaf, the Lelack- Tree. In Mjj and J^me come Pinks of all Sorts, fpeci- ally the Blulh-Pink^ Rofes of all kinds, except the Musk,. which comci later, Hony Suckleb, Strawberries, Buglofs, Columbine, the French Ma- ygold^ Flos Africanus, Cher- ry-Tree in Fruit, Ribes, Figs ia Fruit, Rafps, Vine-Flow- ers, Lavender in Flowers, the Sweet Satyrian with the White Flower, Herba Mufcaria, Lilium Convallium,the Apple-Tree in BolTom. In July come Gilly-fiowers of all Varieties ^Musk-Rofes,and the Lime-Tree inBloflbm. Early Pears and Plumbs in Fruit, Gennirfngs, Quod- lings. In Atiguft com& Plumbs of all forts in Fruit, Pears_, Apricocks, Barberries, Filbeards, Musk-Melons,Monks- hoods of all Colours. In September comes, Grapes, Ap- ples, Poppies of all Colours, Peaches, Melo-Cotones^ Nedarines, Cornelians, Wardens, Quinces. In Otiober. and the beginning of No^vember^ come Servifes,Medlars, Bullifes,- Rofes Cut or Removed to come late. Holly- oaks, and fuch like. Thefe particulars are for the C//- mate oi London : But my meaning is perceived^ that you may have Ver Verfetuum^t as the place affords. And becaufe the Breath of Flowers is far Sweeter in the Air, (where it comes and goes, like the Warbling of Mufick) than in the Hand, therefore nothing is more fit for that Delight, than to know what be the Flowers and Tlants that do bed perfume the Air. Rofes Damask and Red are Flowers tenacious of their Smells, fo that you may walk by a whole Row of them^ and find no- thing of their Sweetnefs ,• yea, though it be in a Morn- ing Dew. Bays likewife yield no Smell as the}' grow, Rofemary little, nor Sweet-Marjoram. That which above all others yields the Sweeteji S?mll in the Air^ is the Violet, fpecially the Whifc double Violet, which comes twice a year, about the ^middle of Jfr'd^ and about Of Gardens. 125 about BartholomtW'ttde, Next to that is the Musk Rofe^ then the Strawberry Leaves dying with a molt excellent Cordial Smell. Then the Flower of the Vines, it is a little Duft^ like the Duft of a Bent, which grows upon the Clufter in the firft coming forth. Then Sweet-Briar, then Wall-Flowers , which are very de- lightful to be fet under a Parlour, or lower Chamber Window. Then Pinks and Gilly-FIowers. efpecially the matted Pink, and Clove Gilly-Flower. Then the Flowers of the Lime-Tree. Then the Hony-Suckles, lb they be fomewhatafar off. Of Bean-Flowxrs I fpeak not, becaufe they are Field-Flowers. But thofe which -perfume the Air moft delightfully, not faffed by as the reft, but being Trodden upon and Crufiedy are three, that is, Burnet, Wild-Time, and Water-Mints. Therefore you are to fet whole Alleys of them, to have the Plea- sure when you walk or tread. For G^r^ew/,(fpeaking of thofe which are indeed Prince- like, as we have done of Buildi?tgs) The Contents ought not well to be under Thirty Acres ofGrcund^ and to be devidedinto three parts ; a Green mthe entrance, a Heath or Dejart in the going forth, and the Main Garden in the midft, befides Alleys on both lides. And I like wxll, diat four Acres of Ground be Affigned toiliQGreen^ fix to the Heath, four and four to either Side^ and twelve to the Mai?! Garde?i. The Green hath two pieafures,* the one, becaufe nothing is more pleafant to the Eye than Green Grafs kept hnely ihorn,- the other, becaufe it will give you a fair Alley in the midft, by wliich you may go in front upon a St.-.tdy Hedge ^ which is to enclofe the Garden. But becaufe the Alley will be long, and in great Heat of the Year or Day, you ought not to buy the Ihade in the Garden^ by going in the Sun through the Gretn j therefore you are of either Side the Green to plant a Covert Alky upon Carpenters Work, about twelve fooc inHeighch, by which you may goinfliade into the Garden. As for the making oi Knots of Figures, with Divers Coloured Earths^ that they may lie under the Win- dows f26 Sir Francis Bacon *5 Efays. dbws of theHoufe^ on that Side which the Garden ftandV, they be but toys, you may fee as good fights many ti- mes in Tarts. The GarJe?} is befl: to be fquare^ encom- pafled on all the four Sides with a Stately Arched Hedge: the Arches to be upon Tillars of Carpenters Work^ of fome ttn foot high, and fix foot broad^ and th.Q [paces between of the fame Dimenfion with the Breadth of the. Arck Over the Arches let there be an entire Hedge, of fome four foot high, framed alfo upon Carpenters Work, ■ and upon the Upper Hedge, over every Arch a little 7«r-!^ ret, with a Belly, enough to receive a Cage oi Birds; and* over every Space between the Arches lome other little' " F/^Kr^,with broad Plates of Round Coloured Glafs gilt/or the Sun to play upon. But this Hedge,l intend to be railed up- on a Bank,not fteep^but gently flope^of fome fix foot/et ! all with I'lo'wers. Alfo lunderfland, that this Square of " the Garden, fhould not be the whole breadth of the - Groundjbuttoleaveon the either fide Ground enough for ' diverfity of Side Alleys unto which the two Convert Alleys of the Green m2.y deliver you ,• but there mull be na^ Alleys with Hedges at either and of this great Inclofure: not at the Higher End, for letting your prolped upon this fair Hedge from the Gr^^?^ ^ nor at tht further End,{or letting your profpecl from the Hedge through the Arches upon the Heath. For the ordering of the Ground with- in the Great Hedge, I leave it to Variety of Device. Ad- , yifing neverthelefs, that whatfoeve^ form you caft it * into; firft it be not too bufie^or full of Work ; wherein I, for my part, do not like Images cut out in Juniper, or ' other Garden-Hujf , they for Children. Little low Hedges^ Round like Welts^ with fome pretty Pyramids, I like/ well : And in fome places Fair Collums upon Frames of ' Carpenters Work. I would alfo have the Alleys Ipacious and fair. You may have dofer Alleys upon the Side Grounds, but none in the Main Garden. 1 wilh alfo in the very middle a fair Mount, vjixhthtQQ Afcentsand Alleys^ enough for four to walk a breaft, which I would have to be perfenHm feras ,• is a good rule, where a Man hath ftrength of Favour : But otherwife a Man were better rife in his Suit; for he phat would have ventured at firft to have loft the Suitor, will not in the Conclufion lofe both the Suit or ^ and his own former favour. Nothing is thought fq eafie g requeft to a great Perfon as his Letter ,* and yet, if it be not in a good Caufe, it is fo much out of his Reputation. There are no worfe Inftruments than thefe general Contrivers of Snirsy for they are but a Jcind of poy fon and infedion to publick proceedings. P/ 13? Of Studies. STUDIES ferve for Delight, for Ornameat, and for Ability. Their chief ule for Delight is in Pri- vatenefs and Retiring ; for Ornament is in Difcourfe ; and for Ability, is in the Judgment and Difpofitioii of Bufmefs. For expert Men can execute, and per- haps judge of particulars one by one ; but the general Counfels and the Plots^ and Marftialling of Affairs^ come beft from thofe that are Learned, To fpend too much time in Studies is floth ; to ufe them too much for Ornament is afTecftation i to make Judgment whol- ly by their Rules is the humour of a Scholar. They perfeA Nature, and are perfeded by experience : for Natural Abilities are like Natural Plants, that need Proyning by Study, and Studies themfelves do give forth Directions too much at la^ge, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty Men contemn Stu^ dies, Simple Men admire them, and Wife Men uie them : For they teach not their own ufe, but that is a Wifdom without them, and above them, won by Obfervation. Read not to Contradid and Confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find Talk and Difcourfe, but to weigh and confider. Some Books are to be taikd, others to be fwallowed, and fome few to be chewed and digefted ^ that is, fome Books are to be read only in parts ,• others to be read, but not curioufly ,• and fome few to be read, wholly, and with diligence and attention. Somq Books alfo may be read by Deputy, and Extrads made of them by o- thers : But that would be only in the lefs important Arguments, and the meaner Ion of Books, elfe diftil- led Books are like common diftilled Waters, flafhy things. Reading maketh a full Man ^ Conference a K 4 ready 1^6 Sir Francis Bacon j? Efays. ready Man ; and Writing an exad Man. And there^ fore if a Man Write little^ he had need have a great memory ,• if he Confer little^ he had need have a prefent Wit ; and if he Read little^ he had need have much cu'nning to feem to know that he doth not. Hi- jfories make Men Wife^ Poets Witty^ the AUthernatkks Subtilj Natural Thilcfofhy Deep^ Moral Grave^ Logick iand Rhetmck able to Contend, ^bimt Studia in Mo- res ; Nay^ there is no Stand or Impediment in the Wit, but may be wrought out by fit Studies : Like as Difeafes of the Body may have appropriate Exercifes. Bowling is good for the Stone and Reins^ Shooting for the Lungs and Breaft, Gentle Walking for the Sto- machy Riding for the Head^ and the like. So if a Mans Wit be wanderings let him Studj the Mathema-_ fields ^ for in Demonftrario'ns^ if his Wit be g:alled a- way never fo little, he muft begin again : If his Wit be not apt to diftinguiih or find differences, let him Shidy the SchcoLMen ^ for they are Cumi-ji feBores. If he be not ijpt to beat over matters^ and to call up one thing to prove and illultrate another^, let him Study the Lawyers Cafes; fo every Defect of the mind may have a fpecial Receipt. Of Fa^ion. MANY have an Opinion not Wife; that for a Pi ihce to govern his Eftate^ or for a great Per- > govern his Proceedings, according to the re- iped of Fricricvs^ is a principal part of Policy ; where- as contrariwife^ the chiefelt Wifdom is^ either in or- deiing thofe things which are Gen.eral;,and whprein Men of feveral FalHum do neverthelefs agree ; or in dealing irfdi i-orreipondeuce to pa^cular perfdns one by one.' '^ ' " Put Of Fa^ioju 157 But I fay not^ that the confideration of FaBions is to be neglected. Mean Men in their rifing muft adhere, but great Men that have ftrength in themfelves, were better to maintain themfelves indifferent and Neutral : Yet even in beginners to adhere fo moderately, as he be a Man of the one FaBio7t^ which is moft palfable with the other, commonly giveth heft way. ^ The lo- wer and weaker FaBion is the firmer in Conjundion : and it is often feen, that a few that are ftiff, do tire out a great number that are more moderate. When ope of the FaBions is extinguiflied, the remaining fub- divideth : As the FaBion between Lucullus^ and the reft of the Nobles of the Senate (which they called Optimates) held out a while againft the FaBion of Tom- fey and Cafar ; but when the Senates Authority was pulled down, C^far and Tomfey foon after brake. The FaBion or Party of Antonius, and OBauianus C^cfar^ a- gainft Brutus and Caffius, held out likewife for a time : But when Brutus and Caffius were overthrown, then loon after A?Jtonius and OBa^vianus brake and fubdivi- ded. Thefe examples are of Wars, but the fame hol- deth in private FaBions : And therefore thofe that are Seconds in FaBio7Js^ do many times, when the FaBion iubdivideth, prove Principals ,• but many times alio they prove Cyphers and cafhier'd. For many a Man's ftrength is in oppofition, and when that taileth, he groweth out of ufe. It is commonly feen, that Men once placed, take in with the contrary FaBion to that, by which they enter, thinking belike that they have their firft fure, and now are ready for a new Pur- chafe. The Traitor in FaBioft lightly goeth away with it ,• for when matters have Ituck long in Bal- lancing, the winning of Ibme one Man cafteth them, and he getteth all the thanks. The even carriage be- tween two FaBionsy proceedeth not always of mode- ration, but of a truenefs to a Man's felf, with end to make ufe of both. Certainly in Italy^ they hold it a little fufpedt in Fopej^ when they have often in their mouth 138 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Ejfays. mouth fndre commtme^ and take it to be a Sign of one that meaneth to refer all to the greatnefs of his own Houfe. Kings had need beware^ how they fide them- felves, and make themfelves as of a FaBlm or Party ; for Leagues within the State are ever pernicious to Monarchies ; for they raife an Obligation^ Paramount to Obligation of Soveraignty^ and make the King, T'anquam unus ex vohis ^ as was to bc feen in the League of France, When FaB'mts are carried too high^ and too violently, it is a fign of weaknefs in Princes, and much to the prejudice both of their Authority and Bu- iineft. The motions of FaBions under Kings, ought to be like the motions (as the j^fircnomers fpeak ) of the Inferior Orbs, which may have their proper motions, but yet fiiil are quietly carried by the higher motion of Trimttm Mobile^ LIL Of Ceremonies and Reffe^s. HE tiiat is only real, had need have exceeding great parts of Virtue , as the Stone had need to be rich, that is fet without foil. But if a Man mark it well, it is in praife and commendation of Men, as it is in gettings and gains : For the Proverb is true. That iight gains make h&a'vy furfes ' for light gains come thick, whereas great come but now and then. So it IS true , that fmall matters win great commendation^ becaufe they are continually in ufe, and in note ,* where- as the occafion of any great Virtue conieth but on Fcfiivals. Therefore it doth much add to a Man's Re- putation, and is, (as Queen Ifabella faid) Like perpetual Lt'ttcrs Commendatory^ to have good forms. To attain them, it almoft fufficeth not to dcfpife them ,• for fo laaJi a Man obferve them in others : And let him truft ' himfelf Of Ceremonies and RefpeSis. 1 55^ hinifelf with the reft. For if he labour too much to exprefs them, he fliall lofe their Grace^ which is to be Natural and Unaffedled. Some Mens behaviour is like a Verfe, wherein every Syllable is meafured. How can a Man comprehend great matters, that breaketh his mind too much to fmall obfervations ? Not to ufe Ceremonies at all, is to teach others not to ufe them a- gain ; and fo diminifh reffeB to himfelf ; efpecially^ they are not to be omitted to ftrangers, and formal Natures : But the dwelling upon them, and exalting- them above the Moon, is not only tedious, but doth diminifh the faith and credit of him that fpeaks. And certainly, there is a kind of conveying of effectual and imprinting Paffions amongft Complements, which is of lingular ufe, if a Man can hit upon it. Amongft a Man's Peers, a Man (hall be fure of familiarity ; and therefore it is good a little to keep State. Amongft a Man s Inferiors, one lliall be fure of Reverence ; and therefore it is good a litde to be familiar. He that is too much in any thing, fo that he giveth ano- ther occafion of Society, maketh himfelf cheap. To apply ones felf to others is good, fo it be with De- monftration, that a Man doth it upon regard, and not facility. It is a good Precept generally in Seconding another, yet to add fomewhat of ones own ; as if you would grant his opinion, let it be with fome diftind:i- Dn ,• if you will follow his Modon , let it be with Condition ,• if you allow his CouniTel, let it be with alledging further Reafon. Men had need beware, how they be too perfed in Complements : For be they never fo fufficient otherwife, their enviers will be fure to give them that Attribute, to the difadvantage of their greater Vertues. It is lofs alfo in bufinefs, to be too full of refpeBsy or to be too curious in obferving Times and Opportunities. Solomon faith. He that conji- dcreth the Wind Jliall mt Sow, and he that looketh to the Clouds jhall not Reap, A wife Man will make more op- portunities than he finds. Mens Behaviour ihould be like 140 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. like their Apparel^ not too Strait, or point device, but free for Exercife or Motion. p LIIL OfPraife. RAISE is the Refledion of Vertue, but it is as the Glafs or Body which giveth the Reflection. If it be from the common People^ it is commonly falfe and naught, and rather followeth vain Perfons than vertuous. For the common People underftand not many excellent vertues : the lowelt vertues draw praife from them, the middle vertues work in them A- lionifliment or Admiration, but of the higheft \'irtues they have no fence or perceiving at all, but fhews and Sfeeies 'virtutibus fimiles ferve beft with them. Cer-- tainly Fame is like a River, that beareth up things light and fwoln, and drowns things weighty and folid : But if Perfons of Quality and Judgment concur, then k is, ("as the Scripture faith J Nomcn honum infiar un- gmnti fyagrmtis. It fiileth all round about, and will not eafrl}^ away : For the Odours of Oyntments are more durable than thofe of Flowers. There be fb many falfe Points of Vraife that a Man may juftly hold it a fulped. Some Traifes proceed meerly of Flattery, and if he be an ordinary Flatterer, he will have certain common Attributes, which may ferve e- very Man : If he be a cunning Flatterer, he will fol- low the Arch Flatterer, which is a Man's felf : And wherein a Man thinketh beft of himfelf, thefein the Flatterer will uphold him moft ,• but if he be an im- pudent Flatterer, look wherein a Man is confcious to himfelf that he is moft defective, and is moft out of Countenance in himfelf, that will the Flatterer Eriti- tie him to per force, Sp-eta Conjclaitia. Some Vraijts come Of Prdife. 141 come of good vvifhes and refpeds^ which is a form due in Civility to Kings and great Peribns, Laudundo fra~ dperey when by telling Men what thoy are, they re- prefent to them what they fhould be. Some Men ar6 praifcd malicioufly to their hurt, thereby to llir envy and jealoufie towards them, TeJJimmn gcmts immicorHm lauJaritmm, infomuch as it was a Proverb amongft the Grecians ^ that he that was praifed to his hurt jliouhl ba-ve a pujh rife upon his Nofe ; as wc fay^ That a blifler will rife upon ones Tongue that tells a Lye. Certainly mo- derate praife^ Lifed with opportanity, and not vulgar, is that which doth the good. Solomon faith^ He th Francis Bacon'5 E(fays;. Oj Vain Glory, IT was prettily devifed oT a^^fopy TJje Fly fate upon the •*• Axletree of the Chariot-JVhatlj and f aid ^ What a Duft do I raife ? So are there fome vain Verfons^ that whatfoe- ver goeth alone^ or moveth upon greater means^ if they have never fo little hand in it^ they think it is they that carry it. They that are glorious ^ muft needs be factious ; for all bravery Hands upon comparifons. They muft needs be violent, to make good their own vaunts. Neither can they be fecret, and therefore not effeclual ; but according to the French Proverb, Beau- coup de Bruit y peu de Fruit ; Much Bruit y little Fruit. Yet certainly there is ufe of this Quality in Civil Af- fairs. Where there is an Opinion and Fame to be created, either of Virtue or Greatnefs, thefe Men are good Trumpeters, Again, as Titus Lizfius noteth in the cafe of Jntiochusy and the ny^tolians^ There are fdme^ times great effeBs of crofs Lyes : As if a Man that Ne- gotiates between two Princes, to draw them to joyn in a War again ft the third, doth extol the Forces of either of them above meafure, the one to the other : And fometimes he that deals between Man and Man, raifeth his own credit with both, by pretending great- er Intereft than he hath in either. And in thefe and the like kinds, it often falls out, that fomejvhat is pro- duced of nothing : For Lyes are fufficient to breed O- pinion, and Opinion brings on Subftance. In Milita- ry Commanders and Soldiers, Fain Glory is an efTen- tial Point : For as Iron ftarpens Iron, fo by Glo?y one Courage fliarpneth another. In cafes of great En- terprife, upon Charge and Adventure, a Compofition of Glorious Natures doth put Life into Bufmefs ,• and thofe that are of folid and fober Natures have more of Of Vain Glory. \^^ of the Ballaft than of the Sail. In Fame of Learn- ing the Flight will flow ^ without fome Feathers of Ofientatioft. Qui de contem7iencla Gloria Lilros fa'ihurit, Jt^omcn [uum infcrihuTJt, Socrates, ArifiotUy Gal^n, were Men full of Ofterjtation. Certainly Vain Glory helpeth to perpetuate a Man's Memory ^ and Virtue was ne- ver fo beholden to humane Nature^ as it received his due at the Second Hand. Neither had the Fame of Cicero, Seneca, Tlinius Secundus, born her Age lb well, if it had not been joyned with fome Vanity in them- felves ,• like unto Vamip, that makes Cielings not on- ly lliine^ but laft. But all this while, when I fpeak of Vain Glory, I mean not of that property that Tacitus 'doth attribute to Mudanus, Omnium cjua dixerat^ fece- rat(jue. Arte quadam Osfentator : For that proceeds not of Vanity, but of Natural Magnanimity and Difcreti- on : And in fome Perfons^, is not only Comely, but Gracious. For Excufations, Ceffions, Modefty it felf well governed, are but Arts of Ofientation. And i- mongft thofe Arts there is none better than that which Vlinius Secundus Ipeaketh of, which is to be liberal of Praife and Commendation to others, in that wherein a Man's felf hath any Perfection. For , faith Vlmy very wittily y In commending another , you do your felf right : For he that you commend, is either Superior to you, in that you commend, or Inferior. If he be Inferior, if be he to he commended, you much more: If he be Super isr, if he be not to b§ commended , you much lefs Glorious. Men are the fcorn of wife Men, the admiration of Fools, the Idols of Parafites, and the Slaves of their own Vaunts. Of 144 ^^^ Francis Bacon f EJfap. IN. Of Honour and Reputation. 'T'HE Winning of Honour is but the revealing of •*■ Man*s Virtue and Worth without Difadvantage. For fome in their AdHons do woo and affect Homur and Refutation ; wliich fort of Men are commonly much talked of, but inwardly little admired. And fome, contrariwife, darken their Virtue in the fhew of it^ fo as they be undervalued in Opinion. If a Man perform that which hadi not been attempted before, or attempted and given over, or hath been atchieved, but not with fo good circumftance^ he fhall purchafe more Ho7wur, than by effeding a matter of greater difficulty or virtue, wherein he is but a follower. If a Man fo temper his Adions^ as in fome one of them he doth content every Fadion or Combination of People, the Mufick will be the fuller. A Man is an ill Husband of his Honour that entreth into any Adi- on, the failing wherein may difgrace him more than the carrying of it through can Honour him. Honour that is gained and broken upon another, hath the quickeft refledion, like Diamonds cut with Fafcets. And therefore let a Man contend to excel any Com- petitors of his in Honour ^ m out-lhooting them, if he can, in their own Bow. Difcreet Followers and Ser- vants help much to Reputation : Omnis fama a Dome- fticis emanat. Envy, which is the Canker of Honour is befl: extinguiflied by declaring a Man's felf in his ends, rather to feek Merit than Fame ; and by attributing a Mans fucceffes, rather to Divine Providence and Felicity than to his own Virtue or Policy. The true marihalling of the Degrees of Soveraign Honour, are thefe. In the firft place are, Conditorcs Imferiorum^ FGu'rjdcrs of States^ and Commomi;ealths ; fuch as were Romulus, Of Honour and Refutation. 145 'Romulus y Cyrus J Cafar^ Ottoman ^ Ifmael. In the fecond place are^ Legijlatores^ La'w-gi^ers ; which are alfo cal- led Second Founders, or Terpetui Principes, becaufe they govern by their Ordinances after they are gone ; fuch were Ljcurgus, Sohn^ JuTiiman^ Edgar , ^lpho?jfus of Caftile the wife^ that made the Siete Patridas. In the third place are^ Liber at ores or Sahatores ^ fuch as com- pound the long miferies of Civil Wars, or deliver their Countreys from Servitude of Strangers or Tyrants ; as Auguftus Ciefary Vefpafiamts , Jurelianus, Theodorkusy King Henry the Seventh of England, King Henry the Fourth of France. In the fourth place are Propagatores, or Propugnatores Imperii ; fuch as in Honourable Wars enlarge their territories, or make noble defence againft Invaders. And in the laft place are Patres Patria^ which Reign juftly, and make the times good wherein they live. Both which laft kinds need no Examples, they are in fuch number. Degrees of Honour in Sub- jects are : Firft, Participes Curarum, thofe upon whom Princes do difcharge the greateft Weight of their Af- fairs, their Rigk Hands, as we call them. The next are. Duces Belli, Great Leaders, fuch as are Princes Lieutenants, and do them notable fervices in the Wars. The third are Gratiofi, Favourites, fuch as need not this fcantling, to be Solace to the Soveraign, and harmlefs to the People. And the fourth NegotUs Pares, fuch as have great places under Princes, and execute their pla- ces with fufficiency. There is an Honour likewife which may be ranked amongft the greateft, which hapneth rarely, that is, of fuch as Sacrifice tbemfehes to Death or Danger for the Good of their Countrey ^ as was M. Regu- ksy and the two Decii, t Of 1 4^ Sir Francis Bacon 5 Efays. LVL Of Judicature. JUDGES ought to remember^ that their Office is, yus dicere^ and not Jus dare : To inter fret Law, and not to ^mke Law, or gi^e Law: Elfe will it be like the ' Authority claimed by the Church of Rome, which under pretext of expofition of Scripture, doth not ftick to add and alter, and to pronounce that which they do not find ; and by jhew of Anticjulty to introduce Novelty. Judges ought to be more learned than Witty, more Re- verend than Plaufible, and more advifed than Confi- dent. Above all things Integrity is their Portion and proper Virtue : Cwfed (faith the Law) is he that remo- ^eth the Latd Mark. The miflayer of a meer-Stone is to blame ^ bat it is the un juft Judge that is the Capital Re- mover of Land-Marks, when he definethamifs of Lands and Property. One foul Sentence doth more hurt than many foul Examples,- for thefcdo but corrupt the Stream, the other corrupteth the Fountain. So faith Solomon^ Fons turhatusy d^ f^cna comipa, eft Juftus c a dens in caufa Jua coram Ad'verfario. The Office of Judges may have reference unto the Parties that fue^ unto the Ad'vocates that fUady unto the clerks and Mlnlfters of Juftlce un- derneath them, and to the Soveraign or State above them. Firft, For the Caufcs or Parties that fue. There he (faith the Scripture^ that turn Judgment into Wormwood ,• and furely there be alfo that turn it into Finegar ; for In- juftice maketh it bitter, and Delays make it four. The principal Duty of a Judge is to fupprefs force and fraud, whereof force is the more pernicious when it is open, and fraud wlien it is ciofe and difguifed. Add thereto contentious Siiits, which ought to be fpewed out as the Surfeit of Courts. A Judge ought to prepare his way Of Judicature. 147 to a Jufl: Sentence^ as God ufeth to prepare his way by raifing Valleys^ and taking down Hills : So when there ??ppeareth on either fide an high Hand, violent Profe- cution, cunning Advantages taken , Combination^ Power, Great Counfel, then is the Virtue of a Judge feen, to make Inequality Equal, that he may plant his Judgment as upon an even Ground. Qui fortiter emun- glty elicit [avguinem ,• and where the Wine-Prels is hard wrought, it yields a harili Wine that taftes of the Grape-Stone. Judges muft beware of hard Conftru- d:ions, and {trained Inferences ,• for there is no worfe Torture than the Torture of Laws, efpecially, in cafe of Laws penal ,* they ought to have care, that that which was meant for Terror, be not turned into Ri- gor, and that they bring not upon the People that Shower whereof the Scripture Ipeaketh, Tlmt fu^er eos Lacjueos : for penal Laws prelTed are a Shower oi Snares upon the People. Therefore let Tenal Laws^ if they have been Sleepers of long, or if they be grovv^n unfit for the prefent Time, be by wife Judges confined in the Execution, Judicis Ojflcium efl, ut Res ita Tempora Rerum, &C. In Cattfes of Life and Death, Judges ought (as far as the Law permitteth) in Juftice to remember Mercy ; and to caft a fevere Eye upon the Example^ but a merciful Eye upon die Perlbn. Secondly, For the Advocates and Council xh2.t plead j Patience and Gravity of hearing is an effential part or Juftice, and an over-fpeaking Judge is no well-tuned CymbaL It is no Grace to a Judge, firft to find that which he might have heard in due time from the Bar, Or to fliew quicknefs of conceit in cutring off Evi- dence or Counfei too Hiort, or to prevent Inibrmations by Queftions though pertinent. The parts of a Judgd in hearing are four ; To dired: the Evidence ,• to mo- derate length, repetition, or impertinency of Speech. To Recapitulate, Seled, and Collate the material Points of that which hath been faid ; And to give the Ruk or Sentence. Whatfoever is above thefe, is too L 2 much^ 148 Sir Francis iBacons E/fays. much ; and proceedeth cither of Glory and willing- nefs to fpeak^ or of Impatience to hear, or of fliort- nels of Memory, or ot want of a flayed and equal Attention. It is a ftrange thing to fee, that the bold- nefi of Advocates fhould prevail with Judges • where- as they fhould imitate God in whofe feat they fit, who reprejjeth the Prefumptuous, and glnjeth Grace to the Modefi, But it is more ftrange, that Judges fhould have noted Favourites ; which cannot but caufe multiplication of Fees, and fulpicion of By-ways. There is due from the Judge to the Advocate fome Commendation and Gracing, where Caufes are well handled, and fair plea- ded ,• efpecially towards the fide which obtaineth not ; for that upholds in the Client the Reputation of his Counfel , and beats down in him the conceit of his Caufe. There is likewife due to the Puhlkk a civil Re- prehenfion of Advocates, where there appeareth cun- ning Counfel, grofs Negled, flight Information, in- difcreet Preffing, or an overbold Defence. And let not the Counfel at the Bar chop with the Judge, nor wind himfelf into the handling of the Caufe anew, after the Judge hath declared his Sentence : But on the other fide, let not the Judge meet the Caufe half way, nor give occafion to the Party to fay. His Coun- fel or Proofs were not heard. Thirdly, For that that concerns Clerks and Mimfiers, The Place of Juftice is an hallowed Place ; and diere- fore not only the Bench, but the Foot-pace, and Pre- cincls , and Purprifc thereof ought to be preferved without Scandal and Corruption. For certainly Grapes (^as the Scripture faith) will not he gathered of i'horns or Thifdes ^ neither can Jufiice yield her Fruit with S weet- nefs amongit the Briars and Brambles of Catching and Poling Cltrks and Minifiers. The Attendance of Courts is fubj'ed to four bad Inftruments : Firft , Certain Perlons that are fowers of Suits which make the Court fwell, and the Country pine. The fecond fort is. Of thofe that engage Courts in Qiiarrels of Jurifdidi- 011, Of Judicature. 14^ on^ and are not truly Amid Cwi^y but Tarajiti Cim^y m puffing a Court up beyond her bounds, for their own Scraps and Advantage. The third Ibrt is^ Of thofe that may be accounted die Left hands of Courts ^ Perfons that are full of nimble and llnifter tricks and fliifts, whereby they pervert the plain and dire6l Cour- fes of Court Sy and bring Juftice into oblique lines and Labyrinths. And the fourth is, the Poller and Ex- a6ter of Fees^ which juftifies the common refcmblance of the Courts of Jusiice to the Rufh^ whereunto while the ilieep flies for Defence in Weather, he is fure to lofe part of his Fleece. On the other fide, an Anch7jt Clerk, skilful in Precedents^ wary in proceeding, and underftanding in the Bufnefs of the Court, is an excel- lent Finger of a Courts and dodi many times point the way to the Judge himfelf Fourthly, For that which may concern the So-ve- raign and Eftate, Judges ought above all to remember the conclufion of the Roman Twel've Tables, Salus To fu- ll Suprewa Lex ; and to know, that Laws, except they be in order to that end, are but things captious, and Oracles not well infpired. Therefore it is an happy dilng in a State, when Kings and States do often con- fult with Judges ; and again, when Judges do often confult with the Ki7?g and Stare : The one, when there is a matter of Law intervenient in bulinefs of State ; The other, when there is fome confideration of State intervenient in matter of Law. For many times the things deduced to Judgment may be Meum and Tuum, when the reafon and confequence thereof may Trench to point of FJiate, I call matter of Eftate not only the parts of Sovcraignty, but whatfoever introduceth any great Alteration, or dangerous Precedent, or con- cerneth manifeftly any great portion of People. And let no Man weakly conceive, that Juft Laws and true Pclic}' have any Ajitlpahy : For they are like Spirits and binews, that one moves with the other. Let Judges alfo remember^ That Solomons Throne was fuppoj ted by J. 9 Lions 150 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Efays. Lions on both fides : Let them be Lions^ but yet Li- ons under the Thro7ie ; being circumfped^ that they do not check or oppofe any points of So'veraigmy, Let not Judges alfo be fo ignorant of their own right, as to think there is not left to them, as a Principal part of their Office, a wife Ufe and Application of Laws ^ for they may remember what the Jl^ollle faith of a greater Law than theirs, Nos fcimus i^uia Lex bona efi^ modo quis ea utatur legitime. LVIL Of Anger. TO feek to extinguifli Anger utterly, is but a brave- ry of the Stoicks. We have better Oracles : Bt ^T^gyy^ bat fin not. Let not the Sun go down upon yom' an- gir. Ar.gtr muft bc limited and confined, both in Race and Time. We will firft fpeak, how the Natural In- clination and Habit to be angq^ may be attempted and calmed. Secondly, How the particular motions of arger may be repreffed, or at leall refrained from do- ing mifchief. Thirdly, How to raife anger ^ or appeafe anger in another. For the '\i^ : There is no other way but to Medi-^ tate and ilumiiiate well upon the effed:s oi Anger ^ how it troubles Man s Life. And the befl: time to do this is, to look back upon Anger ^ when the fit is throughly over. Sauca iaith well,* That Anger is like Ruine^ whick breaks it ydf upon that it fulls. The Scripture exhorteth us. To fcjjtjs our Souls in f faience, Wholoever is out of fatitnciy is out of Poirellion of his Soul Men muft np^ ty^vn Bees ; ' Of Anger. 1 5 1 Anger is certainly a kind of BaC^nefs ,• as It appears well in the Weaknefs of thofe Subjeds in whom it reignSj Children, Woinen^ Old Folks, Sick Folkb. On- ly Mtn muft beware, that they carry their Avger ra- ther with Scorn, than with Fear : So that they may (eem rather to be above the injury than below it, which IS a thing eafily done^ if a Man v/ill give Law to him- felf in it. For the fecond Point. The Caufes and Moti^jes of Anger are chiefly three: Firft, to be too ftvfibk o{ hurt: For no Man is Angry diat feels not himfelf hurt ,• and therefore tender and delicate Perfons muft needs be of- ten Angry: They have fo many things to trouble them, which 'more robuft Natures have lirtle fence of. The next is, the jApprehcnlion and Conftrudion of ri*e In- jury olTercd, to be in the *circumllances thereof, fiill of contempt. For contempt is that which putteth an edge upon A??gcr^ as much or more than tlie hurt it felf: And therefore when Men are ingenious in picking «)ut circuniilances o^ con'fmpr^ they do kindle their An- ger much. Laftiy, Opinion of the touch of a Man's RevTtaiufS doth multiply and fliarpen Afjger : Where- in the remedy is, that a Man fhould have, as Gon/aho Vv^as wont to lay, Tela7n Honoris Cr^^ffiorem, But in all refrainings oi dinger ^ it is the beft remedy to win Time, and to make a Man's felf believe that the Opportuni- ty of liis revenge is not yet come ,• but that he fore- lees a time for it, and fo to Itill liimfelf in the mean time, and relerve it. To contain Anger from Mifchicf, though it take hold of a Man, there be two things, whereof you mult have Ipecial Caution : The one, of extream hitttmefs of Words ^ elpecially if they be Aculeate and Proper ; for Communia MalediBa are nothing fo much. And a- gain. That in Anger a Man reveal no Secrets ,• for that makes him not fit for Society. The other. That you do not peremptorily break off in any bufuiefs in a tit of L 4 Anger '^ 152 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. Anger; but howfoever you fiie-w bitternefs^ do not a^ any thing that is not revocable. For raifitjg and atteafing Anger in another : It is done chiefly by chufivg or Times ; when Men are frowardeft and worft difpoled, to incenfe them. Again^ by ga- thering (as was touched before) all that you can find out to aggravate the contempt ; and the two remedies are by the contraries : The former^ to take good Times, when firft to relate to a Man an avgry bufuiefs : For the firft Impreffion is much ; and the other is, to fever as much as may be the Conltruclion of the Injury from the Point oicontemft; imputing it to Mifunderftanding, Fear, Paffion, or what you will. LVIII. Of Vici[fitude of Things. So L O AI O N faith, T/:ere is m m-w thing upon the Earth, So that as Vlato had an imagination. That ail kvcwltdge jvas hut a remembrance : So Solomon giveth his lentence. That all jSlcvdty is but Oblivion : Whereby %'ou may fee, That the River of Lethe runneth as well above ground as below. There is an abftrufe Aftro- loger that faith. If it were vot jor two things that are conjiant^ (The one is^ That the fixed Stars ever fi and at like dihance one from another ^ arid ntvwe that he cunning- ly gave out, how Cafars own Soldiers loved him not; and being wearied with the Wars, and laden with the Ipoils of Gaul^ would forfake him a? foon as he came into Italy, Li'via fetled all things for the Succet fion of her Son Tihtrius^ by continual giving out, that her Husband AttguHus was upon recovery and amend- ment. And it is ^n. ufual thing with Bajhaivs ^ to conceal the Death of the great Tnrk from the Janiz^a^ vies and Men of War, to fave the Sacking of Confian- tinople , and other Townsy as their manner is. Themi^ fiocles made Xerxes King of Terfia poft apace out of Gr^cia, by giving out that the Grecians had a purpofe to break his BriJge of Ships, which he had made athwart Heilefpoj^t, There be a thoufand fuch like Examples ; and the more they are , the lefs they need to be re- peated ; becaufe a Man meeteth with them every where : Therefore, let all wife Gcuernours have as great a watch and care over I^ame^ as they have of the Anions and defigns themfelves. The reft was not finijlje^. A Chil i6o Sir Francis Bacon'^ W^y^' LX. A Civil Chara^er of Julius Ca^far. JULIUS C<^ S A R was partaker at firft of an exercifed Fortune ,• which turned to his benefit : For it abated the haughtinefs of his fpirit, and whet- ted his Induftry. He had a^Mind^ turbulent in his De- fires and AffeAions ; but in his judgment and under- ftanding very ferene and flacid : And this appears by his eafie deliverances of himfelf, both in his Tranfadi- ons and in his Speech. For no Man ever refolved more fwifcly^ or fpake more perfpicuoufly and plainly. There was nothing forced or difficult in his expreffions. But in his will and appetite, he was of that Conditi- on, that he never refted in thole things he had got- ten • but ftill thirfted and purfued after new ,* yet fo, that he would not rufli into new Affairs raihly, but fetde and make an end of the former, before he at- tempted frefh Adions. So that he would put a fea- fbnable period to all his Undertakings. And there- fore , though he won many Battles in Sfain, and weakned their Forces by degrees j yet he would not give over, nor defpife the Relicks of the Civil War there, till he had feen all things compofed : But then affoon as that was done, and the State fetled, inftant- ly he advanced in his Expedition againft the Varthi^ atjs. He was, no doubt, of a very noble Mind ,• but yet fuch as aimed more at his f articular Advancement^ than at any Merits for the Common Good, For he re- ferred all things to Himfelf ; and was the true and per- fe(5l Centre of all his Adions. By which means, be- ing lb faft tied to his Ends, he was Hill profperous, and prevailed in his Purpofes ,• Infomuch, that neither Cottntrj, nor Religion^ nor good Turns done him, nor Kindred^ i Of Julius Cd^ far. i^l Kindredy nor FriendJJjip diverted his Appetite^ nor brid- led him from purfuing his own Ends. Neither was he much inclined to oi^orks of Ferpetuity : For he eftabliili- ed nothing for the future ; He founded no fumptuous Buildings ^ He procured to be enaded no wholfome Lawsy but ftill minded himfelf : And fo his thoughts were confined within the Circle -sf his own Life. He fought indeed after Fame and Reputation, becaufe he thought they might be profitable to his Defigns : Other- wife^ in lis inward thoughts be propounded to himfelf rather Ahjolutenefs of Tower , than Honour and Fame, For as for Honour and Fawe^ he purfued not after them for themfelves ,• but becaufe they v/ere the Inftruments of Vowev and Greatncfs. And therefore he was carri- ed on through a Natural Inclination^ not by any Rules that he had learned^ to effed the fole Regijncnt ; and rather to enjoy the fame than to feem -worthy of it. And by this means he won much Reputation amongft the Veopk, who are no valuers of true Worth : But a- mongft the Ncl^ility and great Men, who were tender of their own Honours, it procured him no more than this, that he incurred the Brand of an Ambitious and Daring Man, Neither did they much err fccMii the Truth who thought him fo ,• for he was by Nature exceeding hold; and never did put on any fhew of Modefty, except it were for fome purpofes. Yet notwichftanding, he fo attempted his Bohhefsy that it neither impeached him of Rafhnefs ,• nor was burthenfome to Men ^ nor rendred his Nature fufpeded, but was conceived to flow out of an Innate ^^inceriry and freenefs of Beha- viour ^ and the Kohuuy of his Birth : And in all other things he palled, not for a Crafty and Deceitful Perfon, but for an open hearted and plain-dealing Man. And whereas he was indeed an ^.rch-Follticu,n, tb.at could counterfeit and diifemble fufliciently well ; and was wholly compounded ofir^^Wjand Deceits , lothattherG was nothing f^xere in him, but all f>rtifcial , yet he M covered. \62 Sir Francis Bacons Efays. covered, and difguifed himfelf fo^ that no fuch Vices,* appeared to the Eyes of the World ,• but he was gene- rally reputed to proceed plainly and uprightly with all Men. Howbeit^ he did not ftoop to any petty and mean Artifices, as they do, which are ignorant in State Employments ; and depend not fo much upon the ftrength of their own Wits, as upon the Counfels and Brains of others, to fupport their Authority ^ for he was skilled in the Turnings of all Humane Affairs ; and tranfad:ed all Matters, efpecially thofe of high Confequence by himfelf, and not by others. He was Angularly skilful to avoid £?;i;/ ; and found it not impertinent to his Ends, to decline that, though it were with fome diminution of his Dignity, For aiming at a Real PoTi^er, he Vv^as content to pafs by all vain Pomp and outward fliews of Power throughout h'.s wliole Life ; Till at the laft, whether high-tlown v/ich the continual Exercife of Fewer, or corrupted with Flatteries, he affected the £wj%wj of P^2/;fr, (the .Sr/7^ and Diadem of a Kirg,) which was the Bait that wrought his Overthrow. This is true, that he harboured the thoughts of a Kingdom from his very youth : And hereunto the Ex- dmfk of Sylla, and the Kindred of Marius, and his E- mulat'wn of 'Pomfey, and the Corruption and Ambition of the Times, did prick him forward : But then he paved his way to a Kivgdom, after a wonderful and ftrange r anner. As firlt, by a Popular and Seditious Power ; aftervx'ards by a Military Power, and that of a General in JVar. For there was required to effed his Ends ; I'irll^ That he jTiould break the Pcvjer and Authority of the Senate ; which, as long as it flood firm, was ad- verfe, and an hindrance, that no Man could climb to Sovcraignty and Imperial Command. Then the Power of Cr.ijjus and Pompcy was to be fubdued and quelled, which could not be done otherwife, than by Arms. And therefore (as the mofl Cwmivg Contriver of Jiis own roYtimY he laid his fir ft Foundation by Bnhes ; By Of Julius Cdefar. i6^ By corrupting the Courts of Jufiice, by renewing the memory Qi Cams Marius^ and his party ; For moll of the Senators and Nobility were of Syll.is Faclkn : by the Law of diftrihutivg the Fields ainongfl the Common Teople : by the Sedition of the Trilpuyjes, where he was the Auth(yr : by the madntfs and fury of Catiline ^ and the Confpiratorsy unto which Acnon he fecretly blew the Coals ! By the Baniflment of Cicero, which was the greateft Blow, to the Authority of the Senate, as might be J- and feveral other the like Arts : But mofl of all by the ConjunBion of Crajfus and ToTj^'pey, both betwixt themfelves, and with him; which was the thing that fi- nifhed the work. Having accompliflit this part, he betook himfelf to the other ; which was to make ufe of, and to enjoy his power. For being made Vroconful of France for five years ; and afterwards continuing it for five years more ; he furniflied himfelf with Arms and LegiofjSy and the power of a Warlike and Opulent Province ; as was formidable to Italy. Neither was he ignorant, that after he had ftrength- tied himfelf with Arms and a Military Tower, neither CraJJus nor Tompey could ever be able to bear up againft him > v/hereof the one trufted to his great Riches, the other to his Fame and Reputation * the one decayed through Age, the other in Power and Authority: And neither of them were grounded upon true and lafting Foundations. And the rather, for that he had obliged all the St»ators and Magifirates : And in a v/ord, all tlwfe that had any power in the Common-wealthy fo firmly to himfelf, with private benefits, that he was fearlefs of any Combination or Oppofition againft his Dtfigns^ till he had openly invaded the Imperial Which things, though he always bare in his Mind^ dfed at th^ laft aded it, yet he did not lay down his feftt^f p^ribil j but coloured things fo, that what Mrifh iM reafoaablenefs of his Demands^ what with M z his i 1^4 ^^^ Francis Bacon'5 E/fays. his pretences of Peace^ and what with the moderate life of his Succeffes^ he turned all the En^j of the Jd- rucrfe Varty^ and feemed to take up Arms upon neceffity for his own prefervation and fafety. But the falfenefe of this pretence manifeftly appeared ; inafmuch as foon after having obtained the Regal Toiver^oW Ci'vilWar being appeafed^ and all his Rivals and Oppofitesy which might put him to any fear^ being removea out of the way by the ftroke of Death ; notwithftanding he ne- ver thought of refigmvg the Repuhlkk ; no, nor ever made any fliew or offer of rejigging the fame. Which ftewed plainly, that his ambition of being a Kmg was fetled in him, and remained with him unto his laft. breath. For he did not lay hold upon occafions, as they hapned, but moulded and formed the occalions, ashim- Iclfpleafed. His chief AhlUties confifted in Martial Knowledge ; in which he fb excelled, that he could not only lead an Army, but mould an Army to his own Hking. For he. was not more skilful in managing Affairs, than in 2^7>;wV?^ of Hearts. Neither did he affecl: this by any ordinary Difcipline, as by inuring them to fulfil all his commands; or by ftriking a jname into them to difobey, or by carrying a fevere Hand over them : But by fuch a way as did wonderfully ftir up an ala- crity and chearfulnefs in them : and did in a fort alTure him of the Victory aforehand, and which did oblige the Soldier to him, more than was fit for a Free Efiute, Now vv/hereas he was verfed in all kinds of Martial Kmwledge , and joyned Civil Arts with thq j jirts of War ; nothing came fo fuddenly, or fo un- lock for upon him, for which he had not a remedy ac and : And nothing was foaverfe, but that he could pi^K fomething for his Turn and Benefit out of it. He ftood fufficiently upon his State and Greatnefs, For in great Battels, he would fit at home in the Head Quart tr^ and manage all Things by Meffages, which wrought him a double benefit. Firft, that it fecured his Of Julius Cdefar. 1^5 his Terfon more^ and expofed him the lefs to Davger. Secondly^ that if at any time his Army was vvorfted, he could put new fpirit into them with his own pre- fence, and the Additio7i o( frejl) Fcrces, and turn the Fortune of the Day. In the conducing of his Ti^ars, he would not only follow former Frecedefits^ but he was able to devile and purfue new Stratagems, according as the accidents and occafions required. He was conflant, and fingularly kind^ and indul- gent in his FriencJjhips contradcd. Not wirli Handing, he made choile of fuch Friends, as a Man might easi- ly fee, that he chofe them rather to be hilhuments to his £wJj, than for any Good will towards them. And whereas, by Nature, and out of a firm Pvcfolution, he adhered to this Principle ,• not to be eminent amongfl Great and deferring Men ,• but to be chief amongfl: Inferiours and Vajfals : he chofe only mean and aflive Men, and fuch as to whom himfelf might be all in all. And hereupon grew that faying ,• So let C^efar U've, though I die ; and other Speeches of that kind. As for the NohlUtj^ and thofe that were his Pt>rj, he contracted FriendJhip, with fuch of them as might be ufeful to him; and admitted none to his Cabinet Connelly but thofe that had their Fortunes wholly depending up- on him. He was moderately furnifhed with good Literature^ and the Arts ,• But in fuch fort as he applied his skill therein to Civil Volicy. For he was well read in Hiftc- Yj : and was expert in Rhttorlck, and the Art cffpeak^ ing. And becaufe he attributed much to his good Stars ^ he would pretend more than an ordinary Know- ledge in Ajhoncmy, As for El c^tiej-xe, and a prompt £/o- cution, that was Natural to him, and fare. He was dllTolute, and propenfc to Vclufuoufrefs and Tkajures ,• which ferved well at flrft for a C^ver to his Ambition, For no Man would imagine, that a Man fo loofely given could harbour a.iy Ambicious and Vaft Thoughts in his Heart. Norwichftanding, he fo go- M : verncd i66 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Efays. verned his Tleafuresy that they were no hindrance^ either to his profit, or to his bufinefs : And they did rather whet^ than dull the vigour of his Mind. He was Tern--. ferate at his Meals ^ free from Nicenefs and Curiofity in his Lufts^ pleafant and Magnificent ZZ pMick Interludes, Thus being accomplifhed^ the fame thing was the Means of his dcwn-falV^t laft,* which in his Beginnings was a flep co his Rife^ I mean his JffeBation of Popula- rity : For nothing is more popular, than to forgive our Er>cmks. Thiough which, either Vertae or Cumingy hq loft his Life. LXL A Civil Chara^er c/AuguftusCaefar, AUGUSTUS C<,y€SARy f if ever ^ny Mortal Man) was endued with a ^re^f»f// of Mind, un- MjtM. bed with ToJJiors^ clear and well ordered ^ which is evidenced by the High Atchtevements which he perfor- med in his early youth. For thole perfons which are of a turbulent Nature or Appetite , do commonly pafs their youth in many Errors ^ and about their middle^ and then^, and not before, they fliew forth their Terfdiions; but thofe that are of a fedate and calm Nature, may be ripe for great and glorious Ani- ons in their youth. And whereas the Faculties of the Mind, no left than the rarts and Members of the Body, do con lift and flourifii in a good temper of Health, and Beauty, ^n6. Stnvgth ; So he was in the ftrength of the Mind, inferior to" his Unkle Jtihus -, but in the Health. and Beauty of the Mind, fuperior. ' For Julius being pf an unquie^t and iincompoied Spirit, (as thofe, who are troubled with the Falll77g-Sickncj s for the moft par^ ^re,J notwithftanding he carried on his own ends witli jliUch Moderation zn'Q Di!cretioD ^ but he did not or- Of Auguftus Cdefar. i6j der his ends well^, propounding to himfelf, vaft and high Defigns, above the Reach of a Mortal Man, I3ut Augul^usy as a Man fober^ and mindful of \\\s MortaU* tVy leemed to propound no other ends to hiinfelf, than luch as were orderly and well weighed^^ and governed by Reafoh For firft he was defirous indeed to have the Rule and Prmdpalhy m his hands ; then he fought to appear \vorthy of that Fov^er which he ihould ac- quire : Nextj to etjjoy an Hlgb Flace^ he accounted but a Tranfttory Thing : Laftly^ He endeavoured to do fuch ABionsy as might continue his memory ^ and leave an Im- frejjlon of his good Government to After Ages. And there- fore^ in the begimlng of his Age^ lie affeded Power ; m fhe middle of his Age, Honour, and Dignity ; in the de- ^cline o( his years, Eafe and Fleafure; and in the W of his )lfife, he was wholly bent to Memory and Foflerity, M 4 THE THE TABLE. \J Of Ambition. Page II lor Of Amer. ISO Of Atbdfm, 41 Of Beauty, 156 OfBoldnefs. 29 Of Building. 119 Of Ctremcnies and ReffeBs, 138 OfComfel 5? Of Cunning, 58 Of Ciiftom and Education^ 107 Of Death, ; Of Deformity. 117 Of Delays, 57 OfDifcGurfe. 89 OfDiffatch, ^s OfE7f7pire, 48 Of En^j, 18 Of Ex fence. 7 lliould be coldcft ,• becaufe the Sun and 6'r^ri are either hot by D/>c^ Beams, or by rr;?cB:- cn. The ^irec? jBtJw; heat the /^pp.^r Region; the refueled Beams from the £^?rr/:? and 6"^^^, hear the L^i-tr Region, That which is in the mid' ft, being farther din ant m place from thefe t-wo Regions of /^t^i i lun i- part, whereby either Heat plealantly taken hold of by hini^ or Cold u made moreflrong who faid^ that an honcil man in initfelf, by the reftraining thefe days muft needs be more honeft 6fthe contrary. ^j^^^^^ -^ j^^^ heretofore, propter An- tiperiftafin, 'hecaufe thejlmtting of blmin the mid fi cf Con- traries mufi needs make the honefter fironger, and more com- faB in itfelf The Reprehenjion of this Colour is : Firft, Many things of ^w/?//r«^e in their kind do (zs, it were) engrofs to themfelves all, and leave that which is next them moft deftitute. As the Shoots, or Under- Wood, that grow near a great and fhread Tree, is the wofi fined and Piruhhy Wood of the Field ,• becaule the great Tree doth deprive and deceizfe them of thsfap and TJouriJhment ^ fb he faith well, Divitis fer'vi maxima Servi, That rich mens Servants are the greateft Slaves : And the Comparifon was pleafant of him, that compared Courtiers attendant in the Cotirts of Friitces , withouc great Tlace or Office, to Fafhing-dajs ^ which were next the Holy-days', but Other wifc were the leanefi days in all the Week. Another Reprehenfion is, that things of Greatnefs and Tredominancy , though they do not extenuate the things adjoyning in fubftances, yet they droipn them, and ob- [cure them in fljew and appearance. And therefore the Aftrmomers fay ; that, whereas in all otht:r Planets Con^ junction is the perfect eft amity, the Sun contrariwife is goaa by AfpeBy but ezfil by ConjunBioir^ A third Reprehevfion is, becaufe E'vd approacheth to Good, Ibmetimes £or concealment , tomctmcs hi prott^Ii on: And Good to E-v'd for converfijn and nformation. So Hypo- <:r///:^ draweth near to Religion io\: covert and hidingitidf, Scepe latet vitium proximitate boni. Oft, underneighb-ring Good, ViCQ Jhroivided lies. And «arii of Good and EviL 13 And SavBuary-m^xi^ which were commonly inordi^ Tjate men^ and Makfaciorsj were wont to be neareft to Priefisy and Frelates^ and Holy-men : for the Majefiy of ^co^ things is fuch, as the Coi^fines of them are reverend. On the other fide, oar Sa-ulour charged with nearnefs cf Ttihlica72s and Rioters, faid A/^s-r?. 9. ii. 77j^ Vhyjician afproasheth the Jick rather than the ivhole, 8i Quod cjuis culpa fua contraxk, Majus Malum : quod ah exteruis impojiitury Minus Malum, That is_, That ^ which a Man hath procured by his own De-^ faulty IS 2. greater mifchief (or Evil ;) that^ which is laid on by others^ is a leffer Evil. ''J TIE Reafon is, becaufe the fling and remorfe of the ^ mind, a ccu/Jfig It {dfy douh let h all Adverf]ty : Con- trariwife, the covfidering and recording inwardly, that a man is clear 2indfree from faulty and juft imputation, doth attempt outward Calamities. For if the Will he. in the Senfe, and in the Ccnfcience both, there is a gemina- tion of it : But ifEvilhe in the one, and Comfort in the <7r/^f r, it is a kind of Compofition : So the Pn fo'wer ; but amend- ment of our /(?;t?/;7^ fimply is not: Therefore DemoBhe- Ties m many of his Orations faith thus to the People of Athens^ That ivhich having regard to the time paft^ is the worje Voint and circumfiance of all the refi ^ That as to the time to COme^ is the hejk What is that ? Even this^ that hy your Sloth ^ Irrefolution^ and Mifgovernment^ your affairs are grown to this Declination and Decay : For^ had you ufed and ordtred your means and forces to the hejl^ and done your farts every way to the full- and notwithfianding your mat-- ters (loould have gone backward in this manner as they do^ there had been no hofe left of Recovery or Refutation. But Jince it hath'%een only hy your own errors^ &c. So EfiBetus in his Degrees faith^ The worft fiate of man is to accuse ex- tern Things^ better than that to accufe any man's felf, and heff of all to accufe neither. Another Refrehenfion of this Colour^ is in relpe6l of the well bearing of Evils, wherewith a man can charge no body but hiwfelf which maketh them the lefs, —— Leve ft, quod bene fertur onus : The Burthen s light, thafs on difcreetly laid. And therefore many natures, that are either extreamly proud, and will take no fault to thsmfdves ; or elfe very true of Good and Evil. 1 5 tm^, and cleaving to thcmfehesy (when they fee the hlame of any thing that falls out ill, muft light upon themfel'ves) have no other finft, but to hear it out weU^ and to w^^e the leasf of it: For, as we fee, when fbme- rimes a fault is commuted , and before it be known 7vbo is to blame, much ado is made of it; but after, if it ^ pear to be done by a Son, or by a Z^-^, or by a wf Or when he hears how {in that memorable Expedition of the Gods a- gainft the Giants) the braying of Silenus his Jfs, conduced much to the profligation of the Giants, doth not confidently imagine that it was invented to Jhew how the greateft enter prizes of Rebels are oftentimes difperfed with vain Rumors and Fears, Moreover, to what 'judgment can the Conformity and Signification of Names feem obfcure? Seeing Metis, the Wife o/" Jupiter, doth plainly figni fie Counfel: Ty- phon, Infurreilion : Pan, Vniver/ality : Nemefis, Re- venge, and the like : Neither let it trouble any man^ if fometimes he meet with Hiflorical Narrations^ or Additions for Ornament's fake^ or confufion of Times, or fomething transferred from one Fable to another, to bring in a new Allegory : For it could be no otherwife^ feeing they were the Inventions of Men ^ which lived in divers Ages, and had alfo divers Ends : Some be- ing ancient, others neoterical; fome have an eye to things Natural, others to Moral. There is another Argument, and that no fmall or,e neither^ to prove that thefe Fables contain certain hid-' de>i. The Preface. den^ and involved meanings, fi^^^ fi^€ of them ar^ olferved to he fo ahfurd^ and fooltfh^ in the very reUr tion that they /kew^ and as it were proclaim a Para-- lie afar of: For fuch Tales as are prohahle, they ntay feem to he invented for delight ^ and in imitation of Hiflory, And as for fuch as no man would fo much as imagine or relate, they feem to Le fought out for. other ends: For what kind of FiBion is thaty wherein ^Vki -p'iter is faid to have taken Metis to Wife; and, per- ceiving that fhe was with Child, to have devoured her; whence himfelf conceivings hrcught /wri Pallas armed, out of his Head ^ Truly, I think there was ne- ver Dream {fo different to the courfe of Cogitation^ and fo full of Monflrofity^ ever hatched in the ^rajn cf Man. Above all things , this prevails mojl with me and is of fingular moment, many of thefc Fables feem not to be invented of thofe by whom they are re- latedy and celebrated, as by Homer, Hefiod and others. For if it werefo^ that they took beginning in that Age^ and from thofe Authors by whom they are delivered, and brought to our hands : My Mind gives me^ there could he no great or high Matter expeBed^ or fuppor fed to proceed from them in refpeS: of thefe Originals. But if with attention we confider the Matter , it will ap- pear y that they were delivered, and related as things jormerly believed, and received, and not as newly inr vested, and offered unto iis, Befides, feeing they are diverfly related by H^riters that lived near about one and the felffame time, we may eafdy perceive that they were common things, derived from precedent Me- morials'; and that they became various, by reafon oj the divers Ornaments bellowed on them by f articular Re- lations : And the confederation of this mufl needs in- creafe The Preface. cYeaJe in us a great opinion of them^ as not to he ac* counted either the effe^s off the time^ or inventions of the FoetSy hut as f acred Relicks, or ahjl railed Airs of letter times ^ which ly Tradition from more Ancient J^ at tons ^ fell into the Trumpets and Flutes of the Grse- cians. But if any do ohfiinately contend. That ASe^ gpries are always advent it ially, and as it were ly con-^ ftraintj never naturally, and properly included in Fa- bles^ we will not he much trouhlefome, hut fnffer them to enjoy that gravity of Judgmefft, which I am fure they affect, altho,^gh indeed it he hut lumpifh^ and almofi leaden. And {jf they he worthy to he taken notice of) we will heg/n a frefh with them in fome other fajhion. There is found among Men^ {and it goes for current^ a twofold ufe ofParahles^ andthofe, (which is more to he admired^) referred to contrary ends ; conducing as well to the folding up, and keeping of things under a Veil, as to the enlightning and laying open of ohfcurities. But omit tingthe former^ {rather than to undergo wrang- ling, and affuming ancient Fahles as things vagrant, and compo fed only for delight,) the latter mufl quefli- onkfs jlill remain as not to he wrefled from us hy any violence oflVit, neither can any {that is hut meanly learned) hinder ; hut it mujl ahfolutely he received, as a thing grave, andfoher, free from all vanity, and ex- exceeding projitahle^ and neceffary to all Sciences. This is it, I fay, that leads the underflanding of Man by an ej(ie and gentle pajfage through all novel and ahflrufe inventions y which any way differ from common received Opinions. Therefore in thtfrjl Ages {when many humane Inventions and Conclujlons, ivhich are now common, and vulgar, were new, and not generally known, ) all things were Full of Fahles^ Enigmas, Fa- rahleSf Tihe Preface. rahleSy and Sim Hies of all forts: By which they fought to teach, and lay open^ not to hide and conceal Know- ledge ; efpecially feeing the Vnderflandings of Men voere inthofe times rude and impatient, and almofl tn-^ capable cf any Suhtiliies ; fuch things only excepted, CIS were the Ohjetl of Senfe ; for as Hieroglyphicks preceeded Letters, fo Parables were more ancient than Arguments. And in thefe days alfo^ he that would il- luminate .Mens minds anew in any old Matter, and that not with difprofit, and harjhnejs, mufl abfolutely take the fame Courfe, and ufe the help of Sim Hies. Where- fore after all that hath been f aid, ive mufi thus con- clude: The Wifdom of the Ancients, it was either much, or happy : Much, if thefe Figures and Tropes were invented by fludy and premeditation; Happy, if they {intending nothing lefiy ) gave Matter, and Oc- cafion to fo many worthy Meditations, As conceriiing my Labours, {if there be any thing in them which may do good, J I will on neither part count them ill beftow- ed, my purpofe being to illujtrate either Antiquity, of Things themfelves. N'either am I ignorant that this very Subje^ hath been attempted by others .• But to fpeak as I think, and that freely without ojientation, the Dignity and Efficacy of the Thing, is almojl lojl by thefe Mens Writings, though voluminous, and full of Pains, whilll not divhtginto the depth of Matters , but skilful only in certain common places, have applied th^ fenfe of thefe F arables to certain vulgar, and general Thingj, ?jot fo much as glancing at their true Vertue^ genuine Propriety, and full Depth, I {if I be not de- ceived, ) (hall be new in com.mon Things. Wherefore leaving fuch as are plain and open, I will aim at far- , ther and richer Matters* T O T H E BOOK. Rich Mine ej Art, Minion (?/ Mercury, True Truch-Man of the Mind of My (I cry; Inventions Store-Houfe, Nymph (?/ Helicon; Deep Moralijl of Time, Tradition. Vnto this Paragon of Brutus Race, Prefent thy Service, and with chearful Grace, Say, {if Pythagoras lelievd may ie,) The Soul of Ancient Wifdom lives in Thee, THE THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. CASSANDRA, or. Divination. [HE Toets Fable^ That J folk being enamour- ed of Cajfandra^ was by her many fliifts and cunning flights ftill deluded in his Defire^ but yet fed on with hope, untill fuch time as fhe had drawn from him the Gift of Pro- phefying ,• and having by fuch her Diffimulation, in the end, attained to that which from the beginning fhe fought after,- at laft, flatly rejeded his Suit. Who find- ing himfelf lb far engaged in his Promife, as that he could not by any means revoke again his ralh Gift, and yet enfiamed with an earned defire of Revenge, highly difdaining to be made the fcorn of a crafty Wench, an- nexed a Penalty to his Promife, ^sz.. that fhe ihould e- ver foretel the truth, but never be believed : So were her Divinations always faithful,but at no time regarded^ whereof fhc ftill found the experience, yea, even in the ruine The Wifdom of the A?icievts. 1 7 ruine of her own Countrcy^ which fKe had often fore- warned them of 5* but they neither gave credit nor car to her words. This Fable feems to intimate the unpro- fitable liberty of untimely admonitions and counfels : For they that are fo over- weened with the iliarpnefs and dexterity of their ovv^n wit and capacity^ as that theydif- dain to fubmit themfelves to the documents of ^pcflo, th^ God of Harmony , whereby to learn^and obferve the me- thod and meafure of affairs^the grace and gi-avity of DiC- courfe^ the differences between the more judicious and more vulgar Ears, and the due times when to fpeak^and when to be filent ; be they never fo fenfible^and pregnant, and their judgments never fo profound^, and profitable ^ yet in all their endeavours either of perfwalion, or per- force, they avail nothing, neither are they of any mo- ment to advantage or manage matters,* but do rather hafl-en on the ruine of all thole that they adhere, or de- vote themfelves unto. And then at larf, when calami- ty doth make men feel the event of ne^led, then fhall diey too late be reverenced as deep,foreleeing, and faith- ful Prophets. Whereof a notable inftance is eminently let forth in Marcus Cato Uticenfis, who, as from a watch- tbw^r, difcovered afar off, and, as an Oracle, long fore- told the approaching ruine of his Country, and the plotted Tyranny hovering over the State, both in the firft Conipiracy, and as it was profecuted in the Civil Contention between C^far and Pomfey^ and did no good the while, but rather harmed the Commonwealth, and haftned on his Countrey's bane ,• which M. Cictro wifely obferved, and writing to a familiar Friend, doth in thefe terms excellently defcribe, Cato of time feat it ^ fed fiocet inter dum Reipihiic ^ : Lo'^uitur enim tanejuam in Rtpub- ilea Tlatonis^ non tanc^uam in face Ro7mdi. Cato (faith he,^ judgeth profoundly, but in the mean time damnifies the State ^ for he fpeaks in the Commonwealth of flato;ivid nx)t as in the Dregs of Romulus, rrFHON, 1 8 Ihe WifJom of the Ancients. T r? HO N, or a Rebel. JUNO being vex d (fay the Poets) thzt Jit piter had begotten F^ilas by himfelf without her, eanieftly preffed all the other Gods and Goddeffes that {he might alfo bring forth of her felf alone without him ; and having by violence, and importunity obtained a grant thereof, (lie fmote tlie Earth, and forthwith fprang up Tjpho?^y a huge, and horrid Monfter : This ftrange liirth fte cx)mmits to a Serpent, fas a Fofter-Father,) tonou- rifh it ,• who no fooner came to ripenefs of years, but he provokes Jupiter to Battel : In the Conflid the Gy- ant getting the upper hand , takes Jupiter upon his fhoulders, carries him into a remote, and obfcure Coun- trey, and (cutting out the iinews of his Hands and Feet,) brought them away, and fo left him miferably mangled and maimed. But Mercury recovering thefe Nerves from Typhon by ftealth, reftored them again to Jupiter. Jnpiter being again by this means corrobo- rated, affaults the Monfter afrefli, and at the lirii: iirikes him with a Thunder-bolt, from whole Blood Serpents v/ere ingendred. This Monfter at length fainting, and fiying, Jupiter c2l^s on hini the Mount zy£tnay and with the v/eight thereof crufh'd him. This Fable feems to point at the variable fortune of Princes, and the rebellious infiirre(5i;ion of Traytors in a State : For Princes may well be faid to be married . to their Dominions, as Jupiter was to Juvo ; but it, happens now and then, that being debofncd by the. long cuftom of empiring, and bending tovv^ards Ty- ranny, they endeavour to draw all to themfelves, and (contemning the Counfel of their Nobles and Sena- tors) hatch Laws in their own Brain ,• that is, difpofe of things by their own fancy ,and abfoiute power. The people (repining at this) ftudy how to create, and fet up a Chief of their own choice. This Projed: by the fecret inftigation of the Peers/ a]?d Nobles, doth for the The Wifdcni of the Ancients. i^ the moft part tnke his beginning ; by whofe conni- vence the Commons being fet on edge^ there follows a kind of murmuring, or difcontent in the State, fta- dow'd by the Infancy oiTyfoon^ vvhich being nurs'd by the natural praviry^and clovvnifh malignity of the vulgar fort, (unto Piinces, as infciiuous as Serpents,) is again repaired by a renewed flrerigth, and at laft breaks oitt into open Rebellion^ Vvhich (becaufe if bnngs infinite mifchiefsupon Prince and People) is reprefentcd by the nionllrous deformity of Tyfbon : his hund -ed heads fig- nific their divided powers,' his fiery mouths, their ixi- flamed intents ,• his Serpentine Circles, their peftilent Malice in befieging ; his Iron Hands, their mercilels flaughcers; his Eagles Talons,their greedy Rapines; his plumed Body^ their continual Rumors, and Scouts, and Fears, and fuch like,- and fometimes thefe Rebellions grow fo potent, that Princes are in forced (tranfponed as it were, by the Rebels, and forfaking the chief Seats and Cities of the Kingdom,) to contract their Power, and (being deprived of the Sinews of Money and Majedy,) betake themfeives to fome remote and ob- fcure corner within their Dom.inions : but in procefi of time, (if they bear their Misfortunes with modera- tion,) they may recover their ftrength, by the virtue and induiiry of Mtrctivy ,• that is, they may (b^^ be- coming affable, and by reconciling the minds and wills of their Subjects with grave Edid:s,and gracious Speech,) excite an Alacrity to grant Aids, and i^ubfidies, where- by to ftrengthen their Authority anew. Neverthe- lefs, having learned to be wife and wary, they will refrain to try the chance of Fortune by War, and yet Hudy how to fupprefs the reputation of the Rebels by fome famous Adion, which if it fall out anfvverabie to their expectation, the Rebels finding themfeives Weakned, and fearing the fuccefs of their broken Pro- iecls ,• betake themfeives to fome flight, and vain Bra- vadoes, like the hilling of Serpents, and at length in 6efp^.ir bmke themfeives to flighty and then when P z they 20 The WifJom of the Ancients they begin to break, kisfafeand timely for Kings to purfae^ and oppreis them with the Forces and Weight of the Kingdom, as it were with the Mountain iy^'.ttja. The CYCLOPS, or the Minifiers of Tenor. THey fay that the Cyclops^ for their fiercenefs, and cruelty 3 were by Jupiter caft into Hell^ and there doomed to perpetual imprifbnment ,* but Tellus per- fwaded Jpipiter \h^t it would do well, if being fet at liberty, they were put to forge Thunder-bolts, which being done accordingly, they became fo painful and induftrious, as that day and night they continued ham- mering out in laborious diligence Thunder- bolts, and other inftruments of Terror. In procefs of time Ju- titer having conceived a Difpleafure againfl: ^^fadapi- //i, the Son of Jpollo, for reltoring a dead Man to life by Phyfick ; and concealing his diflike, (becaufe there was no juit caufe of anger, the deed being pious and famous,^ fccretly incens'd the Cjclffps againft him, who without delay Hew him with a Thunder-bolt. In re- venge of which Ad, Apollo (Jupiter not prohibiting it) fhot them to Death with his Arrows. This Fable may be applied to the Projeds of Kings, who having cruel, bloody, and exacting Officers, do jftrft punilh and difplace them j afterwards by thecoun- feiof Tellus^ that is, of lomebafe, and ignoble Perfon, and by the prevailing refped of Profit, they admit them into their Places again, that they may have In- fi:rum,ents in a readinels, if at any time there ihould nped cither feverity of execution, or acerbity of ex- adion. 1 hcfc fervile Creatures being by nature cru- CI3 and by their former fortune exafperated, and per- ceiving well what is expeded at their hands, do mew themfelves wonderful officious in fuch kind of lim- ployments ; but being too ralh ^ aad precipitate in feck's ng The Wifcfom of the A7icie?its. 21 feeking countenance^ and creeping into favour, do fometimes take occallon from thelecret Beckonings,and ambiguous Commands of their Prince, to perform Ibme hateful execution. But Princes (abhorring the Fad, and knowing well, that they /hall never want fuch kind of Inflruments, ) do utterly forfake them, turning them over to the Friends and Allies of the wronged, to their Accufations and Revenge, and to the general Ha~ tred of the People,- fo that with great Applaule, and profperoas Wiflies and Acclamations towards the Prince, they are brought, rather too late, than undefervedly, to a mifcrable end. NARCISSVS, or, Self-Love. 'T'Hcy fay, that Nm-cijfus was exceeding fair and ^ beautiful, but wonderful proud and difdainful ; wherefore defpillng all others m refpect of himfelf, he leads a folitary Life in the Woods and Chafes, with a few Followers, to whom he alone was all in all ; a- niongd the reft, there follows him the N)'niph Echo, During his Courfe of Life, it fatally fo chanced, that he came to a clear Fountain, upon the Bank whereof he lay down to repofe himfelf in the heat of the Day. And having efpied the fhadow of his own Face in the Water, was fo befotted, and raviihed with the contem- plation and admiration thereof, that he b}' no means poflible cou'd be drawn from beholding his Image in this Glals,- infomuch, that by continual gazing there- upon, he }in:d away to nothing, and was at laft tur- ned into a F.ower of his own Name, which appears in the beginning of the Spring, and is facred to the in- fernal Powei s, }:liito^ Proferpma, and die Furies. This Fable feems to fliew the Difpolitions, and Fo|''- tunes of thofe, v.-ho in refpecl either of t'neir Beauty, or other Gifl Vvhcewiih they are adorned, and graced by P ; Nature, 2 2 The WifJom of the Ancients. Nature, without the help of Induftry^ are fo far befot- ted in themfelves^ as that they prove the caufe of their own deftrudion. Fo^ it is the property of Men infe- (5ted with thi ) Humour, r.ot to come much abroad^ orto be converlant in Civil Affairs^ fpecially feeing thofe that are in publick Place;, maft of neceflity encounter with many C^ontcmpts, and Scorns^, which may much dejet^, and trouble their Minds> and therefore they lead for the moft part a foiitary, private_, and obfcure Life^ attended on with a few Followers, and thofe^ iiich as will adore, and admii'e them^, like an Echo flatter them in all their Sayings^, and applaud them in all their Words. So that being by this Cuftom fedu- eed, and puft up^ and as it weie^, ftupitied with the admiration of themfelves^ they are poffeffed with fo ftrange a Sloth add Idlenefs, that they grow in a man- ner benumb'd;, and defedive of all vigour and alacrity. Elegantly doth this Flower^ appearing in the beginning of the Spring, reprefent the likenefs of thefe Men's Dil- pofitions, who, in their youth do flourifh, and wax fa- mous^ but being come to npenefs of years, they de- ceive and frufl:rate the good hope that is conceived of them. Neither is it impertinent that this Flower is faid to be confecrated to the infernal Deities, becaufe Men of this difpoiition become unprofitable to all humane things : For whatfoever produceth no Fruit of it felf, but palTerh, and vaniflieth as if it had never been, (like the way of a Ship in the Sea,) that the Ancients were wont to dedicate to the Ghoirs, and Powers below. S T TX, Or Leagues. TH E Oath by which the Gods were wont to oblige t];iemfelves, (when they meant to ratiiie any thing fo firmly as never to revoke it,)' is a thing well known to the Vulgar, as being mentioned almoit in every Fa** . - ' ble, The Wifc/om of the Aricients. 2 3 ble^ v/hich was whea they did not invoke or call to witnefs any Celeftial Majefty, or Divine Power, but only the River Styx, that with crooked and Meamlry Turnings incircleth the Palaceof the infernal Dis. This was held as the only manner of their Sacrament- and befides it, not any other Vow to be accounted firm, and inviolable; and therefore the punifhment to be in- fiicled, (if any did perjure themfelves,) was, that for certain years they lliould be put out of Commons^ and not to be admitted to the Table of the Gods. This Fable feems to point at the Leagues and Pa(5fe of Princes, of which, more truly^ than opportunely, may be faid, That be they never (o ftrongly confirmed with the Solemnity and Religion of an Oath, yet are for the mofi: part, of no validity i infomuch that they are made rather with an Eye to lleputation, and Re- I^ort, and Ceremony, than to Faith, Security, and Ef- fed. Moreover, add to thele the Bond of Affinity, as the Sacraments of Nature, and mutual Deferts of each Part, and you fhall obferve, that with a great many, all thefe things are placed a degree under Ambition and Profit, and the licentious dcfire of Domination ,• and fo much the rather, becaufe it is an eafie thing for Prin- ces to defend and cover their unla-.vFul Dellres and un- faithful Vows, with many outwardly ieeming fair Pre- texts, efpecially feeing there is no Umpire o. Moderator of Matters concluded upoi* to whom a Reafon lliould be tendred. Therefore there is no true and proper thing made choice of, for the confirmation of Faith, and that no . celeftial Power neither, but is indeed NtictJJity, (a great God to great Potentates, ) the Peril alfo of State, and the Communicadon of Profit. As for Necejfity^ it is e- legantly reprefented by Styx^ that fatal and irremeable River ,• and this Godhead di4 Ifoicrates^ the Jthenlany call to the Confirmation of a League,- who becaufe he alone is found to fpeak plainly that which many hide covertly in their Brealis, it would not be amifs to re- late his words. He obferving hov\^ the Lacedaemonians P 4 had 24 ^/^^ V/ifdom of the Ancients. had thought upon^ and propounded divers Cautions, Sanclions^ Confirmations and Bonds ^ pertaining to Leagues, interpofed thus : Unum Laced^monii , 7iobis ^obijcHm 'umculnm (ir fecuritatis ratio tjje fcffit ^ Jt plane clcmcf7ftretisy 'vos ea nobis concejfiffe ^ c^ inter manus foJHtJJ'ey ut *vobis facultas l^dendi noSy Jt maxtme 'vell.etisy minime fuppetere poffit. There is one thing (O Lacedaemonians) that would link us unto you in the Bond of Amity, and be the occafion of Peace and Security ; which is, if you would plainly demonlbate, that you have yield- ed up and put into our hands fuch things as that, would you hurt us never fo fain, you iliould yet be disfurnifhed of means to do it. If therefore the power of hurting be taken away, or if by breach of League there follow the danger of the ruine or diminution of the State or Tribute ; then indeed the Leagues may feem to be ratified and eftabliflied, and as it were con- firmed by the Sacrament of the Stygian Lake ,• feeing that it includes the fear of Prohibition and Sulpenfion fi'om the Table of the Gods, unger which name the Laws and Prerogatives, the Plenty and Felicity of a Kingdom were fignified by the Ancients, PAN, or Nature. ''T^'HE Ancients have exquifitely defcribed Nature un- •^ der the Perfon of P^w, whofe original they leave doubtful ; for fome fay that he was the Son of Mer- cury ^ others attribute unto him afar different beginning, affirming him to be the common Off-ipring of Vcne- lopes Suitors, upon a fafpicion, that every one of them had to do with her ^ which latter relation doubtleis gave occafion to fome after-Writers to entide this an- cient Fable with the name of Fenelope^ a thing very frequent amcngft them, when they apply old Fictions to 3 oung perfons and names^ and that many ^times abfurdiy The WifJotn of the A72cie7its. 25 abfurdly and indifcreetly^ as may be feen here : For Tan being one of the Ancient Gods, was long before the time of Ulyjj'es and Penelope, Befides (for her Matronal Chaftity) ike was held venerable by Antiquity. Nei- ther may we pretermit the third conceit of his Birth : For fome fay. That he was the Son of Jup'uer and Hyhris^ which Signifies contumely or difdain. Buthow- Ibever begotten, the Varca (they fay) were his Sifters. Fie is pourtrayed by the Ancie7its m this guife ; on his Head a pair of Horns to reach to Fleaven, his Bo- dy rough and Hairy, his Beard long and fliaggy, his fliape biformed, above like a Man, below like a Beaft, his Feet like Goat's-hoofs, bearing thefe Enilgns of his Jurifdidion, to wit, in his left-hand a Pipe of fevcn Reeds, and in his right a Sheep-hook , or a Staff crooked at the upper end, and his Mantle made of a Leopard's Skin. His Dignities and Offices were thele : He was the God of Hunters, of Shepherds, and of all Rural Inhabitants: chief Prefident alfo of Hills and Mountains, and next to Mercury ^ the Embaflador of the Gods. Moreover, He was accounted the Leader and Commander of the Nymphs, which were always wont to dance the rounds, and frisk about him ; he was accoftcd by the Satyrs and the old Silent. He had power alfo to ftrike Men with terrors, and thofe efpe- cially vain and fuperftitious, which are termed Pa- nick fears. His ads were not many, for ought that can be found in Records, the chiefeft was, that he challenged Cupid at wreftling, in which conflid he had the foil. The Tale goes too, how that he caught the Gyant Typhon in a Net, and held him fait. Moreo- ver, where Ceres (grumbling and chafing that Profer- pina was ravilliedj had hid her felf away, and that all the Gods took pains (by dilperfing themfelves in- to evciy cornerj to find her out, it was only his good hap (as he was hunting) to light on her, and ac- quaint the reft where fhe was. He prefumed alfo to pur it to the tryal who was the belt Mujician, lie or 26 The Wifdom of the Ancients. 'Afollo^ and by the judgment of Midas was indeed pre- ferred : But the wife Judge had a pair of AlTes Ears privately chopt to his Noddle for his fentence. Of his Love-tricks, there is nothing reported, oratleaft not much, a thing to be wondred at, efpecially being among a Troop or Gods fo profufeiy amorous. This only is faid of him, that he loved the Nymph Echo (whom he took to Wife) and one pretty Wench more called Syrinx J towards v/hoai Cufid (in an angry and revengeful humour ^ becaafe fo audacioufly he had challenged him at Wreiliing ) inflamed his defire. Moreover, he had no LTue f which is a marvel alio,: feeing the Gods, efpecially thofe of the Male kif.a, were very generative) only he was the reputed i acher of a little Girl called Jamhe^ that with many prer y Tales was wont to make ftrangers merry,- but foirxo think that he did indeed beget her by his Wife Jamk. This (if any be) is a noble Tale, as bsing laid out and. big- bellied with the Secrets and Myfteries of Nature. Fan (as his name imports) reprefents and lays open the All of Things or Nature. Concerning his origi- nal there are two only Opinions that go for currant ; for either he came of Mercury^ that is, the Word of. God, which the Holy Scriptures without all contro- veriie affirm, and fuch of the Philofophers as had any fmack of Divinity affented unto ; or eife from the confufed Seeds of things. For they that would have one fimple beginning, refer it unto God ,• or if a ma- teriate beginning, they would have it various in power. So that we may end the Controverfie with this Di/lri- bution. That the World took beginning, either from Mmury, or from the Seeds of all things. Virg. Ed eg. ^. Na7noi4e canehtit uti magnum per inam coacla Se.ftifja t error umquey animieo^m^ w^rif^-ue fuilpjir^ The Wifcfom of the Ancients. 27 Et llquldi fimul ignis : Et his exordia priwis Omnia y cJ- iffe tener mundi concrc'verit Orbis. For rich- veined Or f hens fweetly did rehearfe How that the Seeds of Fire^ Air, Water, Earth, Were all pad: in the vafl void Univerfe : And how from thefe as Firftlings, all bad birth. And how the Body of this Orbick frame. From tender infancy fo big became. But, as touching the third conceit of Tans Original, it feems that the Grecians (either by intercourfe with the iyiigyjttansy or one way or other) had heard fome- thing of the Hebrew Myiteries ; for it points to the ft^te of the World, not confidered in immediate Crea- tion, but after the fall of Adam^ expofed and made fubjed to Death and Corruption : For in that flate it was (^and remains to this day) the Off-fpring of God ai:d Sin. And therefore all thefe Three Narrations concerning the manner of Varh birth may feem to be true, if it be rightly diflinguiflied between Things and Times. For this Van or Nature (which we {lifped, contemplate and reverence more than is fit) took be- ginning from the V/ord of God by the means of con- ilifed matter, and the entrance of Prevaricadon and Corruption. The defrinies may well be thought the Siflcrs of Van or Nature^ becaufe the beginnings and continuances, and corruptions and depreffions, and diffolutions, and eminences, and labours and felicities of thiiigs. and all the chances which can happen unto any thing, are linkt with the Chain of Caufes natural. Horns are attributed unto him, becaufe Horns are broad at the root and iharp at the ends, the nature of all things being like a Vyrarms^ inarp at the top. For individual or lingular things being infinite are lirft colicded into //>(r;t\r, v^hlch are many alfo ,• then from jfccies into generals^ and ^myn^eHrals (by afcending) aic concraded into liiings ornociopo more genera', j lb '■■^ " ^ ^ thac s8 The WifJom of the Ancients. that at length Nature may feem to be contracted Into an unity. Neither is it to be wondred at^ that Tan toucheth Heaven with his Horns, feeing the height of Nature or univerfal Ideas do, in feme lort, pertain to things Divine^ and there is a re:?dy and Ihort Paffage from Metaphyjlck to natural Theology. The Body of Nature is elegantly and with deep judg* . ment depainted hairy^ reprefentin;^ the beams or ope- rations of creatures ; for beams are as it were the Hairs and Briftles of Nature , and every creature is either more or lefi beamy, which is moft apparent in the faculty of feeing, and no lefs in every vertue and operation that effectuates upon a diOant Objeci^ for whatfoever works upon any thing afar off, that may righdy be faid to dart forth Rays or Beams. Moreover^ Tans Beard is faid to be exceeding long, becaufe the beams or influences of Cceleflial Bodies do operate and pierce fartheft of all ; and the Sun^ when, (liis higher half is jhadowed with a Cloud) his Beams break out in the lower^ and looks as if he were bear- ded. Nature is alfb excellently fet forth with a biformed Body, with refped: to the differences between fuperior and inferior Creatures. For one part, by reafbn of their Pulcritude, and equability of motion, and con- ftancy and dominion over the Earth and earthly things, is worthily fet out by the fhape of Man : and the other part in refped of their perturbations and nnconftant motions, fand therefore needing to be moderated by the Co?leflial) may be well fitted v/ith die ligure of a Brute Beaft. This" Defcription of his Body perialns al- fb to the participation of Speaes^ for no natural being ieems to be fimple, but as it were participated ajid com- pounded of two. As for example, Man hath fome- thing of a Bead, a Beaft fomething of a Plant, a Plant lomething of inanimate Body, of that all natural things fire in v^ry deed biformed, that is to fay, compounded of a hicerior cind ififcrior Species, The Wifdom of the Ancients. 2^ It is a very witty Allegory ^that fameof theFeet of the Goat^ by reafonof the upward tending motion of Ter- reftrial Bodies towards the Air and Heaven, for the Goat is a climbing Creature, that loves to be hanging about the Rocks and fleep Mountains ^ and this is done alio in a wonderful manner, even by thofe thing which are deftinated to this inferior Globe, as may manifeftly appear in Clouds and Meteors. The two Enfigns which Fan bears in his hands do point, the one at Harmony, the other at Empire : For the Pipe conll fling of feven Reeds, doth evidently de- mon Urate the confent, and Harmony, and difcordant concord of all inferior Creatures, which is caufed by the Motion of the feven Planets : And that of the Sheep-hook may be excellently apply'd to the order of nature, which is partly right, partly crooked: This Staff therefore or Rod is fpecially crooked in the up- per end, becaufe all the works of Divine Providence in the World are done in a farfetcht and circular manner, {6 that one thing may feem to be affeded and yet in- deed a clean contrary brought to pafs ,• as the felling of yofepb into zAigyft^ and the like. Befides in all wife Humane Government, they that lit at the Helm do more happily bring their purpofes about, and infinuate more ealily into the minds of the People, by pretexts and ob- lique courfes, than by dire(5t methods: fo that all Scep- ters and MalTcs of Authority ought in very deed to be crooked in the upper end. Tans Cloak or Mantle is ingenioufly feigned to be a Skin of a Leopard, becaufe it is full of Spots : So the Heavens are fpotted with Stars, the Sea with Rocks and Iflands, the Land with Flowers, and every particular Creature alfo is for the mofi: part garniflied with divers colours about the fuperficies, which is as it were a Man- tle unio it. The Office of Tan can be by nothing fo lively con- ceived and expreft, as by feigning him to be the God of Hunters^ for every natural a(5tion^ and fo by confe- quence. 3o The Wifc/om of the Ancie7its. quence^^ Motion a.ad Progredioiij is nothing elfe but a Hundng. Arts and Sciences have their works^ and Hu- mane Counfels their ends which they earneilly hunt after. All natural things have either their Food as a Prey, or di^ir Pleafure as a Recreation ^hich they. feeJ^ for, aad that in moft expert and fagaeious man-j ner. l^ox'va, Lercna Ltifum fe^uitur^ Lupus ipje CapelLinfi FlorcritC/n Cytifumfequ'itur lafciva Capella, The hungry Lionels^ (with fharp defire) Purfues the Wolf^ the Wolf the wanton Goat : The Goat again doth greedily afpire To have the trifoil Juyce pafi down her Throat. T^n is alfo faid to be the God of the Country^i.', Clowns^ becaufe Men of this condition lead lives more agreeable unto Nature, than thofe ihat live in the Ci- ties and Courts of Princes, where nature by too much Alt is corrupted : So as the faying of the Poet f though- in the fenfe of LoveJ might be here verified; Tars mimma efi ipfa fuellaJuL The Maid fo trickt her felf with Art, That of her felf Ihe is leaft part: He was held to be Lord Prefident of the Mountains^ becaufe in the high Mountains and Hiiis, Nature lays her felf moft open, and Men mofl apt to view and contemplation. Whereas Van is faid to be (next unto Mercury) the MefTenger of the Gods, there is in that a Divine My- ftery contained, for next to the Word of God, the Image of the world proclaims the Power and Wifdom Divine, as lings the Sacred Poet, TfaL xix. i. Coeli enarrant glo-- . rlam DeL fit me opa-a manmm ejus indkat firtnamentunj, Th^ The WifJom of the AncienU. 'gf The Heavens 'declare the glory of God^ and the Firma- ment fhevveth the V/orks of his Hands. The Nymphs y tiiat^is^ the Souls of living things take great delight in Par/. For thefe Souls are the delights or minions ciNtitmc, and the direction or condud of thefe Nymfhs is with great reafon attributed unto Van^ becaufe the Souls of a:l things living do follow their natural difpollcions a> their guides^ and w^ith infinite va- riety every one of them after his pwnfailiion^ doth leap, and fiisk and; dance with inceflant motions about her. Th^Satyrs and Sileni a!fo^ to wir. Youth zrsA Old-age, are fome of P^w'i followers: For of all natural things^ there is a lively, jocund, and (as I may fay) a dancing age, and an age again that is dull, bibiing and reeling- The carriages and diipolltions of both which ages, to Ibme fuch as Democritus was, (that would obferve them duly, ) might perad venture feem as ridiculous and de- formed, as the gambols of the Satyrs ^ or the geftures of the Sile77i. Of thofe fears and terrors which Tan is faid to be the Author, there may be this wife conftrudion made: Namely, that Nature hath bred in every living thing a kind of care and fear, tending to the prefervation of its own life and being, and to the repelling and fhun- ning of all things hurtful. And yet Nature knows not h;ow to keep a mean, but always intermixes vain and empty fears with fuch as are difcreet and profitable : So that all things (if their infides might be feen) would appear full of Fanick frights: But men efpecially in hiard, fearful, and diverfe times, are wonderfully infa- tuated with fuperftition, which indeed is nothing elfe but a Vanick terror. Concerning the audacity of Tan in challenging Cu- fid at wreftling: The meaning of it is, that Matter wants not inclination and defire to the relapfing and dif- fokition of the World into the old Chaos ^ if her malice and violence were not retrained and kept in order, by the prepotent unity and agreement of things fignified by 32 the Wifdo7?i office Ancients. Cufldy or the God of Love ; and therefore it was a happy turn for Men^ and all things elfe^ that in their conflid Tan was found too weak, and overcome. To the fame effed: may be interpreted his catching of Tyfhon in a Net : For howfbever there may fome^ times happen vaft and unwonted Tumours (as the name of Ty^bon imports^ either in the Sea, or in xht Air, or in the Earth, or elfewhere ,♦ yet Nature doth intangle it in an intricate toil, and curb and reftrain in^ as it were with a Chain of Adamant, the excefles and infolencies of thefe kind of Bodies. But forafmuch as it was Fans good fortune to find out Ceres as he was Hunting, and thought little of it, which none of the other Gods could do, though they did nothing elfe but feek her, and that very ferioufly ; it gives us this true and grave admonition. That we exped not to receive things neceffary for life and man-- ners from Philolbphical Abftradions, as from the grea- ^ ter Gods ; albeit they applied themfelves to no other iludy, but from Pan ; that is, from the difcreet obfer-* vation and experience, and the univerfal knowledge of the things of this World ; whereby (oftentimes even- by chance, and as it were going a Hunting) fuch Inven* tions are lighted upon. The quarrel he made with Apollo about Mufick, and' the event thereof contains a wholfome inftrudion, which may ferve to reftrain men's Reafons and Judg- ments with Reins of Sobriety, from boafting and glo- ^ rying in their gifts. For there feems to be a twofold Harmony, or Mufick ,• the one of Divine Providence, and the other of Humane Judgment, the Adminiftra- tion of the World and Creatures therein, and the more fecret Judgments of God, found very hard and harfli ,• i which folly, albeit it be well fet out with Affes Ears,- | yet notwithftanding thefe Ears are fecret, and do not openly appear, neither is it perceived or noted as a de- formity by the vulgar. Laftly, tht WifJomofthe Ancients. 53 Laftly, It is not to be wondred at, that there is no- thing attributed unto Tan coneerning Loves, but only of his marriage with Echg: For the World or Nature doth enjoy it felf, and in it felf all things elfe. Now he that loves would enjoy fomcthing, but where there is enough, there is no place left to delire. Therefore there can he no wanting love in >V», or the Won.d« nor delire^ .to obtain ciny, thing (feeing he is contentecf with himfelfj but only Speeches, which (if plain) may be intimated by ens Nym^'h Ecbo, or if more quaint by Sjrhx. it is siti excellent invention d'iat PaHy or the World is faid to make choice of Echo on- ly (above all other Speeches or Voices) for hisWifc^ For that alone is true Philofophy, which doth faith- fully render the very words of the World ,* and it is written no otherwife than the World doth didate, it being nothing clfe but the Image or reriedion of it^ not adding any thing of its own, but only iterates and refounds. It belongs alfo to the fufficiency or perfedion of the World, that be begets no Illue ^ fol^ the World doth generate in refped of its parts, but ii;t refped of the whole, how can it generate, feeihg with- out it diere is no Body ? Notwithftandang. all this> the Tale of that tadingGirl fathered upon Fa?7, may in very deed, with great Reafon, be added to this Fable: For by her are reprefented thofe vain ancj Idle Paradoxes concerning the Nature of thmgs wliicb have been frequent in all Ages, and have filled the World with Novekies ,' Fruitlefs, if you refped the mattery Changlingsif you refped the kind, fometimes creating Pleafure, fometimes tedioufoel* with their o- V€rmugh pmlmg. fMstifs, 3 4 Jhe Wifcfom of the Ancients. PE RS EV S, or War. PERSEUS is faid to have been employed by P^/- las, for the deftroying of Meditfa, who was very infeftuous to the Weftern Parts of the World^ and efpecially about the utmoft Coaftsof Hiberia, A Mon- ger fo dire and horrid^ that by her only afpect ftie turned Men into Stones. This Medufa alone of all the G organs was mortal^ the reft not fubjed to Death. Ter-^ feus therefore preparing himfelf for this noble enter- prife^ had Arms and Gifts beftowed on him by three of the Gods : Mercury gave him Wings annexed to his HeelS;, Tluto a Helmet, Vallas a Shield and a Look- ing-Glafs. Notwithftanding (although he were thus furnifhed) he went not dircdly to Medufa, but firft to the Grea, which by the Mothers fide were Sifters to the Gjrgons, Theie Gredi from their Birth were Hoar-headed, refembling old Women. They had but one only Eye, and one Tooth among them all ^ both which, ft'" ♦■hat had occafion to go alDroad, v/as wont to take with her, and at her return to lay them down again. This Eye and Tooth they lent to Terfeus ; and fo finding himfelf throughly furnifhed for the efTec^ling of his defign, haftens towards Medufa, Her he found (leepiiig; and yet durft not prefent himfelf with his Face towards her, left Ihe fliould awake ,• but turning his head- afide,- beheld her in Tallas's Glafs^ and (by this means directing his blow) cut off* her head ; from. whofe Blood gufhing out, inftantly came Fegafus, the Flying-^Horfe. Hr head thus fmote of}', Vtrfeus beftows Oft TaiJas her Shield, which yet retained this vertue, that whatfoever looked upon it^ iliould become as ftu« pid as a Stone, or like one Planet-ftrucken. Thi^ Fable feems to dired the preparation and order, t\nt \i to be ufed in making of War ,• for the more apt aoti Qon(ldQ■l?^.tQ undertaking whereof^ three grave and ,' - ■ V *i wholefome ^he Wifcfom cf the Ancients. 55 ^holefome Precepts ("favouring of the wifdoru of P^/- /Vf) are to be obfervcd. Firft, That men do not much trouble themfelves a- bout the Conqueft of Neighbour Nations^ feeing that private poffeflions and Empires are enlarged by diffe- r-ent means: For in the augmentation of private Reve- nues^ the vicinity of mens Territories is to be confide- red ; but in the propagation of Publick Dominions, the occalion and facility of making War, and the Fruit to be expeded ought to be inftead of vicinity. Certainly the Roma^Sy what time their Conquefts towards the Weft fcarce reacht beyond Liguria, did yet in the Eaft bring all the Provinces as far as the Mountain Taurus within tiie compafs of their Arms and Command ; and therefore Perfeus, although he were bred and born in the Eaft, did not yet refufe to undertake an expedition even to the uttei moft bounds of the Weft. Secondly, There muft be a care had that the Mo- tives of War be juft and honourable, for that b^ets an alacrity, ^s well in the Soldiers that fight, as in the people that pay, it draws on and procures Aids, and brings many otlier Commodities befides. But there is no pretence to take up Arms more pious, than the fup- preifing of Tyranny ,♦ under which yoke, the people fofe their courage, and are caft down without heart and vigor, as in the fight of Medufa, Thirdly, It is wifely added, that feeing there were three Gorgons (by which Wars are reprefentedj Perfeus undertook her only that was mortal ,• that is, he made choice offucha kind of War as was likely to be ef- feded and brought to a period, not purfuing vaft and endlels hopes. The furnilhing of Pe}feus with neceffaries was that which only advanced his attempt, and drew Fortune to be of his fide ,• for he had fpeed from Mercury, concea- ling of his Counfels from Orcus^ and Providence from Q, 2 Neither 3^ The WifJom of the Ancients. Neither is it without an Allegory, and that full of matter too, that thofe Wings of Celerity were faftned to Terjeus his Heels, and not to his Ankles, to his Feet, and not to his Shoulders ,• bccaufe {peed and celerity is required, not fo much in the firft preparations for War, as in thofe things which fecond and yield aid to the firft^ for there is no Error in War more frequent, than that Profecutions and Sublidiary forces do fail to an- fwer the alacrity of the firft onfets. Now for that Helmet which Tluto gave hiifi, power- ful to make men invifible, the Moral is plain ; bnt that twofold gift of Providence (to wit, the Shield and Looking Glafs) is full of Morality; for that kind of Providence, which like a Shield avoids the force of blows, is not alone needful, but that alfo by which the ftrength and motions, and Counfels of the Enemy are defcryed, as in the Looking Glals of Fallas. But Perftusy albeit he were futficiently furnifhed with aid and courage, yet was he to do one thing of Ipecial importance before he entred the Lifts with this Monfter, and that was to have Ibme intelligence with the Grea. Thefe Grca are Treafons which may be termed the Si- fters of War not defcended of the fame ftock, but far unlike in Nobility of Birth ; for Wars are generous and heroical, but Treafons are bafe and ignoble. Their defcription is elegant, for they are faid to be Gray-hea- ded, and like old Women from their Birth ; by reafon that Tray tors arc continually vext with cares and tre- pidations. But all their ftrength (befor-e they break out into open Rebellions) coniifts either in an Eye or in a Tooth; for every fadion alienated from any State, contemplates and bites. Befides, tMs Eye and Tooth is as it were common ,• for whatfoever they can learn and know^ is delivered and carried from one- to another by the hands of Fad:ion. And^ a& concerning the Tcoth, they do all bite alike, and ling the fame fong ,• fo that hear one, and you hear all. Ferfus there- fore was to deal v/ith theic Grea for the love of their Eye The WifJom of the A7icients. 97 Eye and Tooth. Their E}'e to difcover, their Tooth to fow rumors and ftir up envy, and to mo eft and trouble the Minds of men. Thefe things the- efof e be- ing thus difpofed and prepared^ he add eifes himfe f to the Action of War, and fets upon MtJuf. as iheflcptj for a wife Captain will ever alia uk his Ercn.y, when he is unpre -ared and moft fecure,- and then is there good ufe oiFallas her Glais: For moft men. before it come to the pu/h^ can acutely pry into and difcern their Enemies eftate ; but the beft ufe of this Giafs is in the very point of danger^ that the manner of it may be fo confidered, as that the terror may not difcourage, which is fignified by that looking into this Glafs with the face turned from Me^Jufa. The Monfter's Head being cut off, there follow two effeds. The hrft was^, the procreation and raifing of Fegafusy by which may be evidently underftood Fame^ that (flying thorough the World j proclaims Victory. The fecond is the bearing of Medufas Head in his Shield ; to which there is no kind of defence for ex- cellency comparable; for the one famous and memorable act profperoufly effeded and brought to pafs^ doth re- ftrain the Motions and Infolencies of Enemies^ and makes Envy her felf filent and amazed. ENVTMION, or a Favourite. IT isfaid^ that Lunav/^s in love with the Shepherd ^ Endytnion, and in a ftrange and unwonted manner bewrayed her afl^ecflion : For he lying in a Cave fra- med by Nature under the Mountain Latmus, ftie of- tentimes defcended from her Sphere to enjoy his com- pany as he flept ,• and after jlie had kiffed him, afcend- ed up again. Yet notwithftanding this his idlenefs, and flcepy fecurity, did not any way impair his Eftate or Fortune ; for Luna brought it fo to pafs^ that he Q 3 alone 3 8 The WifJom of the Ancie^it^. alone fof all the refl of the Shepherds; had his Flock in beli plight, and moft fruitful. This Fable may have reference to the nature and difpofltions of Piinces • for they being full of doubts, and prone to jealoulle, do not eafily acquaint Men of prying and curious Eyes, and as it were of vigilant- and wakeful difpoiitions, with the fecret humours and manners of their life ; but fuch rather as are of quiec and obfervant Natures^ fuffering them to do what they lift without further fcanting, making as if they were ignorant, and perceiving nothing but of a ftupid dil- pofition^ and poffeft with fleep, yielding unto them fimple obedience^ rather than ilie complements ; For it pieafeth Princes now and then to defcend from their Thrones or Majefty (like Luna from the fbperior Orb) and laying afide their Robes of Dignity (which al- ways to be cumbred with, would feem a kind of bur- thenj familiarly to converfe with Men of this con- dition, which they think may be done without dan- ger ; a quality chiefly noted in Tiberius Cafar^ who (of all others; was a Prince moft fevere ; yet fuch only were gracious in his favour, as being well acquain- ted with his diipofition, did yet conftantly dilTembte, as if they knew nothing. This was the Cuftom alfb of Lt-wis the Eleventh, King of France^ a cautious and wily Prince. Neither is k v^ithout elegancy, that thecaufe oi Eft-* dymion is mentioned in the Fable, becaufe that it is a thing ufual with fuch as are the Favourites of Prinqes_, to have certain pleafant retiring places, whither to in- vite them for recreation both of Body and Mind_, and that without hurt or prejudice to their Fortunes al- fo. And indeed thefe kind of Favourites are Men commonly well to pais ,• ,^or Princes, although perad- venture they promote them not ever to Places of Ho- r.our, yet do they advance them fufficiently by their favour and countenance : Neither do they affedt them thus^ only to ferve thcL'- own turn ^ but" are wont to inrich Th WifJom of the Ancients. 5^ inrich them now and then with great Dignities^ ancj Bounties. The Sifter of the GIANTS, or Fame. IT is a Poetical Relation, that the Giants begotten of the Earthy made War upon Jupiter, and the other Gods ; and by tlie force of Lightning , they were refifted and overthrown. Whereat the Earth being excitated to wrath , in revenge of her Chil- dren brought forth Fame, the youngeft Sifter of the Giants. Illam terra faretJs ira initata Deorumy Extren7:7ra (ut prohibent^ Cao Enceladoque fororem Trogcnuit ■- • Provok'd by wrathful Gods^ the Mother Earth Gives Fame^ the Giants youngeft Sifter^ Birth. The meaning of the Fable feems to be thus : By the Earth, is lignihed the Nature of the Vulgar, always fwoln and malignant, and ftill broaching new fcandals againft Superiors, and having gotten tit opportunity ftirs up Rebels and Seditious Perfons, that with impi- ous courage do moleft Princes, and endeavour to fu fa- vert their Eftiites ; but being fuppreft, the fame natu- ral dilpofition of the People ftill leaning to the viler fort, (being impatient of Peace and Tranquility,) fpread Rumours, raife malicious Slanders , rephiing Whilperings, infamous Libels, and others of that kind, to the detradion of them that are in Authority : So as Rebellious Adions, and Seditious Report?, differ nothing in kind and Blood, but as it were in Sex on- ly ; the one fort being Mafciilinc, and tiie other Femi- nine. Ci 4 ACr^^.ON, ^o The WifJom of the Ancients. ACtmN and PENTHEVS, or a Curi^ ous Man. TTHe ctiriofity of Men^ in prying intp fecrets^ and -* coveting with an undifcreet dellre to attain the knowledge of things forbidden^ is f^t forth by the Anci- *2nts in two ether Examples : The one oiyUUon^ the o- ther of Ventheus, ABam having unawares^ and as it were by chance beheld Diana naked^ wa$ turned into a Stag/ and de- voured by his own Dogs. And Tentbeus climbing up into a Tree^ with a defire to be a Ipedator of the hidden facrificesof 5^Ci;/j«j, was flrucken with fuch a kind of frenfie^ as that whatfoe- ver he Ipokt upon^ he thought it always double^ fup- pofing (among other things) he faw two Sms^ and two Thebes ^ inlpmuch that running towards Thebes^ ftying another Thebes^ inftantly turned back again^ and io kept ftill running forward and backward with perpe- tual unrell* Eumemduw velptti demens 'vldlt fgmipa "PentliHs^ ^t Solem geminum^ dufliges fe olhndere Thebas, Tentbeus amaz'd, doth ^roops of furies fpie ,• And Sun^ and Tbebes feem double to his Eye. The firft of the Fables pertains to the fecrets of Prin- ttSy the fecond to Divine Myileries. For thofe that are near about Princes, and come to the knowledge of more fecrets than they would have them, do certainly incur ' great hatred. And therefore, (fufpeding that they are Jliot at, and opportunities watcht for their o- yerthrow,) do lead their lives like Stags, fearful and full of fafpicion. And it happens oftentimes that their Servants, and thofe of their Houfhold^ (to infinuate into / The Wifdom of th Ancients. 41 into die Pnnce's favour) do accufe them to their de- flrudtion ; for againft whomfoever the Princes difplea- fure is known^ look how many fervants that Man hath, and }'ou fliall find diem for the moft part fo many Tra3'tors unto him^ that his end may prove to be like AB^eofj's. The other is the milery of Tenthetn : For that by the height of Knowledge and Nature in Philolbphy, ha- ving cHmbed^ as it were^ into a Trce^ do with ralh attempts (unmindful of their frailty) pry into the fe- crets of Divine Myfteries^ and arc jullly plagued with perpetual inconftancy^ and with wavering and per- plexed conceits : For feeing the light of Nature is one thing, and of Grace another ^ it happens fo to thera as if they faw two Suns, And feeing the Adions of Life, and degrees of the Will to depend on the Un-- derftanding, it follows that they doubt, are inconftant no lefs in Will than in Opinion j and fo in like man- ner they may be faid to fee two Thebes : For by Tbe^ has (feeing there was the habitation and refuge of Fctu theus) is meant the end of Anions. Hence it comes to pafs that they know not whither they go, but as di^^ ftraded and unrefolved in the Icope of their intentions, are in all things carried about with fudden Paflions of the Mind. ORPHEVS, or Thilofofhy, THe tale of Orpheus, though common, had never the fortune to be fit'y applied in every point* It may feem to reprefent the Image of Philoxophy : For the Perfon of Orpheus (a Man admirable and divine, and fo exce.iently skilled in all kind of harmony, that with his fweet ravilliing Mufick he did as it were charm and allure all things to follow him) may car- ry a lingular defcription of Philofophy ; For the la- hours 4 2 The WifJom of the Ancients. hours of Orpheus do fo far exceed the labours of HercH- les in dignity and efficacy, as the Works of Wifdom, excel the Works of Fortitude. Orfkeus for the love he bare to his Wife, fnatcht, as it were^ from him by untimely Death, refoived to go down to Hell with his Harp, ro try if he might obtain her of the infernal power. Neither were his hopes fruftrated : For having appf^fed them with the melodious found of his voice and couch, prevailed at length fo far, as that they granted him leave to take her away with him ^ but on this condition, that ilie fliould follow him, and he not to look back upon her, till he came to the light of th- uppe- World ^ which he (impatient of, out of love and care, aiid thinking that he was in a manner paft all danger) neverthelefs violated, infomuch that the Covenant is broken, and flie forthwith tumbles back again headlong into Hell., Orpheus falling into a deep meiancho-y, became a con^, temiierof Women kind, and bequeathed himfolf, to a. folitary life in the Defarts ; where, by the fame me-» lody of his voice and Harp, he firft drew all manner of wild Beafts unto him, (who forgetful of their la- vage fiercenels, and calling off the precipitate provo- cations of luft and fury, not caring to fatiate their voracity by hunting after prey) as at a Tkatre In fawning and reconciled amity one tov/ards another, {landing all at the gaze about him, and attentively lend their Ears to his Mufick. Neither is this all ,• for Co great was the power and alluding force of this harmony, that he drew the Woods, and moved the Very Stones to come and place themielves in an order- ly and decent fafliion about him. Thefe things fuc- ceeding happily, and with great admiration for a time; ^t length certain Tbracian Women (poiTefl: with the fpirit oi Bacchus^) made fuch a horrid and ftrange noife with their Cornets, that the found of Orpheus s Harp could no more be heard, infomuch as that harmony, v/hich was the bond of chat Order and Society being dilTolved, The WifJopi of the Ancients. 45 diflblved, all diforder began again; and the Beafts (^returning to their wonted Nature) purfued one ano- ther unto Death as before : Neither did the Trees or Stones remain any longer in their places: And Orpheus himfelf was by thefe Female furies torn in pieces, and fcatrered all over the Defart. For whofe cruel Death the River Helicon (facred to the Mufes) in horrible in- dignation, hid his Head under ground^ and raifed it again in another place. The meaning of this Fable feems to be thus : Or- fheus's Muxick is of two forts, the one appeafing the In- fernal Powers, the other attrading Beafts and Trees, The firit may be lidy applied to Natural Phifolbphy, the fecond to Moral or Civil Difcipline. The mofl noble work of Natural Philofophy, is the Reftitution and Renovation of things corruptible; the other (as a leffer degree of it) the Prefervation of Bo- dies in their Eftates, detaining them from dilToludon and putrefadion ; and if this gift may be in Mortals, certainly it can be done by no other means than by the due and exquiiite temper of Nature, as by the me- lody and delicate touch of an Inftrument. But feeing- it is of all things moft difficult, it is feldom or never attained unto ; and in all likelihood for no other reafon, more than through curious diligence and unrimely im- padence. And therefore Philofophy hardly able to produce fo excellent an effed in a penfive humour, (^and that without caufe) bufies her fell about Flumane Ob|e(5ls, and by Perfuafion and Eloquence, infinuating the love of Vertue, Equity, and Concord in the minds of Men; draws mukitudes of People to a Society, makes them fubjeds to Laws, obedient to Government, and forgetful of their unbridled Afiections, whil It they give ear to Precepts, and fubmit themfelves to Dilcipline; whence follows the building of Houfes, ereding of Towns, planting of Fields and Orchards, with Trees and the like, infomuch that it would not be amifs to fay^ l^hat even thereby Stones and Woods were 44 ^^^ Wifdom of the Ancients. were called together and fetled in order. And after leriou$ trial made and fraftrated about the reftoring of a body mortal ; this care of Civil affairs follows in his due place ; becaufe by a plain demonftration of the une- Titable necefltty of death. Mens minds are moved to feek Eternity by the fame and glory of their Merits. It is alfo wifely faid in the Fable^ that Orpheus was averfc from the love of Women and Maniage, becaufe the de- lights of Wedlock and the love of Children do for the nioft part hinder Men from enterpridng great and no- ble defigns for the publick good, holding Pofterity a fcfficient ftep to Immortality without Adions. Beiides even the very works of Wifdom (although amonglt all Humane things they do moft excel) do ne- verthelefs meet with their periods. For it happens thac (^ after Kingdoms and Commonwealths have flouriihed for a time) even Tumults, and Seditions, and Wars a,- rife^ in the mid'ft of which hurly-burlies, firft Laws ai-e lilent. Men return to the pravity of their Natures^ Jields and Towns are wafted and depopulated,* and tlicn (if their fury continue) Learning and Philofophy muft needs be ditmetnbred ,• i.(^ that a few Fragments only, and in fome places will be found like the fcatte- red Boards of Shipwrack, fo as a barbarous Age muft follow ,• and the Streams oi Hdlicon being hid under the Earth, (untill the Viciffitade of things palling,) they break out again, and appear in fome other .remote Na- tion, though not perhaps in the fame Climate. COELVM, or Beginnings. ^^17 E have it from the Poets by Tradition, that Coe- lum was the Ancienteft of the Gods, and that his >.iembers of Generation were cut off by his Son Saturn* 'Saturn had many Children, but devoured them as foon -as tiiey were born j Jufuer only efcapt, who being come The Wifcfom of the Ancients. 4 y come to Man's eftate, thruft Saturtt his Father into Hellj and fo nfurped the Kingdom. Moreover he pa- red off his Father's Genitals with the lame F^ukhion that Saturn difmembrcd Ccelum^ and caft them into the Sea ; from whence came Ftmis. Not long after this, (Jupiter being fcarce fetled and confirmed in this King- dom) was invackd by two memorable Wars. The firft of the Titans^ in the fupprefiing of which 6"^/ (who alone of all the Titans Favouring Jumer\^ fide) took exceeding great pains. Tlie fecond was of the Giants, yjhom- Jufiter himfelf deflroyed with Thunderbolts: and fo all Wars being ended^ he reigned fecure. This Fable feems enigmatically to jhew from whence all things took their beginning, not much differing from that Opinion of Philofophers, which Demccritus aherwards laboured to maintain, attributing Eternity to the tirft Matter, and not to the World. In which he comes fomewhat near the truth of Divine Writ, tel- ling us of a huge deformed Mais, before the beginning of the fix days Work. The meaning of the Fable is this: By C cclum mzy be underftood that vaft concavity, or vaulted compafe that comprehends all Matter : and by Saturn may be meant the matter it felf, which takes from his Parent all power of generating;; for the univerfality or whole Bulk of Matter always remains the fame^ neither in- creafing or diminilhing in relped: of the quality of its Nature : But by the Divers agitations and motions of it, were firft produced imperfed, and ill agreeing com- portions of things^, making as it were certain Worlds for Proofs or Eflays^, and lb in procefs of time a per- fed: Fabrick or Structure was framed, which ftould ftill retain and keep his form. And therefore the Go- vernment of the firft Age was fhadowed by the King- dom of Satiirn^ who for the frequent diffolutions and fliort continuances of things was aptly feigned to de- vour his Children. The fucceeding Government was decyphw^ \^ the Reign of Jufiter^ who confined thofe 4^' 7be Wifc/om of the Ancients. thole continual Mutations unto Tartarus, a place fig-^ nifying Perturbation. This place feems to be all that middle place between the lower fuperficies of Heaven^- and the Centre of the Earth: in which all perturbati- ons, and fragility, and mortality or corruption are frequent. During the former Generation of things in the time oi Saturn's Reign, Vevus was not born: for fo long as in the univerfaiity of Marter, Difcord was bet- ter and more prevalent than Concord, it was necelTary that there fliould be total diflblution or mutation, and that in the whole Fabrick. And by this kind of Ge- neration were Creatures produced before Saturn was deprived of his Genitals. When this ceafed, that other which wrought by Venus, immediately came in, confi- fting in fetled and prevalent concord of things, fo that Mutation ihould be only in re(pe(5i of the parts, the uni- verfal Fabrick remaining whole and inviolate. Saturn^ they fay, was depofed and caft down into Hell, but not deftroyed and utterly extinguilht, be- caufe there was an Opinion that the World /hould re^ lapfe into the old Chaos and interregnum again, which Lucretius prayed might not happen in his time : Quodfrocul a mhis fleBat fortuna guhernans : Et ratio potius quam res ferfuadeat ipfa» Of guiding Providence be gracious, That this Dooms-day be far removd from u^; And grant, that by us it may be expeded. Rather than on us, in our times effeded. For afterwards the World fliould fubilft by its own quantity and power. Yet from the beginning there was no reft : for in the Celeftial Regions there lirft fol** lowed notable Mutations, which by the power of th« Sun (predominating over fuperiour Bodies) were fo quieted, that the ftate of the World fliould be confei*^ ved ; and afterwards (in inferior Bodies^ by the fu^ prcfTuig The Wifdom of the Ancients. 47 prefling and difliparing of Inundations, Tcmpefts, Winds^ and general Earthquakes, a more peaceable durable Agreement and Tranquility of things followed. But of this Fable it may convertibly be faid, Tha t the Fable contains Philofophy, and Philofophy again the Fable; For we know by Faith, that all thefe things are nothing elfe but the long fince ceafing and failing Ora- cles of Senfe, feeing that both the Matter and Fa brick of the World aremoft truly referred to a Creator. PROTEVS, or Matter. ' I 'HE Poets fay that Vroteus \JV2iS Neptune s Herds-man, -* a grave Sire, and fo excellent a Prophet, that he might well be termed thrice excellent: for he knew not only things to come, but even things paft as well as prefent,- fo that befides his skill in Divination, he was the MeiTenger and Interpreter of all Antiquities and hidden Mylreries. The place of his abode was a huge vaft Cave, where his Cuflom was every day at noon to count his Flock of Sea-calves, and then to go to fleep. Moreover he that defired his advice in any thing, could by no other means obtain it, but by catching him in Manacles, and holding him faft therewith ,• who ne- verthelefs to be at liberty Would turn himfeif into all tnianner of Form^ and Wonders of Nature ,• fometimes into Fire, fometimes into Water, fometimes into the fliape of Beafts, and the like ; till at length he were r^ Itored to his owti Form again. This Fable may feem to unfold the fecrets of Nature and the properties of Matter, f or under the Perfon of xFroteus^ the firlt Matter (which nfu to God is the An- cienteft thing' may be reprefented: For Matter dwells in the concavity of Heaven, as in a Cave. Fie is Neftufits bond-man, becaufe the Operations and Difpenfations of Matter are chiefly exerciled in liquid Bodies. His 4& The WifJom of the Ancievti His FIbck or Herd feems to be nothing but the 01?^ dinary Spedes of fenfible Creatures^ Plants and Metals, in which Matter feems to diffufe and as it were fpend it fclf; fb that after the forming and perfeding of thefe Kinds, (having ended as it were her Task^) The feemi to fleep and take her reft^ not attempting the com- pofition of any more Specks, And this may be the Moral of Proteus his counting of ills Flock, and of hi^ fleeping. Now this is faid to be done, not in the morning, nor in the evening, but at noon ,• to wit, at fuch time as is moft fit and convenient for the perfeding and bringing forth of Species out of Matter, duly prepared and predifpofed, and in the middle, as it were be- tween their beginning and declinations, which we know fufficiently (out of the Holy Hiftory) to be done about the time of the Creation : for then by the power of that Divine Word (Froducat,) Matter at the Creator *s command did congregate it lelf fnot by ambages or turnings, but inftantlyj to the producHon of its work into an Ad and Conftitution of Species^ And thus far have we the Narration of Proteus, (fret and unreftrained,) together with his Flock compleat : for the univerfality of things , with their ordinary Structures and Compofitions of Species, bears the face of matter, not limited and conftrained, and of the Flock alfo of material beings. Neverthelefs if any expert Minifter of Nature, mail encounter Matter by main force, vexing and urging her with intent and purpofe to reduce her to nothing ; flie contrariwile (feeing annihilation and abfolute deftrudion cannot be effeded by the Omnipotency of God^ being thus caught in the ftraits of neceffity, doth change and turn her felf into divers ftrange Forms and Shapes of things, fo that at length (by fetching a circuit as it werej ftie comes to a period, and (if the force con- tinue) betakes her felf to her former being* The rea- fon of which conftraint or binding, will b§ more fa^ the Wifcfom of the Ancients. 4^1 die and expedite^ if matter be laid hold on by Mana- cles^ that is^ Extremities. Now whereas it is feigned that Froteus was a Pro- phet;, well skilled in three differences of Times^, it hath an excellent Agreement with the Nature of Matter : for it is neceflary that he that will know the Properties and Proceedings of Matter, fliould comprehend iii his Underfianding the fum of all things, which have been. which are, or which ihall be, although no Know- ledge can extend fo far as to fingular, and individu??! Beings; MEMNONy or a Touth too forward. T^He Poets fay, diat Mcmmyi was the Son oiAuro^ ^ ra^ who (adorned with beautiful Armour ^ ahci animated with popular Applaufe,) came to the Trojan Pr^r ; where (in raih Boldnefs, hafting unto, ^nd thirfting after Glory,) he enters into fmgle Combat With Jchilles^ the valianteft of all«heGr^c;«?;?.f, by whole powerful hand he was there (lain. But Jupiter pitying his deftrudion, fent Birds to modulate certain lamenta- ble, and doleful Notes at the Solemnization oi his Fu- neral Obfequies. Whofe Statue alfo (the Sun reflc ^etahltur. There is a kind of Men that v/ill always abide in our City, though al- ways forbidden. And yet notwithftanding unlawful snd curious Arts of what kind foever, in trad: of time; when they cannot perform what they promife, do fall from the good Opinion that was held of them, (no otherwife than Icarus fell down from the Skies, >'- thev grow to be contemned and fcorned, and fo pe- liffi by too muc-h Oltentation. And to fay the Tmtlv^- '• ' ' they The WifdoM of the Ancients. 6j they are not fo happily ftrairened by the Reins of Law^ as bewrayed by their own Vanity. i } ERICTHONWS, or Impjiure. . THe Poets Fable that Vulcan Iblicited Mi?je7"va for her Virginity, and impatient of denial, with an inflamed delire offered her violence, but in ftruggling his Seed fell upon the Ground, whereof came Eriiiho- niiiSy whofe Body from the middle upward, was of a comely and apt proportion, but his Thighs and Legs like the tail of an Eel, finalland deformed. To which Monftrofity he being confcious, became the firft in- ventor of the ufe of Chariots, whereby that part of his Body which was well proportioned might be feen, and the other which was ugly and uncomely might be hid. This ftrange and prodigious Fiction may (eem to fiiew that Art which (for the great ufe it hath of Fire) is fliadowed by Vulcan^ althougli it labour by much flriving with corporeal fubilances to .force Nature, and to make her fubjedl to it, ((he being for her Induftri- ous Works rightly reprefented by Mimr^a ,• ) yet fel- dom or never attains the end it aims at, but with much ado and great pains (wreftiing as it were with her) comes lliort of its purpofe, and produceth certain im- perfed Births and lame Works, fair to the Eye, but weak and defedive in ufe, which many Impoftors (with much fubtilty and deceitj fet to view, and car- ry about, as it were in triumph, as may for the moft part be noted in Chymical produdions, and other Mechanical fubtilties and novelties, efpecially when (rather perfecuting their intent, than reclining their Er- rors) they rather ftrive to overcome Nature by force, than fue tor her Embraceoi^nts by due obfequioufnels and ob&rvanc?. 62 The Wifc/om of the Ancients. DEVCALION, or ttefiitution. THe Poets fay, that (the People of the Old WbrM being deftroyed by a general Deluge) Deucalion and Vyrrha were only left alive ; who praying with fervent and zealous devotion, that they might know by what means to repair Mankind, had anfwer from an Oracle that they fhould obtain what they defired^ if taking the Bones of their Mother they caft them be- hind their Backs ; which at firft ftruck them with great amazement and defpair, feeing (all things be- ing defaced by the Flood) it would be an endlefi work to find their Mothers Sepulchre, but at length they underftood that by Bones the Stones of the Earth (feeing the Earth was the Mother of all thiiigs) were iignified by the Oracle. This Fable feems to reveal a fecret of Nature, and to corred an error familiar to Men*s conceits : For through want of knowledge Men think that things may take renovation and reftauration from their pu- treradion and dregs, no otherwife than the Vhoenix from the Afhes, which in no cafe can be admitted feeing fuch kind of Material, when they have fulfiUe, their periods,are unapt for the beginnings of fuch things : We muft therefore look back to more common Princi- ples. NEMESIS, or the Viciffitude of things. NEMESIS is faid to be a Goddefs venerable unto all, but to be feared of none but Potentates and Fortunes favourites. She is thought to be the Daugh- t^xoiOceanus and i^ox. She is pourtraided with Wings on her Shoulders, aad on her Head a Coronet ^ bear* ing « The Wifdom of the Ancients. ^3 ?ng in her Right Hand a Javelin of Jjh^ and in her iek a Pitcher with the fimilitudes of zySthiopiam en- graven on it,* and laftly, flie is defcribed fitting on an Hart. The Parable may be thus unfolded. Her name Ne- rrnfa doth plainly iignifie Revenge or Retribution, her office and adminiftration being (like a Tribune of the People) to hinder the conftant and perpetual felicity of happy Men, and to interpofe her word,