\ 
 
 k 
 
\. 
 
 THE 
 
 ESSAYS, 
 
 O R 
 
 Councils, Clt)il anD ^o?al, 
 
 O F 
 
 Sir.' Francis "B acon. 
 
 Lord Ferulam^ Vifcount St. Alban, 
 
 With a TABLE of the Colours 
 
 O F 
 
 GOOT> and EFIL, 
 
 And a Difcourfe 
 Of the WISDOM of the 
 
 ANCIENTS- 
 
 To this Editio'j is added the Character of Queen 
 ELIZABETH; never before Printed m 
 Englifh. 
 
 LONDON^ 
 Printed by E. Holt for Henry Herrhgman^ and to 
 be Sold by Timothy Childe^ at the White Hart 
 in St. P^z/i's Church-yard, 1701. 
 

 T O T H E 
 Right Honourable my very good Lord, 
 
 THE 
 
 Duke ofBuc^ngham his Grace, 
 
 LORD HIGH-ADMIRAL 
 O F 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 Excellent Lord, 
 
 Olomon fays^ A Good Name is a 
 precious Oiatment^ and^ 1 ajjun 
 my felf^ Jticb will Tour (Jr ace's Name 
 he with Pofterity ; for your Fortune and 
 Merit , both haye been Eminent ; and Xoti 
 haye planted things that are like to lajl. I 
 do nolt? publilh my Eflays ; T^hich , of aU 
 my other Works , have been moH current : 
 For that , as it (eems , they come home t9 
 ^Meiis Bufinefs, and Bofoms. 1 haye en^ 
 Urged them both in Number md Weight; 
 
 A 2 Jo 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 Jq that thy are indeed a New work, / 
 thought it therefore agreeable to my Af- 
 jeBion , and Obligation to Your Grace , to 
 prefix your Hame be j ore theniy both in En* 
 glifh and Latin : For I do conceive^ that the 
 Latin Volume of them, (bemg in the Uni- 
 verfal Language^ may lajl as long as 
 Books lajl. JTl/ly Inftauration / dedicated 
 to the King ; my Hiftory of Henry the 
 Seventh {lifhicb I haVe no"^ alfo translated 
 into LatinJ and my Portions of Natural 
 Hiftory to the Prince. And theje 1 dedi- 
 cate to Your Grace, being of the beft Fruits, 
 that , by the good increafe mhich God gives 
 to my ^en and Labours^ I could yield. God 
 lead Your Grace by the hand. 
 
 Your Graces moft obliged 
 and Faithful Servant. 
 
 fr. St. JL^AH, 
 
Elogies on the Illullrious Author. 
 Ben, Johnfonjinhii Difcoveries^ p. ici. 
 
 1"^Here happened in my time, one Noble Speaker 
 [Lord rcnlanz] who was full of gravity in his 
 fpeaking. His Language (where he could fi.a^c or 
 pafs by a jeft) was nobly cenfoiious. No Man ev^r 
 fpake more neatly, more prellly, more weightily or 
 fufFercd Icfsemptinefs, lefs Idlenefs in wliathe uttered. 
 No member of his Speech but confilled of his own Gra- 
 ces. Kii Hearers could not cou2;h or look afide from 
 him without lofs. He commanded where he fpoke^ 
 and had his Judges angry and pleafcd at his devotion. 
 No Man had their affedlions more in his power. The 
 fear of every man that heard him, was, left he fhould 
 make an end. j4nd after. ^ards^ Lord £^nto;7, the Chan- 
 cellor, a great and grave Orator, ^b^c. But his Learn- 
 ed fnd able, f though unfortunate j SuccelTor, [Lord 
 Bacon] is he, who hath filled up all memibcrs, and per- 
 formed that in our tongue, which may be compared or 
 prefer'd, either to infolent Greece or haughty Rome, la 
 Ihort, within his view, and about his times, were all 
 the Vv^its born, that could honour a Language or help 
 Study. Now things daily fall ;, Wits grow downward, 
 and Eloquence goes backward : So that he may be 
 nam'd and ftand as the mark and *;c/>t»') of our Language^ 
 j4nd a little after^ My conceit of his Perfon was ne- 
 ver increafed toward him, by his place or honours. 
 But 1 have and do reverence him for the greatnefs that 
 was only proper to himfelf, in that he feem'd to me e- 
 ver by his work, one of the grcatell: Men, and molt 
 worthy of admiration, that had been in many Ages. 
 In his Adverfity I ever prayed, that God would give 
 him ftrength, for greatnefs he could not w^nt. Neither 
 
 could 
 
could I condole in a word or fyllable for him ^ as know- 
 ing no Accident could do harm to Vertue, but rather 
 help to make it manifeft. 
 
 A* Cowley^ in his Poem to the Royal Society, after 
 fomc Refleftions upon the State oiPbHofofhy 
 aforetime, goes on. 
 
 SOme few exalted Sprits this latter Age has [hown^ 
 That laboured to ajfert the Liberty 
 (From Guardians J who were now Vfurpers grown) 
 Of this Old Minor fl ill ^ Captiv^dPhilofophy^ 
 
 But 'twas Rebellion c air d to fight 
 
 Forfuch a long opprejfed Right. 
 BACON at laft^ a mighty Man^ arofe^ 
 
 IVljom a wife King and Nature chofe 
 
 Lord Chancellor of both their Laws^ 
 ^nd boldly undertook the injured Pupils caufe, 
 
 ni. 
 
 Authority^ which did a Body hoafi^ 
 
 Though "'twas but Air condens^d^ andflalk^d aboui^ 
 
 Like fame old Giants more Gigantic Ghofl ^ 
 
 To terrific the Learned Rout 
 With the plain Magick of true Reafons Light y 
 
 He chacdout of our fight ^ 
 Norfuffefd Living Men to be mijled 
 
 By the vainfloadows of the Dead: 
 To Graves from whence it rofe^ the conquer'^d Phantome fted-^ 
 
 He broke that Monflrous God which flood 
 hi midfl of tlo Orchard^ and the whole did claim^ 
 
 Which with a ufelefs Sithe of Wood^ 
 
 And fomething elfe not worth a name^ 
 
 (Both vafl for fJjew^ yet neither fit 
 
 Or to Defend^ or t$ Beget • 
 
 Ridiculous 
 
Kidkulomandfencekfs Terrors! ) made 
 tbildren and fuperftitious Men afraid. 
 
 The Orchard's open now^ and free -^ 
 BACON has broke that Scare-crow Deity • 
 
 Cotre^ enter ^ all that rvill^ 
 Behold the ripned Fruity come gather now your fiU. 
 
 Tet ftill^ methinks^ we fain would be ^ 
 
 Catching at the Forbiddm Tree^ 
 
 We would be like the Veitie^ 
 When Truth and Falfhood^ Good and Evil^ we 
 Without the Sences aid within our felves would fee -^ 
 
 For ''tis God only who can find, 
 
 AU Nature in hi/s Mind, 
 
 IV. 
 
 From Words ^ which are but Pi&wesofthe Thought^ 
 (Though we our Thoughts from them perver/ly drew^ 
 ToThtngs^ the Minds right Objed^^ he it brought^ 
 Like fooUjh Birds to painted Grapes we flew -^ 
 Fie fought and gathered for our ufe the True -^ 
 j4nd when on heaps the chofen Bunches lay^ 
 He preft them wifely the Mechanic way^ 
 Till all their juyce did in one Feffeljoin, 
 Fertnent into a Nourijhment Divine ^ 
 
 The Thirfly Souls refrefhing Wine, 
 Who to the Life andexaCt Piece would make^ 
 Mufi 'zotfrom others Work a Copy take-^ 
 
 Ko^ notfrcm Rubens or Vandike^ 
 Much lefi content himfelfto make it like 
 Th^ Jdaas and the Images which lie 
 In his own Fancy ^ or his Memory, 
 
 No, he before hvs fight mujl place 
 
 The Natural and Living Face ^ 
 
 The real Objed: mufl command 
 Each "judgment of hvs Eye^ and Motion of Us Hand. 
 
 r. 
 
V. 
 
 From thefe long Lrrors of the xoay^ 
 
 In which our vjandring Predecejjorswent^ 
 
 And like th' old Hebrews many years didfiray 
 
 In dc farts but offmall extent^ 
 BACON, like Mofes, led us forth at laft^ 
 The barren M^tldernefs he pajl^ 
 Did on the very Border fland^ 
 Of the hleft promised Land ^ 
 And from the Mountains Topof his Exalted ^'it^ 
 
 Saw it himfelfj andfljevp^d us it. 
 But Itfe did never to one Alan allow 
 Time to Difcover Worlds^ and Conquer too ^ 
 Nor canfofhort a Line fujfcient be 
 To fathom thevajh depths of Natures Sea: 
 
 The work he did we ought f admire^ 
 And were unjujl ifwefJjould more require 
 'From hvs fewyears^ divided 'twixt the Excefs 
 of low AjfUBion^ and high Happinefs : 
 For who on things remote can fix hi^ fii^^j 
 Tldafs always in a Triumph^ or a fight 1 
 
 A. Cowley. 
 
 ESSAYS 
 
i\ ¥ k^* 
 
 I. 
 
 Of Truth. 
 
 WHAT i^Tmhl faidjeItirigM7ff^ and would 
 not Hay for an Anfwer. Certainly there he 
 that delight in giddinefs, and count it a Bon- 
 dage to fix a Belief; affecting Free-will iri 
 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 fame Veins, 
 though there be not fo much Blood in them, as was in 
 thofe of the Ancients. But it is not only the difficulty 
 and labour, which Men take in finding out of Truth ; 
 nor again, ihat when it is found, it impofeth upon Mens 
 thoughts, that doth bring L^t^Mii favour J but a natural, 
 though corrupt Love, of the Lye it felf. One of the la- 
 ter Schools of the Cnciam examineth the matter, and is 
 at a Hand, to think v/hat ihould be in it, that Men Oiould 
 love Lyes ^ v;here neither they make for Pleafure, as 
 with Poets, nor for Advantage, as with the Merchant, 
 bat for the Lyes fake. But I cannot tell. This fame 
 Truth is a naked and open Day-lighr, that doth not (hew 
 the Masks, and Mummei ies^and Triumphs of the Woridj 
 half fo ilately and daintily as Candle-light. Truth may 
 perhapscometo the price of a Pearl, that fneweth befl 
 by day ^ but it will not rife to the prioe of a Diamond of 
 
 h Carbuncle, 
 
4 sir Francis Bacon'5 Ejfays. 
 
 Carbuncle, that (heweth belt in varied Lights. A mix- 
 ture of a Lye doth ever add pleafure. Doth any Man 
 doubt, that if there were tal^en out of Mens minds vain 
 Opinions, flattering Hopes, falfe Valuations, Imagina- 
 tions as one would, and the like •, but it would leave the 
 minds of a number of Men, poor Ihrunken things, full 
 of melancholy and indifpofition, and unpleafmg to them- 
 felves ? One of the Fathers in great fevcrity called Poe- 
 fie, rimm Doemonum^ becaufe it filleth the Imagination, 
 and yet it is but with the Ihadow of a Lye, But it is not 
 the Lye that palTeth through the mind, but the Lye that 
 fmketh in, and fettleth in it, that doth the hurt, fuch 
 as we fpake of before. But howfoever thefe things are 
 thus in Mens depraved Judgments and Affe6>ions ^ yet 
 Tmth^ whichonlydoth judge it felf, teacheth, that the 
 Enquiry of Trwt/?, which is the love-making, or wooing 
 of it : The knowledge of Truth ^ which is the prefence 
 of it : And the belief of 7V«f^, which is the enjoying of 
 it, is the foveraign Good of humane Nature. The firft 
 Creature of God in the Works of the Days, was Light of 
 the Senfe ;, the lafl was the Light of Reafon ^ and his 
 Sabbath-work ever fmce, is the illumination of his Spirit. 
 Firft, he breathed Light upon the face of the Matter or 
 Chaos-, then he breathed Light into the face of Man; 
 and dill he breatheth and infpireth Light into the Face 
 ofhisChofen. The Poet that beautified the Sed, that 
 was otherwife inferiour to the reft, faith yet excellently 
 well : It is apkafure to Jland upon the Shore ^ and to fee Ships 
 tofl upon the Sea ^ apleafure to ft and in the window of aCaftle^ 
 and to fee a Battel^ and the adventure thereof below : But no 
 ple.ifure is comparMe to the ftanding upon the vantage-ground 
 of Truth , (an Hill not to be commanded, and where the 
 Air is always clear and ferene :) and to fee the Errors^ and 
 WandYmgs^ and Mifts^ and Tempefts in the Falc below : So 
 jilvvays that this profped be with Pity, and not with 
 Swelling or Pride. Certainly it is Heaven upon Earth, 
 to h.^.ve a M.in's mind move in Charity, reft in Provi- 
 dcncj, and turn upon the Poles oi Truth. 
 
 To 
 
Of Death. % 
 
 To pafs from Theological and Philofophical. Truth^ td 
 the Trufh of Civil Bulinefs, it will be acknowledged^ 
 even by thofe that practife it not, that clear and round 
 dealing is the Honour of Man's Nature, and that mixture 
 of Falihood is like allay in Coin of Gold and Silver^ 
 which may make the Metal work the better, but it emt- 
 bailth it. For thefe winding and crooked courfes are 
 the goings of the Serpent^ which goech b^iiely upou the 
 Belly, and not upon the feet. There, is no Vice that 
 dotb fo cover a iMan with fhame, as to be found fa I Ce 
 and perfidious. And therefore Montaigm faith prettil^^ 
 when he enquired thereafon, Why the word ot the Lye 
 fliould be fuch a Difgrace, and fcch an odious Charge:: 
 Saith he, Ifitl^ irtll mighed^ To Jjiy that a A^fan lycth^ is 
 06 much a6 to fay^ that he ts a Brave towards G'd^ and d 
 Coward towards Moi. For a /^e faces God, and flirinks 
 from Man. Surely the wickednefs and falfhood, and 
 breach of Faith, cannot poiTibly be fo highly exprcficd, 
 as in that it fiiall be the lall Peal, to call the Judgments 
 of God upon the Generations of Men \ it being fore- 
 told, that when Chriil cometh. He fhali not find faith 
 upon the Earth. 
 
 II. 
 
 Of Veath. 
 
 ME N fear Death^ as Children fear to go in the dark : 
 And as that natural fear in Children is encreafed 
 wiih fales, fo is the other. Cerrainly the Contemplation 
 of Veath^ as the IVagcs of Sin^ and paffiige to another 
 World, is Holy and Religious^ but the fear of it, as 3 
 Tribute due unto Nature, is v\^eak. Yet in religious Me- 
 ditations, there is fometimes a mixture ot Vanity and Sn- 
 periUcion. You fhall read in forne of the Friars Books 
 oi Mortification^ that a Man fnould think with himfelf, 
 what the pain is^ i/he.have but his fingers ei^d prefTed 
 
 B 2 " or 
 
\ Sir Francis Bacon ^ Sjf/j)5, 
 
 or tortured, and thereby imagine what the pain? of Death 
 are, when the whole Body is corrupted and diflblved ^ 
 when many times Vcuth palfeth with lefs pain, than the 
 torture of a Limb : For the molt Vital parts are not the 
 quickeit of Senfe. And by him that fpake only as a 
 Philofopher, and natural Man, it was well faid ; Po?npa 
 mortis mjgh ttrret^ quam A^oys ipfjj Groans, and Con- 
 vulfions, and difcolou red Face, and Friends weeping, 
 and Blacks, and Obfequies, and the like, fhew Death 
 terrible. It is worthy the obferving, that there is no 
 palTion in the mind of Man fo weak, but it mates and 
 inafbevs 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. Revenge 
 triumphs over Death -^ Love flights it; Honour afpireth to 
 it '^ Grief fiicth to it ; Fear pre-occupateth it. Nay we 
 r^ad , after Otho the Emperor had flain himfelf. Pity 
 ('which is the tendered: of Affections) provoked many to 
 die, out of meer corapafllon to their Sovereign, and as 
 the trueft fort of Followers, ^ay, Seneca adds Nicenefs 
 and Satiety •, Cogita quam diu eadem facer cs •, Mori vcUe^ non 
 tantwn Fortvs^ aut Mifcr^ fed etiam Fajlidiofus potejl, A 
 Man would die, though he were neither valiant nor mi- 
 ferable, only upon a wearinefs 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 lalt 
 inltant. Augnflvj CcefardX^d. in a Complement*, Livia^ 
 Conjugii n-'Jlri wemor^ vive^ & vale. Tiberius inDillimu- 
 lation, zs 7 acitus i^siith of him; Jam Tiberium P^ires^ & 
 Corpus^ non Dtjfi mulatto defer eb ant, yefpaftan in a Jeff, fit- 
 ting upon the ilool ; Vt puto^ Deus fio, Galba with a Sen- 
 tence; Fori ^ fi ex refit populi Romani^ holding forth his 
 neck. Settimius Se-verus in difpatch ; Mefle^ fi quid mihi 
 refiat agenJum ; and the like. Certainly the Stoicks be- 
 flov;ed too much cofb upon Dsath^ and by their great 
 Preparations made it appear more fearful. Better^ faith 
 he, Qiii fviicm vltcc cxirenium inter munera ponat Nature. 
 
 It 
 
Of Unity In ^Itgwn. 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 earnefl purfuit, is like one that is wounded in 
 hot blood, who for the time fear ce feels the hurt-, and 
 therefore a Mind fix'd, and bent upon fomevvhat that is 
 good, doth avert the dolours o^ Death. But above all, 
 believe it, the fweetelt Canticle is, Nunc dimhtts^ when 
 a Man hath obtained worthy Ends and Expectations^ 
 Death hath this alfo ^ that it openeth the Gate to good 
 Fame, and cxtinguiihcth Envy. 
 
 Extinclus amahitur idem. 
 
 III. 
 
 Of Unity hi fj^eli^ion. 
 
 REligion being the chief band of humane Society, it is 
 a happy thing when it felf is well contained with- 
 in the true band of Vnity. The Qiiarrels and Divifions 
 about Religion 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 Jealotis God, and therefore his 
 Worfhip and Religion will endure no Mixture or Partney. 
 We Ihall therefore fpeak a few VV^ords concerning th.e 
 Vnity of the Church:, What are the fruits thereof^ what the 
 Bonds.^ and what the A^eans. 
 
 The Fruits ofVmtj (next unto the well-pleafing of God, 
 which is All in All) are two^ the one towards thofe that 
 are without the Church., the other towards thofe that are 
 within. For the former ^ It is certain, that Herehes and 
 Schifms are of all others the greacell Scandals, yea, more 
 than corruption of Manners. For as in the Natui^al 
 Body, a Wouud or Solution of continuity, is worfc timn 
 
 B 3 s corrupt 
 
6 Sir Francis BaCon'i Bjjitys. 
 
 a corrupt Humour ^ fo in th-e Spiritual. So that notliing 
 doth fo much keep Men out of the Church, and drive 
 Men out of the Chiirch^^s a breach of Vni^y : And there- 
 fore whenfoeve^ it cometh to that pafs, that one faith, 
 JEcce in dsfr'to, another faith, Ecce in pcnstralihus ^ that is, 
 when fome iMea feek Chrilt in the Conventicles of He- 
 reticks, and others in an outward face of a Church, that 
 Voice had need continually to found in Mens Ears, Nolite 
 pj^ire^ Go not our. TheDodor of the Gentiles (the pro- 
 priety of whofc vocation drew him to have a fpecial care 
 of thofe without) faith, Jf an Heathen come in and hear you 
 fieak with feveral Tongues^ wiUhe not fay that you are mad? 
 And certainly it is little better, when Atheiltsandpro^ 
 phane Perfons do hear of fo many difcordant and con- 
 trary Opinions in Religion ^ it doth avert them from the 
 phurch, ancj maketh them to fit down tn the Chair of the 
 Scm-r.ers. It is but a light thing to be vouched in fo fe- 
 rious a matter, but yet it exprefleth well the deformity. 
 There is a Mailer of Scoffing, that in his Catalogue of 
 Pooks of a feigned Library, fets down this Title of a 
 Book, The Morrice-day^ce of Hereticks. For indeed f very 
 Sedof thern hath a divers pofture, or cringe by them- 
 felves, which cannot but move derifion in Worldings, 
 aad depraved Politicks, who are apt to contemn Holy 
 Things. 
 
 As for the Fmit toward thofe that are within. It is PcaCr^ 
 which containeth infinite Bleffings ; it ellablifheth Faith ; 
 it kindleth Charity ^ the outward Peace of the Church 
 diftilleth into Peace of Confcience • and it turneth the 
 Labours of Writing and Reading of Controverfie$, into 
 Treatifes oi MoYtificamn and Devotion, 
 
 Concerning the Bonds ofVnity^ the true placing of 
 them importeth exceed in o,ly. There appear to be two 
 extreams. For to certain Ztalats all fpeech of pacification 
 is odious Is it peace ^ jehU? What hafi thou to do with 
 l^ace ? Turn thee behind me. Peace is not the matter, but 
 tollowtng a Party. Contrail wife certain Lacdice^ns^ and 
 ir.kn-vrdvm Perfons, think :hev mm accommodate Points 
 
of Unity In <!{eligion. f 
 
 of Religion by middle ways, and taking part of both, 
 and witty reconcilements, as if they would make an ar- 
 bitrement between God and Man. But thefe cxtreams 
 are to be avoided -^ whi h will be done, if the league of 
 Chriftians, penned by our Saviour hinifelf, where in the 
 two crofsclaufes thereof, foundly and plainly expound- 
 ed. He that is not with us^ is aga'mfl us : And again, He 
 that is not againfi us^ is with us : That is, it the points 
 Fundamental, and of Snbftance in Migion^ were truly 
 difcerned and diltinguiflied from points not meerly of 
 Faith, but of Opinion, Order, or good Intention. This 
 is a thing may fcem 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 rendring God's 
 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 ftrife about it, kindled 
 only by contradiftion. For, as it is noted by one of 
 the Fathers, Chrift's Coat indeed had no feam^ hut the Chur^ 
 ches Fefture was of divers colours ♦, whereupon he faith, In 
 vefte varietas fit^fciffura nonfit -^ they be two th\ng%^Vnity 
 and Vniformity. The other is, when the matter of the 
 point controverted is great, but it is driven to an over- 
 great fubtilty and obfcurity/o that it becometh a thing 
 rather ingenious than fubllantial. A Man that is of 
 judgment and underitanding, (hall fometimes hear ig» 
 norant Men differ, and know well within himfclf, that 
 thofe which fo differ, mean one thing, and yet they 
 themfelves would never agree. And if it come fo to 
 pafs,in that dillance of judgment which is between Man 
 and Man, fhall we not think, that God above, that 
 knows the heart, doth not difccrn that frail Men in 
 fome of their contradictions intend the fame thing, and 
 accepterhof both? The nature ot" fach controverfies is 
 excellently exprelFcd by St. Paul^ m the warning and 
 precept thut be givetb concerning the fame, Dcvita p'o^ 
 
 B 4 fanaf 
 
8 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejjays. 
 
 fjn.isvocum mvttates^ & oppofjtiones falfi nominis fckntja^^ 
 •Men create oppofitions whicn are not, and put them into 
 new terms fo fixed, as vvhereis the nieanhig ought to 
 govern the term, the term in effcft governeth the mean- 
 ing. There be alfo two falfe Peaces^ or Vnities • 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 direct admiflion of 
 contraries in Fundamental points. For. Truth and 
 Falfhood in fuch things, are like the Iron and Clay in the 
 iocs of Nehuchadnez^:Lar s Image^ they may cleave^ but 
 ihcy will not incorporate. 
 
 Concerning the Aieans of procuring Vniiy •, Men mufl 
 beware, that in the procuring or muniting of Relrgious 
 Vnity^ they do not dilTblve and deface the Laws of Cha- 
 rity, and of Humane Society. There be two Swords 
 gmongfb Chriftians, the Spiritual and Temporal-, and 
 bothfiave their due office and place in the maintenance 
 of Rdigion. But we may not take up the third Sword, 
 which is Adahomet'% 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, blafphemy, or intermixture of pradice againfl 
 the State:, much let's to nouriih Seditions, to authorize 
 Confpiraciesand Rebellions, to put the Sword into the 
 Peoples hands, and the like, tending to the fubverfion 
 of ail Government, which is the Ordinance of God. 
 For this is but to da(h the Firft Table againft the Second, 
 andfo toconfider Men as Chriltians, as we forget that 
 they are Men. Lucretius the Poet, when he beheld the 
 /\£t of ylga^remnon^ that could endure the facrificingof 
 his own Daughter, exclaimed ^ 
 
 Tantum RtVtgio fotuit fuadere tnahrum, 
 
 v/hat would he have Paid, if he had known of the Maf- 
 J^^CTC ir) France^ or the Powder-Treafon of England}- 
 He would have been ievcn time? more Epicure and 
 
 Atheifl 
 
of ^ytnge. p 
 
 Athcifl than he was : For as the Temporal Sword is to 
 be drawn with great circumfpedion in cafes of ReVgton ., 
 fo it isathingmonilrous, to put it into the hands of 
 the common People. Let that be left unto the Anabap- 
 tifts, and other Furies. It w^as great blafphemy, when 
 the Devil faid, / rvtll afcend and be like the kigbejl -^ but 
 it is greater blafphemy to perfonateGod, and bring him 
 in, faying, / mil defcer.4 and be like the Prince of Darknefs ^ 
 And what is it better, to make the caufe of Kclgvn to 
 defcend to the cruel and execrable ad^cions of Muidciing 
 Princes, Butchery of People, and Subverfion of States 
 and Governments i* Surely this is to bring down the Ho- 
 ly Ghofl", inileadofthelikenefsof a Dove, in the (hapc 
 of a Vulture or Raven ;, and to fet out of the Bark of a 
 Chridian Church, a Flag of a Bark of Pyrates and Af- 
 fajfmes. Therefore it is moft neccflary, that the Church 
 byDodrincand Decree, Princes by their Sword, and 
 all Learnings both Chriflian and Mora], as by their 
 Mercury Rod, do damn and fend to Hell for ever thofe 
 Fads and Opinions, tending to the fupport of the fame, 
 as hath beenaheady in good partdone. Surely in Coun- 
 cils concerning Religion^ that Council of the ApolHc 
 would be prefixed, Mt bowims non implet juftitsam Dd, 
 And it v/as a notable obfervation of a wife Father, and 
 no lefs ingeniouily confelTed, That thofe nhicb held ayid 
 perfwaded prejfure of Confciences^ were commonly mterejfed 
 therein themfelves for their own ends. 
 
 Of ^yenge. 
 
 REvenge is a kind of wild Jufticc; which the more 
 Man's Nature runsto,the more ought Law to weed 
 it out. For as to the firll wrong, it doth but offend the 
 Law, but the Revenge of that wrong puttcth the Law 
 out of Office. Certainly in taking B^evc^^ge^ a Man is 
 
 but 
 
lo S/r Francis Bacon'f Ejfa^s: 
 
 but even with his Enemy ^ but in pafTmg it over he is 
 fuperior: for it is a Princes part to pardon. And 5o. 
 lomon^ lam 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 
 thcmfelves, that labour in paft matters. There is no 
 Man doth a wrong for the wrongs fake, but thereby to 
 pnrchafe himfelf profit, or pleafure, or honour, or the 
 likv;. Therefore why fhould I be angry with a Man for 
 loving himfelf better than me? And if any Man Ihould 
 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 nioil tolerable fort of 
 Revenge^ is for thofe wrongs which there is no Law to 
 remedy : But then let a Man take heed, that the Revenge 
 be fuch, as there is no law to punifh *, elfe a Man's E- 
 nemy is ftill before-hand, and it is two for one. Some 
 when they take Revenge.^ arc defirous the Party fhould 
 know whence it cometh : This is the more generous. For 
 the delight feemeth to be not fo much in doing the 
 hurt, as in making the Party repent. But bafe and crafty 
 Cowards are like the Arrow thatflieth in the dark. Cof- 
 mus Duke of Florence had a defperate faying again ft per- 
 fidious or negle^ing Fi lends, as if thofe wrongs were 
 unpardonable: Tou fhill read^ (faith hej that rve are com- 
 manded to forgive our Enemies •, hut you never read^ that we 
 are commanded to forgive our friends. But yet the Spirit 
 of Job was in a better tune • fhall we (faith he) take good 
 at God- shandy and not be content to take evil alfo} And fo 
 of Friends in a proportion. This is certain, that a Man 
 that ftudieth Revenge.^ keeps his own v/ounds green, 
 which otherwife would heal, and do well: Publick Re- 
 i/enges are for the moft part Fortunate, as that for the 
 death of C^far^ for the death of Perttnax^ for the death 
 of Henry the Third of France^ and many more. But in 
 private Revenges it is not fo. Nay, rather vindicative 
 pcrfons live the life of Witches; wliQ.^S they are mif- 
 chievou?^ fo end they v»r]fQrt;unat;e, Of 
 
ll 
 
 V. 
 
 Of Mverfity. 
 
 IT was an high Speech of Sewec.:?, (after the manner of 
 theStoicks) nat tijcgood tilings whicij bdong tofrofpeii^ 
 ty are to he vr'ijhtd^ but the good things th:tt helmg to advrr^ 
 fity are to he admired : Bona rerum.jtcundarum optabilia^ ad- 
 verfarum ini-abilta. Certainly, if Miracles be the com- 
 mand over Nature, they appear moft in Advtrfiiy, It 
 is yet a higher fpcech of his, than the other, fiTiUch too 
 high for a Heathen J Ft is iru^ gY€^n^[s le have in one the 
 frailty of a Man-^andtbejecurity of a God : F'cre magnum ha- 
 here fragihtalcm hominis^ftcuntaUm Dti. This would have 
 done better in Poefie, where tra-nfcCndencies arc more 
 rillowed. And the Poets indeed have been buli'e with 
 it ^ for it is in effcft the thing, which is figured 'n\ that 
 llrange Ficlion of the ancient Poets, which feeraeth fioc 
 to be without MyOrery ; nay, and to have fome ap- 
 piroachtotheState of aChrillian : That Hercules^ rvhcA 
 he rve?it to unbind Prometheus (by whom Humane Nature 
 is reprcfented j/rf/7e^ the length of the great Ocean in an lEar^ 
 then Pot or Pitcher -^LixdY defcribing Chriltian refolutloA, 
 that faileth in the frail Bark oftheFlelll, throivgh the 
 Waves of the World. But to fpeak in a Wean : Thfc 
 Vertue of Profperity isTeniperance, the Vertue of yidve?- 
 fity is Fortitude, which in Morals is the more heroical 
 Vertue. Profperity is the Bkffi'ng of the Old Tcft^meM^ 
 Mverfity is the Bleilingof the Ken^^ \\hich carrieth the 
 greater Benedidion, and the cleaver Revelation of God's 
 favour. Yet even in the Old Teflament^ if yOU liftefi 
 to l)avid's Harp, you fhall hear as many HeaiTe-like 
 Airs, as Carols. And the Pencil of the Holy Ghoft 
 hath laboured miOre in defcribiug the Affiic\ions 6f jbb^ 
 than the Felicities of ^olornon. Profperity is "not without 
 it^any fears and diftafies ; and j^ivertity is tiot vvithout 
 Comforts ^nd hopes. W'^^ fee in i\ecdh-wotRs ^nd Ewi- 
 
 broidc^ies, 
 
1 2 Sir Francis Bacon'^ Effaysi 
 
 broideries, it is more pleafiiig to have a lively work 
 upon a fad and folemn ground, than to have a dark and 
 melancholy work upon a lightfom ground. Judge 
 therefore of the pleafure of the Heart, by the pleafure 
 of the Eye. Certainly Vertue is like precious Odours, 
 moll fragrant when they are incenfed or crufhed : For 
 Profperity doth befl difcover Vice, but Adverfity doth 
 befb difcover Vertue. 
 
 VI. 
 
 of Simulation and Dif^tmulation. 
 
 Drfftmulation is but a faint kind of Policy or Wifdom ; 
 for it asketh a ftrong Wit and a flrong Heart, to 
 know when to tell truth, and to do it. Therefore it is the 
 weaker fort of Politicks, that are the great Diffemblers. 
 Tacitus faith, Livia for ted xveU voith the Arts of her Hus- 
 band and DiJfimuUtion of her Son-^ attributing ^rts or Tolicy 
 to Augujlhs^md Dijfimulation to Tiberius. And again,whea 
 Muciams encourageth Fef^afian to take Arms againft ri- 
 telhus, he faith, We rife not againfi the piercing Judgment 
 of Augnftus, nor the extream Caution orClofenefs 0/ Tiberi- 
 us. Thefe properties of Arts^ or Policy^ and DiJJimulation^ 
 or Cloftnefs^ are indeed habits and faculties, feveral, and 
 to be diftinguiilied. For if a Man have that penetration 
 of Judgment,ashecandifcern, what things are to belaid 
 open, and what ro be fecreted, and what to be (hewed 
 at half light% and to whom, and when f which indeed 
 are Arts of State,and Arts of Life, as Tacitus well call- 
 eth them) to him a habit of Diffimulatton 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 Difembler, For where a Man cannot chufe or va- 
 ry in Particulars, there it is good to take the fafeftanci 
 wariefl way in general ; like the going foftly by one that 
 cannot well fee. Certainly the ^bl^It Men that ever 
 
of Simulation and D'tffimulatm. i ^ 
 
 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 j for they could tell 
 pafling well, when to ftop or turn , And at fuch tiroes, 
 when they thought the cafe indeed required Diffmulatl- 
 on^ if then they ufed it, it came to pafs, that the former 
 Opinion fpread abroad of their good faith, and clearnefs 
 of dealing, made them almoft invifible. 
 
 There are three degrees of this hiding and veiling of 
 Mans felf. The firfl: Clofenefs^ Refervation^ and Secrecy • 
 when a Man leaveth himfelf without obfervation , or 
 without hold to be taken what he is. The Second Diffi- 
 mulation in the Negative^ when a Man lets fall Signs and 
 Arguments, that he is not that he is. And the third 5/- 
 tnulation in the Affirmative^ when a Man induftiioufly 
 and exprefly feigns and pretends to be that he is not. 
 
 For the firft of thefe^Sca-fcr ; it is indeed the vertiie 
 of a Confeflbr; and alVuredly the Secret Man heareth 
 manyConfelTions-, For who will open himfelf to a Blab, 
 or aBabler? But if a man be thought 5eo-fr, it inviteth 
 difcovery, as the more clofe Air fucketh in the more 
 open: And as in confeflion, the revealing is not for 
 worldly ufe, but for the eafe of a Mans hearty fo Se- 
 cret^ Men come to the knowledge of many things in that 
 kind, while Men rather difcharge their minds, than im- 
 part their minds. In few words, Myfleries are due to 
 Secrecy, Befides (to fay truth) Nakednefs is uncomely, as 
 well in mind as in body j and it addeth no fmall reve- 
 rence to Mens manners and adtions, if they be not alto- 
 gether open. As for Talkers, and Futile perfons, they 
 nre commonly vain, and credulous withal. For he that 
 tulketh what be knoweth, will alfo talk v/hat he know- 
 eth not. Therefore fet it down, that an habit of Secrecy 
 IS both politick a>id moral. And in this part it is good,that 
 a Mans face give his tongue leave to fpeak. For the dif- 
 covery of Mans felf, by the tracts of bis countenance, is 
 a great weaknefs and betraying, by how much it is m.a- 
 ny times more marked and believed, than 3 Mans words. 
 
 For 
 
1 4 Sir Francis; Bacoa ^ Ejjays,. 
 
 For the fecond, which is Dlffimuhtion : It foUoweth 
 many times upon Secrecy by a neceflity ; fo that he that 
 w'ill be Secret^ miift be a Dijfembler in fome degree. For 
 men are toocunnine^, tofuffer a man to keep an indiffe- 
 rent carriage between both, and to be. Secret witbai>t 
 fwaying the balance on either rid_e. They will fo befet 
 a Man with queftions, and draw him on, and pick it out 
 of him, that without an abfni-d filence^ he mull [he\^ 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- 
 fclf a little fcope of DiJJimulatim^ which is^ as it were;, 
 but the skirts or train oiSecrecy, 
 
 But for the third degree, which is S^^w/^f /<?«•, and faife 
 profeflion: That I hold more culpable, and lefs politick.^ 
 except it be in great and rare matters. And; therefore a 
 general cullom of 5/ w^^/^fio;z (which is this laft degree) 
 is a Vice, rifmg either of a natural falfenefs or fearful- 
 nefs, or of a mind that hath fome main faults^ which 
 becaufe a man m.uft needs difguife, it makethhim pra- 
 dife Simulation in other things, left his hand fhould be 
 outof ufc. 
 
 The great advantages of Simulation and DiJJtmulation 
 are three Firll:, To lay afleep opppfition, and to fur- 
 prife : For where a Mans intentions are publifhed, it is 
 an alarm to call up ail that are againft them. The fe- 
 cond is, to refcrve to a Mans felf a fair retreat: For if 
 a man engage himfelf by a manifell Declaration, he 
 muft go thi ough, or take a fall . The third is, the better 
 to difcover the mind of another.* For to him that opens 
 himfelf. Men will hardly Ihew themfelves averfe, but 
 will (fair) let him go on, and turn their freedom of 
 fueech to freedom of thought. And therefore it is a 
 good fhrewd Proverb of the Spaniard^ Ttll a Lye^ and 
 find a Truth ^ as if there were no way of difcovery, but 
 b"] Simulation. 
 
 There 
 
OJ Parents and QhiUren. i ^ 
 
 There be alfo three d if. advantages to fet it even. Th? 
 firlt, That Simulation and Dijfimulation commonly carry 
 with them a (hew of fearfuinefs, which in any bufmeii. 
 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 almoft alone to his own 
 ends. The third and greateft is. That it depriveth a 
 man of one of the molt principal inftruments for a(ftion, 
 which is Truft and Belief. The compofition and tempe- 
 rature is, to have Opennefs in fame and opinion, Secrecy 
 in habit, 2)//// w«/^t/o« in feafonable ufe, and a power to 
 feign, if there be no remedy. 
 
 VII. 
 
 of Parents and Children. 
 
 THE ]oys of Parents sLYQkcvQt^ and fo are their griefs 
 and fears li they cannot utter the one, nor they 
 v^ill not utter the other. Children fvveeten labours, but 
 they make misfortunes more bitter : they increafe the 
 cares of Life, but they mitigate the remembrance of 
 Death. The perpetuity by generation is common to 
 Beafls- but memory, merit, and noble works are proper 
 to Men : and furely a man (hall fee the nobleft Works 
 and Foundations have proceeded from Childlefs Men^ 
 which have fought to exprefs the Images of their minds, 
 where thofe of their bodies have failed: So the care of 
 poilerity is molt in them that have no poficrity. They 
 that are the hrR raifers of their Houfes, are mofl indul- 
 gent towards their Children • beholding them as the con- 
 tinuance, not only of their kind, but of their work, and 
 fo hothChildren and Creatures. 
 
 The difference in affedion of Parents towards their fe- 
 Veral Children^ is ma^ny times unequal^and foniciiires un- 
 
 v/ 01 thy. 
 
\6 Sir VtincisBzcon'sEJjiys. 
 
 wotlhy, efpecially inthe Af(9t/7cr^ zs Solomon {aith^ A wifif 
 Son rqoyccth the Father^ but an ungracious Son /hames the 
 Mother. A man (hall fee, where there is a Houfefull of 
 Children^ one or two of the eldefi: refpeded, and the 
 yoiingell made wantons ^ but in the midll, fome that are 
 as it were forgotten, who many times neverthelefs prove 
 the bell. The illiberality oi Parents in allowance towards 
 thdr Children^ is an harmful error, makes them bafe, 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 befl:, when men 
 keep their authority towards thdr Children^ but not their 
 purie. Men have a foolifh manner (both Parents^ and 
 School- A'laflers^ and Servants) in creating and breeding 
 ^n emulation between Brothers, during Childhood^ which 
 many times forteth to difcord when they are men, and 
 difturbeth Families. The Italians make little difference 
 between C/;/7Jr«?;^ and Nephews, or near Kinsfolks j but 
 fo they be of the lump they care not, though they paf3 
 not through their own body. And to fay truth, in Na- 
 ture it is much a like matter, iniomuch that we fee a Ne- 
 phew fo met imes 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 Ihould take, for then they are moil 
 flexible:, and let them not too much ajyly themfelves 
 to the difpolition of their Children^ as thmking they will 
 take bed to that which they have moft mind to. It is 
 true, that if the aifedion or aptnefs of thQ Children be 
 extraordinary, then it is good not to crofs it : but gene- 
 rally the precept is good, Optimum dige^ fuave iy facile 
 iiludfjcit confuctudo^ younger Brothers are commonly for- 
 tunate, but fcldom or never where the elder are dilm* 
 hcrited. 
 
 Of 
 
Viit. 
 
 0/ JMarria^e and Single Life. 
 
 HE that hath f^'ife and Children^ hath given hoUsges 
 to Fortune, for they are impediments to great 
 enterprifes, either of Vertue or iMifchief. Certainly 
 the bell work% and of greatelt merit for the piiblick,- 
 have proceeded from the unmarried or Childkfs A<cn ^ 
 which both in affection and means have married and 
 endowed the publick. Yet it were great reafon, that 
 thofe that have Cbildrerj^ fnould havegreateft care of fu- 
 ture times, unto which they know they mull tranfmic 
 their dearelt j)lcdges. Some there are, who though 
 they lead a Smgk Lifc^ yet their thoughts do end with 
 themfelvcs, and account future times impertinencies. 
 Nay, there are ibmc other, that accpunt Wife and Chil-^ 
 d'-m 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 A fan ^ and another except to 
 it, Tea^ but he bath a great charge of Children ^ as if it were 
 an abatement to his riches. But the mod ordinary caufe 
 of a Single Life is Liberty, efpeci.-illy in certain felf-plca- 
 iingand humorous minds, which are fo feniible of eve- 
 ry reflraint, as they will go near to think their Girdles 
 and Garters to be Bonds and Shackles. Vnmarritd men 
 are beR- Friends, beil Maflers, bell Servants, but not al- 
 w^ays bell Snbjccls - for they are light to run away, and 
 almofl all Fugitives ate ofthi'.r condition. A finglc life 
 doth well with Church-men: for Charity will hardly wa- 
 ter the Ground, where it mull firil fill a Pool. It is 
 indifferent for Judges and Magijlrates-^ for if they be fa- 
 cile and corrupt, you (hall have a Servant five times 
 wotfe thai> a Wtfe. For Souldieis, \ find the Generals 
 
 € eommoiily 
 
1 S Sir Francis Bacon 5 Bjfciys. 
 
 commonly in their hortatives put men in mind of theii* 
 IVtves and Children. And I think the defpiiing of /T/jr- 
 ria^e amongft the Turks^ making the vulgar Souldier 
 more bafe. Certainly Wife and Children are a kind of 
 humanity ; and Siy^gle tnen^ though they be many times 
 more charitable, becaufe their means are lefs exhauft : 
 yet on the other fide, they are more cruel and hard 
 hearted, (good to make fevere Inquifitors ) becanfe their 
 tendernefs is not fo oft called upon. Grave natures, led 
 bv ciiftom, and therefore conftant, are commonly lo- 
 ving Husbands-^ as was faid otVlyJfes^ Fetulamfuamfra- 
 tiilit immoYtalitati. Chaft Women are often proud and 
 troward, as prefuming upon the merit of their chaftity. 
 it is one of the belt bonds both of chaftity and obedi- 
 ence in the Wife^ if Ihe thinks her Hmhand wife, which 
 ihe vvdll never do, if Ihe find him jealous. Wives are 
 young mens Miftrifles, Companions for middle Age, 
 and old mens Nurfes^ fo as a man may have a quarrel 
 to marry when he .will. Bnt yet he was reputed one of 
 the wife men, that made anfwer to the queftion ^ When 
 a man fhould marry ? jiyoung man notyet^ an elder man 
 not at all. It is often feen, that bad Husbands have ve- 
 ry good Wives ; whether it be, that it raifeth the price 
 of their Husbands kindnefs w^hen it comes, or that the 
 Wives take a pride in their patience. But this never fails, 
 if the bad Husbands where of their own chufing, againft 
 their Friends confent ^ for then they will be fure to 
 make good their own folly. 
 
 IX. 
 
 of Envy. 
 
 THERE be noneofthe ^/t(f7w;7;, which have been 
 noted to fafcinateor bewitch, but Love and Envy, 
 They both have vehement wiihes, they frame them- 
 
 felves 
 
Of EnVy. 1 9 
 
 felves readily into imaginations and fuggcHions- and 
 they come eafily into tl:e eye, efpecially upon the pre- 
 fence of the objedls, v; hich are the points that conduce 
 to fafcination, if any fuch thing there be. We fee like- 
 wife the Scripture calleth £«z/;', an evil eye -^ and the A- 
 flrologers call the evil influences of the Stars, Fvil A- 
 jpeBs'^ fothat flill there feemeth to be acknowledged in 
 the zdi of Emjy^ an ejaculation or irradiation of the Eye. 
 Nay, fome have been fo curious, as to note, that the 
 times, when the flroke or percuffion of on Enviom Eye 
 doth moll hurt, are, when the Pxtty envied is beheld m 
 Glory or Triumph^ for that fets an edge upon Envy : 
 And belldes, at fuch times the fpirits of the Perfon envi- 
 ed do come forth molt into the outward parts, and fa 
 meet the blow. 
 
 But leaving thefc curiofities, (though not unworthy 
 to be thought on in fit place ) we will handle. What 
 Ferfons ae apt to envy others^ what Pcrfons are moft fyJj]ecl 
 to he envied them felves^ and what is the dijfereme betiveen. 
 publick and private Envy. 
 
 A man that hath no virtue in himfelf, ever cnvieth 
 virtue in others. For mens minds will either feed upon 
 their own good, or upon others evil ^ and who want- 
 eth the one, will prey upon the other ^ and who fo 
 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 bufic and inquifitive, is com.monly En- 
 vious : for to know much of other mens matters eannot 
 be, becaufe all that ado may concern his ellate^ there- 
 fore it mufr needs bc^ that he taketh a kind of play- 
 pleafure in looking upon the fortunes of others :^ nei- 
 ther can he that mJndeth but his own buiinefs, find 
 much matter for Envy: For Envy is a gadding paffion, 
 and walketh the Streets, and doth not keep hom.e, Non 
 cjl curiofus^ qiiin idem fit rnalevolus. 
 
 Men of noble Birth are noted to be envicits towards 
 nev/ Men when they rife: For the diftance is altered^ 
 
 G 2 j^nd 
 
\o Sir Francis Bacoa5 Effays. 
 
 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 
 Fallards are envious: for he that cannot poffibly mend 
 his own cafe, will do what he can to impair anothers, 
 except thefe defects 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, aiKi J^e/ilaus^ and TamheYlams^ 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 delire to excel in too many matters, out of 
 levity and vain glory, are ever Envious-^ For they can- 
 not want work, it being impoHible but many in fome 
 one of thofe things fnould furpafs them ^ which was the 
 chara<!ter of v^ir;\-7« the Emperour, that mortally envied 
 Poets and F.vnters^ and Artificers in works wherein he 
 had a vein to excel. 
 
 Lailly, near Kinsfolks and Fellows in Office, and 
 thofe that have been bred together, are more apt to En- 
 '7'y their equals, when they are raifed / For it doth up- 
 braid unto them their own fortunes, and pointeth at 
 them, and cometh oftener into their remembrance, and 
 incurreth liivewife more into the note of others^ and 
 Envy ever redoubleth from fpeech and Fame. Corn's 
 E'rivy v.'as the more vile and malignant towards his Bro- 
 ther Ahel^ bccaufe when hi«i Sacrifice was better accept- 
 ed, there was no body to look on. Thus much for thofe 
 that are apt to Envy. 
 
 Concerning thofe that are fwre or lefs fuh]e[i to Envy : 
 Firft, Perfonsof eminent virtue, when they are advan- 
 ced are lefs envied-. For their fortune feemeth but due 
 unto them: and no man wz{>'f^Hhe payment of a Deht^ 
 
 but 
 
Of Envy' 2 1 
 
 but Rewards and Liberality rather. Again, Envyh e- 
 ver ]C)ii':d with the coinpaving of a man's felf ; and 
 where ihere is no com pari fon, no Envy^ and therefore 
 Kings are not envied^ but by Kings. Neverthelefs ic is 
 to be noted, that unworthy perfons are molt envted at 
 their lirll coming in, and afterwards overcome it bet- 
 ter; whereas contrariwife, Perfcns of worth and mevic 
 are molt envied, when their fortune continueth long. 
 For by that time, though their virtue be the fl^me, yet 
 it hath not the fame Lujire ^ for frefh men grow up th^t 
 darken it. 
 
 Perfons of noble blood are lefs emjkd in their rififig; 
 for it feemerh but right done to their Birth. Belides, 
 there fcemeth not much added to their fortune ^ and 
 Env)' is as the Sun-beams, that beat hotter upon a Bank 
 or fteep rifmg Ground, than upon a Flat. And for the 
 fame reafons, thofe that are advanced by degrees are 
 lefs envied^ than thofe that are advanced fuddenly, and 
 {erfaltum. 
 
 Thofe that have joyncd with their Honour great 
 Travels, Cares or Perils, are lefs fubject to Envy: For 
 men think that they earn their Honours hardly , and pi* 
 ty them fometimes; and Pity ever healeth Enuy : 
 Wherefore you fliall obferve, that the more deep and 
 fober fort of politick Perfons in their great nefs, are e- 
 ver bemoaning themfelves, what a life they lead, chant- 
 ing Quanta patimur. Not that they feel it fo, but only 
 to abate the edge of Envy, But this is to be underltood 
 of bufmefs that is laid upon men, and not fuch as they 
 call unto themfelves. For nothing increafcth Envy 
 more than an unneceflTary and ambitious engrofling of 
 bufmefs ; and nothing doth extinguilh Envy more, tl an 
 for a great Perfon to preferve all other inferior Offi'; rs 
 in their full rights and preheminencies of their places : 
 for by that means there be fo many SkrQens betweea 
 him and Envy, 
 
 Above all, thofe are mofl fubjed to Envy which car- 
 ry the greatntfs of their fortunes In an infolent arid 
 
 C 3 proud 
 
t % Sir Francis Bacon*5 Ejjap. 
 
 proud manner, being iiever well but while they arej 
 jTiewing how great they are, either by outward pomp, 
 or by triiimphiiig over all oppofition or competition j 
 whereas wife mej will rather do r.::iiftce to Envy^ in 
 fuffering themJclves fometimes of purpofe to be croft 
 and over-born cf things that do not much concern 
 them. Notwithitandir.g fo much is true, That the car- 
 riage of great nefs in a plain and open manner (fo it be 
 >vithout arrogancy and vain-glory) doth draw lefs En^ 
 •z/y, than if it be in a more crafty and cunning fafhion. 
 For in that courfe a man doth but uifavow fortune, and 
 feemeth to be confcious of his own want in worth, and 
 doth but teach others to Emjy him. 
 
 Laftly, To conclude this part •, As v.'e faid in the be- 
 ginning, that the A<ft of Envy had fomewhat in it of 
 witchcraft^ fo there is no other cure of Envy but the 
 cure of ivktbcraft '^ and that is, to remove the Lot (as 
 they call it ) and to lay it upon another. For which 
 purpofe, the wifer fort of great Perfons, bring in ever 
 upon the Stage fome body upon whom to drive the En- 
 Tjy that would come upon themfelves ^ fometimes upon 
 ?ifmi[l:ers and Servants, fometimes upon Colleagues and 
 Aifociatcs, and the like ^ and for that turn there are 
 never wanting fome Perfons of violent and undertaking 
 Natures, who, fo they may have Power and Bufmefs, 
 will take it at any coft. 
 
 Now to fpeak of ptblick Enzj. There is yet fome 
 good in ^uhlick Envy ^ whereas in private there is none. 
 X-ox^uhlic\ Envyis> aiiOftracifm^ that eclipfeth men when 
 they grow too great. And therefore it is a bridle alfo 
 to great ones, to keep them within bounds. 
 
 This Envy being in the Latine word Invtdia^ goeth 
 in the modern Languages by th.e name of Difcontent- 
 rncnt^ of which we (hall fpeak in handling Sedition. It 
 is a difeafe in a State like to infection-, for asinfedion 
 fpreadeth upon that vvhich isfound^ and taintethit^ fo 
 when Envy is gotten once in a State, it t^raduceth even 
 X\i^ beft anions thereof, and t'lrnetb them into an ill 
 
 odour. 
 
of Love. 1% 
 
 odour. And therefore there is little won by interming- 
 ling of plaufibLe adions. For that doth argue but a 
 weaknefsand fear oi Envy^ which hurteth fo much the 
 more, as it is likewife ufual in infe^ionsj which if you 
 fear them, you call them upon you. 
 
 This pubUck Envy 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 uiion the Minifters be great, when the caufe of it 
 in him is fmall ^ or if the Envy be general, in a manner, 
 upon all the Minifters of an Eftate , then the Envy 
 ( though hidden ) is truly upon the State it felf. And 
 fo much of publick Envy or Dif contentment^ and the dif- 
 ference thereof from private Envy^ which was handled 
 in the hrfl: place. 
 
 We will add this in general, touching the AfFecflion 
 oiEnvy^^ that, of all other AffediQUS, it isthe molt im- 
 portune and continual. For of other Affections there 
 is occafion f iven but now and then. And therefore it 
 was well faid, Invidia feftos dies non agit. For it is ever 
 working upon fome or other. And it is alfo noted, that 
 Love and Envy do make a man pine, which other Af- 
 fedions do not ^ becaufe they are not fo continual. It 
 is alfo the vileft Affection, and the moft depraved : for 
 which caufe it isthe proper Attribute of the Dcvii,who 
 is called the envious Man^ that foweth Tares amongft 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 Wheat. 
 
 X. 
 
 0/ Loye. 
 
 THE Stage is more beholding to Love than the Life 
 of Man. For, as to tlie Stage, Lot,-e is even matter 
 of Comedies, and now and then of Tragedies: but in 
 
 C 4 Uk 
 
14 ^^^ Francis Bacon x EJJays. 
 
 life it doth much mifchief^ fometimes like a Syren^ 
 fometimes like a Fiiyy. You may obferve, that amongit 
 all the. great and worthy perfons (whereof the Memo- 
 ry remaineth, either Ancient or Recent) there is not 
 one that hath been tranfported to the mad degree of 
 J^ove: which (hew, that great Spirits, and great Bufi- 
 nefs, do keep out this weak PafTion. You muft except 
 neverthelefs, Aiau-us Jnton'm^ the half Partner of the 
 Empire oi Rome-^ and j^ppnn Claudim tht Decemvir^ the 
 }_.aw-giver .• whereof the former was indeed a Volup- 
 tuous Man, and Inordinate ^ but the Latter was an Au- 
 |tere and Wife Man. And therefore it fecms, (though 
 rarely J that Lo7je can find entrance, not only into an 
 open Heart, but alfo into a Heart well, fortified, if 
 watch be not well kept. It is a poor faying of Epicurm^ 
 SatU magnum Alter j^iteri Theatrum fumiis. As if Man, 
 made for the contemplation of Heaven, and all noble 
 Objecis, fliould do nothing but kneel befo^'e :i little I- 
 dol, and make himfelf a SubjeS:, though tiot of the 
 Mouth (as Beafts are) yet of the Eye, which was given 
 liim for higher purpoies. It is a ftrange thing to note 
 the Excefs of this paffion ^ and how it braves the Nature 
 and value of things by this, that the fpeakmg in a per- 
 petual Flypcrbok is com.ely in nothing but in Love. Nei- 
 ther is it meerly in the Phrafe : for, whereas it hath been 
 well faid, that the Arch -flatterer, with whom all the 
 petty flatterers have intelligent:':, is aMan^s felf; cer- 
 tainly, the Love is more. For there was never a proud 
 JNfen thought fo abfurdly well of himfelf, as the Lover 
 doth of the ?q.x^o\\ Loved : and therefore it was well 
 faid, that it is impojjlbie to Love^ and to he wife. Neither 
 doth this weakneis appear to others only, and not to the 
 Party Loved: but to the Loved mo^ of all j 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 
 fnen ought to beware of this Paffion, which lofeth not 
 cpiy other things^ but itfelf. As for the other loiTes^ 
 * "' the 
 
0/ great Tlace. t^ 
 
 the Poets Relation doth well figure them • that he that 
 preferreth Helena^ quitteththe g\fis of Jmo and PaUas. 
 For whofoever elleemeth too much of amorous afFef^i- 
 on, quitteth both Etches and Wifdom. This paffion hath 
 his Floods in the very times of weaknefs: which arc 
 great Profperity^ and great Adve'fity^ thoushthis latter 
 hath been lefs obferved. Both which times kindle Love^ 
 and make it more frequent, and therefore fliew it to be 
 the Child of Folly, they do beil, who, if they can- 
 not but admit Love-^ yet make it keep Qiiarter, and fe- 
 ver it wholly from their ferious Aff^nirs and Anions of 
 Life: for if it check once with Bufmefs, it troublcth 
 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 iVbie-^ for Perils commonly ask to be paid 
 in Tkafures. There is in a mans Nature a fecret Incli- 
 nation and Motion towards Love of others^ which if 
 it be not fpent upon fomc one, or a few, doth natural- 
 ly f[jread it felf towards many, and maketh nen be- 
 come Humane and Charitable^ as it is feen fometimes in 
 Friars, Nuptial Love maketh Afanhnd-^ Friendly Love 
 ferft&eth it-^ but wa'ntm Lo'^Q corruptcth andemhnftthtt,, 
 
 XI. 
 
 Of great Place. 
 
 MEN in Great Place ^XQ thrice Servants: Servants 
 of the Sovtraign or State ^ Servants of Fan>e\ and 
 Servants of Bujhefs. So as they have no Freedom, ei- 
 ther in their Perjons^ nor in their j^^ions^ nor in their 
 Times, It is a ftrange defire to feek Povrer^ and to lofc 
 Liberty ^ or to feek Power over ethers^ and to lofe Pow- 
 er over a Mans ft If. The RiUng unto Place is laborious ^ 
 ^nd-^y Pains men come to greater Pms : and it isfome- 
 
 tunes 
 
t6 Sir Francis Bacon'/ EJfays; 
 
 times bafe^ and by Jndignhks men come to Dignities. 
 The Standing is Slippery, and the Regrefs is either a 
 Downfall, or at leafb an Eclipfe, which is a melancho- 
 ly thing. Cum non fis^ qui fueris^ non ejje^ cur velis vive- 
 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 Townfmen ^ that will 
 be ftill fitting at their Street Door, though thereby they 
 offer Age to Scorn. Certainly Great Perfons 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 firft that find their own griefs • though 
 they be the lad that find 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. Illi 
 Afors gravis incubat, qui mtus nimis omnibus^ ignotus mori- 
 turfibi. In Place^ there is licence to do Good and Evil, 
 whereof the latter is a curfe ^ for in Evil, the beft con- 
 dition is not to Will, the fecond not to Can. But Pow- 
 er to do good, is the true and lawful end of afpiring : 
 for good thoughts (though God accept them,) yet to- 
 wards Men are little better than good dreams, except 
 they be put in Ad:-^ and that cannot be without Power 
 and Place, as the Vantage and Commanding Ground. 
 Merit and good Works is the end of mans motion •, and 
 Confcience of the fame is the accomplifhment of mans 
 reft: for if a man can be partaker of God's Theater i^ 
 he Oiall likewife be partaker of God's Reft. Et convey- 
 fus Deus^ ut afpceret opera^ qute fcccrunt tnanns fuce^ vidit 
 quod omnia ejfent bona nimis ^ And then the Sabbath. In 
 the Difchargeof thy Placc^ fet before thee the beft Ex- 
 amples-^ for Imitation is a Globe of Precepts. And af- 
 ter 
 
Of great f lace. 17 
 
 ter a time fet before thee thine own Example^ and ex' 
 amine thy felf ftrictly whether thou dicilt not heft at 
 iirft. Negledl not alfo the Examples of thofe that have 
 carried themfelves ill in the fame I'lace : not to fet off 
 thy felf by taxing their memory^ but to direct thy felf 
 what to avoid. Reform therefore without bravery or 
 fcandal of former Times and Perfons^ but yet fet it 
 down to thy felf, as well to create good prcccdnts as 
 to follow them. Reduce things to the fuft Inflitution, 
 and obferve wherein, and how they have degenerated ^ 
 but yet ask Counfel of both Times, of the Ancientcr 
 Time what is belt, and of the Latter Time what is fit- 
 tell. Seek to make thy Courfe Regular, that men may 
 know before-hand what they may expe(fc, but be not 
 too pofitive and peremptory^ and exprefs thy felf well 
 when thou digrellell: from thy Rule. Prefcrve the right 
 of thy Placc^ but flir not queftions of Jnrifdiction •, and 
 rather aflume thy Right in Silence and cle fallo^ thaa 
 voice it with Claims and Challenges. Prcferve likewife 
 the Right of Inferior Places-^ and think it more Honour 
 to direct in chief, than to be bufie in all. Embrace and 
 invite Helps and Advices, touching the Execution of thy 
 Tlacc. and do not drive away fuch as bring Informati- 
 on, as medlers, but accept of them in good part. The 
 Vices of AuthoYity are chiefly four : Delays y Cormption^ 
 Roughnefs and Fa^ion, For I)ela)S^ Give eafie accefs. 
 Keep Times appointed. Go through with that which i^ 
 in hand , and interlace not bufmefs but of necefhty. 
 For Conuptkn^ Not only binds thine own hands, or thy 
 Servants hands from taking, but binds the hands of Sui- 
 tors alfo from offering : For integrity ufed, doth the 
 one ^ but Integrity profeiTed, and with a manifell dcte- 
 llation of Bribery, doth the other:, and avoid not on- 
 ly the Fault, but the Sufpicion. Whofoever is found 
 variable, and changeth manifefcly, without manifeft 
 Caufe, giveth fufpicion ofCorruptio};, Therefore always 
 when thou changeft thine opinion or courfc, profefs it 
 pto)ly^ and declare it, together with th? Reafops that 
 
1 8 Sir Francis BaconV Effays. 
 
 move thee to change, and do not think to fteal it. A 
 Servant, or a Favourite, if he be inward, and no other 
 apparent Caufe of Efteem, is commonly thought but a 
 By-way to cloft Corruption. Yox Roughhefs^ It is a^need- 
 lefs caufe of Difcontent-^ Severity breedeth Fear, but 
 Roughnefs breedeth Hate. Even Reproofs from Autho- 
 rity ought to be grave, and not taunting. As forF^- 
 cility^ It is worfe than Bribery : for Bribes come but 
 now and then; but if Importunity, or idle Refpeds 
 lead a Man, he fhall never be without, as SolomaK faith. 
 To refped: Perfons vs not good *, for fuch a Man wiU tranf- 
 grefs for a piece of bread. It is mofl true that was anci- 
 ently fpoken; APlacefheweth the Man-, and itfheweth 
 fome to the better, and fome to the worfe .* Omnium 
 confenfu : capax Imperii , ni/i imperajfet ; faith Tacitus of 
 Galba : but of Vefpaftan he faith, Solus imperantium P^efpa- 
 ftanus miitatus in melius. Though the one was meant of 
 Sufficiency, the other of Manners and Affedion. It is 
 an afTared Sign of a worthy and generous Spirit, whom 
 Honour amends : for Honour is, or fhould be the place 
 of Vertue; and as in Nature things move violently to 
 their place, and calmly in their place: fo Vertue in Am- 
 bition is violent, in Authority fettled and calm. All 
 riiing to Great Tlace^ is by a winding Stair ; and if there 
 be Fadions, it is good to fide a Mans felf, whilft he is 
 in the Riling •, and to balance himfelf when he is 
 placed, life the memory of thy ProdecelTor fairly and 
 tenderly; for if thou dofl not, it is a debt will fure be 
 paid when thou art gone. If thou have Colleagues, 
 refpe(51: them, and rather call them when they look not 
 for it, than exclude them when they have reafon to look 
 to be called. Be not too feniible, or too remembring 
 of thy Place in Converfation, and private Anfwers to 
 Suitors; But let it rather be faid. When he fits in Place 
 he is another Man. 
 
 Of 
 
Of^oUnefs. 29 
 
 Xll. 
 
 Of ^oUnefs. 
 
 IT is a trivial Grammar-Schooi Text, but yet worthy 
 a wife Mans confideration. Qpeftion was asked of 
 Demofthenes^ What was the chief part of an Orator ? He 
 anfwered, Mion *, What next ? jid^ion • What next a- 
 gain ? AOlon ^ He faid it that knew it befl, and had by- 
 nature himfelf no advantage in that he commended. A 
 ftrange thing, that that part of an Orator which is but 
 fuperficial, and rather the vertueof a Player, (hould be 
 placed fo high above thofe other noble parts of Inven- 
 tion^ Elocution^ and the reft: Nay, almoft alone ^ as if 
 it were All in All. But the reafon is plain. There is 
 in Humane Nature generally more of the Fool tbaa 
 of the Wife-, and therefore thofe faculties, by which 
 the foolifhpart of mens minds is taken are moil potent. 
 Wonderful like is the cafe of Eoldnefs in civil bufinefs : 
 Whatfirft? Boldnefs'^ What fecond and third ? Boldnefs 
 And yet Boldnefs is a Child of Ignorance and Bafenefs, 
 far inferior to other parts. But neverthelefs it doth faf- 
 cinate and bind hand and foot, thofe that are either 
 ihallow in judgment, or weak in courage, which are 
 the greateft part ^ yea, and prevaileth with wife men 
 at weak times. Therefore v» e fee it hath done Wonders 
 in popular States, but with Senates and Princes lefs ; 
 and more, ever upon the firlt ^ntrsncQ of Bold Peifons 
 into action, than foon after .* for Boldnefs is an ill Keep- 
 er ofPromife. Surely, as their arc AfQuntehanks for the 
 Natural Body, fo are th^v^ AIounteLmhs for the Politick 
 Body : Men that under-take great Cures, and perhaps 
 have been luckly in two or three Experiments, but want 
 the grounds of Science, and therefore cannot hold out. 
 Nay, you fhall fee a Bold Fellow many times do Maho- 
 met's miracle : Mahomet made the People believe, that. 
 
 he 
 
^ c Sir Francis Bacon'5 Fffays. 
 
 he would call an Hiil to him- and from the top of it 
 offer lip his Prayers for the obfervers of his Law. The 
 people alfembled, Mahomet called the Hill to him again 
 and again ^ and when the Hill ilood Hill, he was ne- 
 ver a whit abalhed, bnt faid, If the fjili will not come to 
 Mahomet, Mahomet n^//7 go to the Hill. Sothefe men, 
 when they have promifed great matters, and filled moft 
 Ihamefnlly, yet (if they have the perfection of Boldnefs) 
 they will but Right it over, and make a turn, and no 
 nVorcido. Certainly to men of great judgment. Bold 
 perfonsare a fport to behold^ nay, and to the Vulgar 
 alfo, Boldnefs hath fomewhat of the Ridiculous. For if 
 abfa'rdity be the fubjecl of laughter, doubt you not, 
 but great Boldnefs is feldom without fome abfurdity. 
 Efpecially it is a fport to fee, when a Bold Fellow is out 
 of countenance-, for that puts his face into a moll 
 fhrunken and wooden poilure, as needs it muJl: for in 
 baOifulnefs the Spirits do a little go and come, but with 
 Boldmcn^ upon like occahon, they li and at a flay, like 
 a Stale or Chefs, where it is no Mate, but yet the Game 
 cannot ftir. But this iall were hiir.cr for a Satyr than 
 for aleriousObrervation. This is wc!lto be v/eighed. 
 That Boldnefs is ever blind-, for it feeth not dangers 
 and inconvcpiencics; therefore it is ^;] in Counfel, 
 good in Execution : fo that the right ufe of Bold per- 
 fons is thatti.cy never command in Chief, but be Se- 
 conds and under the dirediun of others. For in Coun- 
 fel it is good to fee Dangers, and in Execution not to fee 
 them, except they be very great. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 of Goodnefs^ and Goodnefs of ISlature. 
 
 I Take Goodnefs in this fenfe, the affeding of the weal 
 of Men, which is that t\iQ Grecians call Phikntkofia -^ 
 znd th^ Word tiumannj/ (asitisufed) isa little too light 
 
 to 
 
of Goohiefs^ and Goodnefs of 2^ature. ^ i 
 
 toexprefs it. Goodnefs I call the Habit, and (Goodnefs of 
 iV^ti^re the Inclination. This of all Vevtues and Digni- 
 ties of the mind is the greateft, being the Character of 
 the Deity ^ and without it man is a buiie, mifchievous 
 wretched thing, no better than a kind of Veiminc. 
 Goodnefs anfwers to the Theological rertue^ Charity^ and 
 admits no excefs, but error. The defire of power in 
 excefs, caufed the Angels to fall ♦, the defire of know- 
 ledge in excefs, caufed Man to fall ^ but in Charity^ there 
 is no excefs, neither can Angel or Man come in danger 
 by it. The inclination of Goodnefs is imprinted deeply 
 in the nature of man-, infomuch, that if it iffue not to- 
 wards men, it will take unto other living Creatures j as 
 it is feen in the Turks^ a cruel people, who nevei thelefs 
 are kind to bealls, and give Alms to Dogs and Birds : 
 Infomuch as Busbequius reporteth, a Chrillian Boy in 
 Confantinople had like to have been ftoned for gagging, 
 in a waggilhnefs, a long-billed Fowl. Errors indeed, 
 in this Vertue, in Goodnefs or Charity^m^y be committed. 
 The Italians have an ungracious Proverb, Tanto huon che 
 val niente-j So good that he is good for nothing. And one 
 of the Dodtors of Italy ^ Nicholas Machiavel^ had the con- 
 fidence to put in writing, alm.ofl in plain terms, Tljat 
 the Chriflian faith had given up good men in prey to thofe 
 that are tyrannical and un'jufl: which he fpake, becaufe 
 indeed there wan never Law, or Sed, or Opinion, did 
 fo much magnifie Goodnefs as the Chriitian 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 foftnefs, which taketh an honell mind prifoner. 
 Neither give the e^/oj-'s Cock a Gem, who would be 
 better pleafed and happier if he had had a Barly Corn. 
 The Example of God teacheth the Leflbn truly : He 
 fendc'th his Rain^ and maketh h'vs Sun to ftjine upn the Jufh 
 and Vnjiifl • but he doth not rain Wealth, nor (hinc 
 Honour and Virtues upon Men equally. Common Be- 
 nefits 
 
y 
 
 ^2 Sir VnncisB^cons Ejfjysl 
 
 nefits are to be communicated with all ^ but peculiar be- 
 nefits with choice. And beware, how in making the 
 Portraidure , thou breakeil the Pattern ; for Divinity. 
 •maketh the love ofonr felves the Pattern^ the love of 
 our Neighbours but the Portraiture. Sell all thou hajl 
 and give it to the poor ^ and follow me: but fell not all 
 thou hall, except thou come and follow me ^ that is, 
 except thou have a Vocation, wherein thou mayft do as 
 much good with little means as with great: for other- 
 wife, in feeding the Streams thou driefl the Fountain. 
 Neither is there only a Habit of Goodnefs diredred by 
 right Reafon : but there is in fome Men, even in Na^ 
 ture, a difpofition towards it; as on the other fide^ 
 there is a natural malignity. For there be that in their 
 Nature do not alfe^ft the good of others. The lighter 
 fort of malignity turneth but to croITnefs, or froward- 
 nefs, or aptnefs tooppofe, ordifficilenefs, or the like ^ 
 but the deeper fort to envy and meer mifchief. Such 
 men in other mens calamities, are as it were in feafon^ 
 and are ever on the loading part ^ not fo good as the 
 Dogs that licked Laz.arus\ {orQ% but like Flies, that are 
 ftill buzzing upon any thing that is raw; Mifanthropi^ 
 that make it their pra'^lice to bring men to the Bough, 
 and yet have never a Tree for the purpofe of their 
 Gardens, as Timon had. Such diipofitions are the very 
 errors of Humane Nature-, and yet they are the htteft 
 Timber to make great Politicks of: like to knee-Tim- 
 ber, that is good for Ships that are ordained to be tofFed, 
 but not for building Houfes, that fhallfland firm. The 
 parts and figns of Goodnefs are many. If a Man be gra- 
 cious and courteous to Strangers, it (hews he is a Citi- 
 zen of the world ;, and that his heart is no Ifland cut off 
 from other Lands, but a Continent that joyns to them. 
 If he be compaiFionate towards the afflidions of others, 
 it Ihews that his heart is like the noble Tree, that is 
 wounded it felf, w^hen if gives the Balm. If he eafily 
 pardons and remits offences, it fhews that his mind is 
 plaaicd above Injuries, fo that he cannot be fiiot. If he 
 
 be 
 
Of T^ohllty. % ^ 
 
 be thankful for finall benefits, it (hews that he weighs 
 Mens minds, arid not their trafh. But above all, if lid 
 have St. Paulh Pevfedtion, that he would wifh to be ail 
 Anathema from Chrift, for the Salvation of his Brethren^ 
 it fhews mnch of a Divine Nature, and a kind of con* 
 forniity with Chrifi himfelf. 
 
 OfKobtlky. 
 
 WE will fpeak of Nobility^ Firft as a Portion of dii 
 EJlate^ then as a Condition of Particular Perfons, 
 A Afonarchy^ where there is no Nobility at all, is ever a 
 pure and abfolute Tyranny^ as that of the Turks « for A^o- 
 bility attempers Sovereignty^ and draws the eyes of the 
 People fonlewhat afide from the Line Royal. But for 
 Democracies they need it not ^ and they are commonly 
 more quiet, and lefs fubjed to Sedition, than v;here 
 there are Stirps of Nobles. For Mens eyes are upon the 
 bufinefs, and not upon the perfons ^ or if upon the per- 
 fons, it is for bufinefs-fake, as the fitted, and not for flags 
 and pedigree. We fee the Sn'itzcrs lall: well, notwith- 
 ftandin^ their diverlity of Religion, and of Cantons ', 
 for Utility is their Bond, and not Refpefts. The Uni- 
 ted Provinces of the Low Countries in their Government 
 excel ^ for where there is an equality, the Confultations 
 are more indifferent, and the payments and tributes 
 morechearful. A great and potent Nobility addeth Ma- 
 jefly to a Monarch, but diminiflieth Power-, and put- 
 teth Life and Spirit into the People, but preffeth their 
 Fortune. It; is well when AW^es ate riot too great for 
 Sovereignty , nor for Jufticc ^ and yet maintained ill 
 that height, as the Infolency of Inferiours may be bro- 
 ken upon theol, before it come on too fail upon the 
 MajeRy of Kings, A numerous Nobility eaufeth Pover- 
 
 D tf 
 
^4 5^^ Francis BaconV EJfays. 
 
 tyan<J.incoii^^'=nience in a State: for it is a furcharge of 
 E ;i')ence ^ and befides, it being of neceiTity that many 
 of the Nobility fall in time to be weak in Fortune, it 
 ma'keth a kind of difproportion between Honour and 
 Means. 
 
 As for Nobility in particular Terfons^ It is a reverend 
 thingi:aiee-an ancient-Gaftle or Building not in decay; 
 or to fee a fair Timber Tree found and perfed : how 
 much more to behold an Ancient Nobk Family^ which 
 hath ftood againfl: the Waves and Weathers of Time. 
 For New Nobility is but the Ad of Power ^ but Anci- 
 ent Nobility is the Ad of Time. Thofe that are firll 
 raifed to Nobility are commonly more virtuous, but lefs 
 innocent than their Defcendents^ for there is rarely 
 any Rifmg, but by a commixture of good and evil Arts. 
 But it is rcafon the memory of their Vertues remain to 
 their Pollerity ; and their faults die with themfelves. 
 Nobility of Birth commonly abateth Induf^ry ^ and he that 
 is not induftrious, cnvleth him that is. Befides, Noble 
 Terfons cannot go much higher; and he that flandeth at a 
 Hay v/hen others rife, can hardly avoid motions of En- 
 vy. On the other fide. Nobility extinguiflieth the Paffive 
 Envy from others tovv^ards them ; becaufe they are in 
 polTelllon of Honour. Certainly Kings that have able 
 Men of their Nobility^ fhall find eafe in employing them^ 
 and a better Hide into their bufinefs : for people naturally 
 bend to them, as born infome fort to command. 
 
 XV. 
 
 0/ seditions and Troubles. 
 
 SHepherds of People had need know the Kakndcrs of 
 Tcmptjls in State -^ which are commonly greatell 
 when things grow to equality i as natural Tempefts are 
 greateft about the z/£qumo{^iah And as there aie cer- 
 tain 
 
. Of Stdmons and Tnuhlis; ;'jf 
 
 tain hollow blafts of Wind^ arid fecret fwellings of %^%^ 
 before a'Tempeft, fo are th^re in States: 
 
 I ■ 
 ih etiam cacos. in^are T'umultus 
 
 Sape monet^ Fraudefque & oferta tumcfcere Sella. 
 
 Libels and Licentious Difcourfes again (I the State, wheit ^ 
 they are frequent and open 3 and in like fort, falfe Nevvs ;"* 
 often running up and down to the difMvantage of the ^ 
 State, and' hfiOrily embraced, are amongft tlie Signs of ; 
 Troubles: Ftrgn giving the Pedigree of Fayne^ faith, ^d ^ 
 wds Sifler to the Giants, 
 
 Jllam Terra Parens ira irritata Bcormn^ 
 Extremam ( ut perhibent ) Cao Enccladoqucfom'em 
 
 Trngentiit,' - 
 
 As if Fames were the Rclicks of Seditions paft ^ but they ' 
 are no lefs indeed, the Preludes of Seditions to corner ■■ 
 liovvfoever he noteth it right, That Seditions Tumults^ • 
 and Seditious Fames^ differ no more but as Brother and ' 
 Sifler, Mafculine and Feminine; efpecially if it come to ^ 
 that, that the belt Adions of a State, and the molt plau- 
 fible, and which ought to give greatelt contentment, 
 are taken in ill fence, and traduced : For that Ihews 
 the Envy great , as Tacitm faith , Conflata magna 
 Invidia^ feu bem^ feu nialc^ gefla prernunt. Neither doth . 
 it follow, that becaiife thefe Fames are a fign of Trou-^ ''' 
 hles^ that the fupprelTing of Vhem with too much feve-^ 
 rity, fnouldbea Remedy of Tro^W^i : For the defpifing 
 of them many times checks them belt ; and the go-' 
 ing about to Itop them, doth but makea Wonder long- 
 liv'd. ^ . 
 
 Alfothat kind of obedience which Tacitus fpeafcetfl" ' 
 of is to be held fufpfeiled :,■ fr.'i^^f in officio fed t amen qui y 
 ?naUent mandata Impe)'antii-*im interpretari^ qtiam excqtiii, 
 Difpnting, Excufmg , Cavilling upon fJandates arid 
 Diredionsj is a kind of fhaking off the Yoak, and effay 
 
 D % of 
 
^6 Sir Francis Bacon 5 EJfckys. 
 
 of difobedicnce ^ efpecially, if in thofe Difputings, they 
 which are for the diiedion, fpeak fearfully and tender- 
 ly ^ and thofe that are againll it audacioufly. 
 
 Alfo, as Machiavel noteth well ^ when Princes, that 
 ought to be common Parents , make therafelves as a 
 Party, and lean to a fide, it is a Boat that is overthrown 
 by uneven weight on the one lide :^ as was well feen in 
 the time of Henry the third of France : For firft him- 
 felf entred League for the extirpation of the Proteflants^ 
 and prefently after the fame League was turned upon 
 himfelf : For when the Authority of Princes is made but 
 an Acceifary to a Caufe, and that there are other Bands 
 that tie falter than the Band of Sovereignty, Kings be- 
 gin to be almoft put out of pofTelTion. 
 
 Alfo, when Difcords, and Qiiarrels, and Factions 
 are carried openly and audacioufly, it is a fign the Re- 
 verence of Government is loft. For the Motions of 
 the grcatelt: Perfons in a Government, ought to be as 
 the motions of the Planets under Prhnum Mobile (ac- 
 cording to the old Opinion ^) which is, that every of 
 them is carried fwiftly by the highelt Motion , and 
 foftly in their own Motion. And therefore when great 
 Ones in their own particular motion move violently; 
 and as Tacitus expreffeth it well, Liberius quam ut Im^ 
 peraritium memini[fent^ it is a fign the Orbs are out of 
 Frame: For Reverence is that wherewith Princes are 
 girt from God, who threat'neth the diflblving thereof; 
 Solvam cmgula Regunt, 
 
 So when any of the four Pillars of Government arc 
 mainly Ihaken or weakened, (which are Religion^ Jujlice^ 
 Counfcl^ and Treafure) Men had need to pray for fair 
 weather. 
 
 But let us pafs from this part of Predidions (con- 
 cerning which, neverthelefs, more light may be taken 
 from that which foUoweth) and let us fpeak firft of the 
 Materials of Seditions -^ then of the Motives of them; 
 and thirdly, ohhQ Remedies. 
 
 Con- 
 
Of Seditions and Trouhles. ^ j 
 
 Concerning the AfateriaU of Seditions ^ It is a thing 
 well to be confidered : For the furell way to prevent 
 Seditions (if the times do bear ic^ is to take away the 
 matter of them. For if there be fuel prepared, it U 
 hard to tell whence the fpark Ihall come that (hall fetit 
 on fire. The Matter of Seditions is of two kinds ^ much 
 Poverty and much pifcontentment. It is certain, fo manj 
 Overthrown Efiatts^ fo many Votes for Troubles, Lucaif 
 noteth well the State of Rowe before the Civil War. 
 
 Hinc Vfura vorax^ rapidumque in tempore Foenus^ 
 Bine concuffa Fidcs^ & miilt'vs utile Bellum. 
 
 This fame multis utile Bellum^ is an alTurcd and infalli- 
 ble (ign of a State difpofcd to Seditions and Troubles, And 
 if this Poverty and broken Eftate in the better fort, be 
 joined with a want and neceffity in the mean People, the 
 danger is eminent and great ^ for the Rebellions or the 
 Belly are the worfl. As for Difcontcntments^ they arc in 
 the Politick Body like to Humours in the Natural, which 
 are apt to gather preter-naturalHeat,and to enflame. And 
 let no Prince meafure the danger of them by this, whc* 
 ther they be juft or unjuil : For that were to imagine 
 People to be too reafonable, who do often fpurn at their 
 own good : Nor yet by this, whether the griefs where^ 
 upon they rife, be in fad great or fmall •, for they are the 
 moll dangerous Difcontcntments^ where the fear is grca* 
 ter than the feeling. Dolendi modus^ Timendi non item, 
 Befides, in great OppreiTions, the fame things that pro# 
 voke the Patience, do withal make the Courage •, but in 
 fears it is not fo. Neither let any Prince or vState be fe* 
 cure concerning Bifcontentmcnts becaufe they have been 
 often, or have 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 neverthelefs true, that Storms 
 though they blow over divers times, yet may fall at 
 laft / And as the Spanish Proverb noteth well ^ T^e Cord 
 itGakth at the Ufi by the w^akej} pull, 
 
 D 3 The 
 
^p Sir Francis Bacon'^ ^jhy^- 
 
 r. The Caufes and Motions of Seditions are, Innovation in 
 ^ejrf^ion^ Taxes^ Jlteration of Laws and Cuflom-s^ bkak'wg 
 ^f Privileges^ General Oppreljion^ MvanccmentnfunmYthy 
 'f£rfons^ Strangers^ Dearths^ Disbanded Soldiers^ Tntiions 
 grgwn defperate. And whatibever in offending People, 
 joincth and knitteth them in a Common Caufe. • 
 V For the Remedies '^ there may be fome general Prefer- 
 ^atives whereof we will fpeak^ as for the juft Cure, it 
 niuft anfwerto the particular Difeafe, and fo be left to 
 Coimfel rather than Rule. 
 
 The.-firft -^ewe^ or Prevention is, to remove by all 
 ricans poITible that iJ-y^^er/^/ Caufe of beditiun^ whereof 
 V/efpeak'^ which is Want and Poverty in the Eftatc, To 
 which purpofeferveth the Opening and well-Balancing 
 pfTi'ade, the Cheriihing of iMamifadlnres, the? /Bahifti- 
 ing of Idienefs, the Repreffing of Wafte andExcefsby 
 ^ujnptiiary Laws , the Improvement and Husbanding 
 pf.thc-Soil, the Regulating of Prices of Things vendi- 
 .ble, th^ Moderating of Taxes and Tributes, and the 
 Jrike. Generally it is to be forefeen, that the Popula- 
 tion of a Kingdom (cfpecially if it be not moweh down 
 fcy-VVars) do not exceed the Stock of the Kingdom, 
 ivbich fhould mamtain them. Neither is the Populati- 
 on to be reckoned only by number ^ for a ijnaller num- 
 ber that fpend more, and earn kfs, do wear, out an 
 Eftate fooner than a greater number that live lower, 
 and gather more. Therefore the multiplying of Nobi- 
 Jity, and other Degrees of Q.naliry, in an over-propor- 
 tion to the CommonPeople, dothfpeedily bring a State 
 to Necedity ^ and fo doth likewife an overgrown Cler- 
 gy, for they bring nothing to the Stock. And in like 
 manner, when more are bred Scholars than Preferments 
 ^aiTtake off. . . •''• 
 
 j itis likewife to be remembred, that forafmuch as the 
 Inereafe of any :Ef]-ate mult be upon the Foreigners^ 
 (for v^hatfoever is fomewhere gotten , is fomewherQ 
 loft.) There be .but three things which one Nation feU 
 leUi HiUQ anotiier , the Commodity as Na^wre yieldeth it i^ 
 
 the 
 
of Seditions and Troubles. 3 9 
 
 the Mamfa&ure and the P^cGture or Carriage : So that if 
 thefe three Wheels go, Wealth will Eovv as in a Spring- 
 tide. And , it Cometh many times to pafs, that Afateri* 
 am fuperahit Opus •, that the Work and Carriage is more 
 worth than the Materials, and inricheth a State more : 
 as is no'tably feen in the Low Country-men^ who have the 
 befh Mines above ground in'the World. 
 
 Above all things good Policy is to be ufed, tha^ the 
 Treafure and Moneys in a State be not gathered into 
 few Hands. For otherwifc 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- 
 prcfTmg, or at the lead keeping a llreight hand upon 
 the Devouring Trades of 'Ly}^^7, IngroJJlng^ great P*7/?«- 
 Yiiges^ and the like. 
 
 For removing Difcontentments^ or at leafl the danger 
 of them, there is in every State (as we know) two Por- 
 tions of 5;^£j/e(!7x, the Noblefs imdthQ Commonalty. When 
 one of thefe is Dlfcontcnt^ the danger is not great : for 
 common people are of How 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, whea 
 the greater fort do but wait for the troubling of the 
 Waters amongfl the meaner, that then they may declare 
 themfelves. The Poets feign, that the refl: of the Gods 
 would have bound Jupiter ^ v^^hich he hearing of, by the 
 Counfel of Pallas^ fent for Briarcus with his hundred 
 hands, to come into his aid. An Emblem no doubt, 
 to (hew how fafe it is for Monarchs to make fure of the 
 good will of common people. 
 
 To give moderate liberty for Griefs and Difcontcnt' 
 ments to evaporate ( fo it be without too great Info- 
 lency or BraveryJ is a fafe way. For he that turncth 
 the Humours back, and maketh the Wound bleed in- 
 wards, endangereth malign Ulcers, and pernicious Im* 
 pofthumatioas, 
 
 D 4 The 
 
40 Sir Francis Bacon 5 EJJdys. 
 
 The part oiEpimcthetu might well become Promethem 
 in the cafe of Difcontentments ^ for there is not a better 
 provifion againl't them. Epnietheus ^ when griefs and 
 evils flew abroad, at lafl: (Vint the Lid, and kept Hope 
 in the bottom of the V'eflel. Certainly the politick 
 and artificial nourifhing and entertaining of Ho^es^ and 
 carryii^.g Men from Hofes to Hofes^ is one of the belt 
 Antidotes agaiult the Foifon of D/Jco^^tewfrnr/^fj. And 
 it is a certain fign of a wife Government and Proceed- 
 ing, when it can hold Mens hearts by Hopes when it 
 cannot by fatisfaclion ;, and when it can handle things 
 in fiich manner, as no evil fliall appear fo peremptory but 
 |;hatit hsth fome out-let of //^;]?e , which is the lefs hard 
 to do, becaufe both particular Perfons and Factions are 
 apt enough to flatter themfelves, or at leaft to brave 
 that v;hich they believe not. 
 
 Alfo the tore-fight and prevention, that there be no 
 likely or fit Head, whereunto Difccntcnted Perfons may 
 rcfprt, and under whom they may join, is a known, 
 but an excellent point of caution. I underftand a fit 
 Head to be one that hath Greatnefs and Reputation, 
 that hath Confidence with the Difcontented Party, and 
 upon whom they turn their eyes ^ and that is thought 
 Difcontenud in his own particular ^ which kind (ff Per- 
 fons arc either to be won, and reconciled to the State, 
 and that in a faft and true manner ^ or to be fronted 
 v^ith 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 that are adverfe to the State, and fetting them at 
 difrance, or at leall diltrull among themfelves, is not 
 one of the worft Remedies- For it is a defperate cafe, 
 it thofe that hold with the proceeding of the State, be 
 "frll of pifcordand Factioiv, and thofe that are againft 
 it/ be entire and united. 
 
 1 have nated, that fome witty and diarp Speeches, 
 which have fallen from Princes ^ have given fire to S^- 
 di^icyis, Ca:fM did hlrnielf infinite hurt in that Speech, 
 
 SyUa 
 
of Atheijm. 41 
 
 Sylla nefclvh literas^ non potuit dtBare : For it did utterly 
 cut off that Hope which Men had entertained, that he 
 would at one time or other give over his Diclatorfhip. 
 Galha undid himfelf by that Speech, Legt a fe ?}jilium 
 non €mij for it put the Soldiers out of Hope of the Do- 
 native. Probus likewife by that Speech, Si vixero^ non 
 opus erit arnplm Romano hnperio 7nilitfbiis : A Speech of 
 great defpair for the Soldiers : And many the like. 
 Surely Princes had need, in tender matters, and ticklilh 
 times, to beware what they fay-, cfpecially in thefe 
 Ihorr Speeches, which fly abroad like Darts, and are 
 thought to be Ihot out of their fecret Intentions. For 
 as for large Difcourfcs, they are flat things, and notfo 
 much noted. 
 
 Laflly, Let Princes again ft all Events not be without 
 fome great Ferfon, 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 •, yltque vs habitus 
 animorum fuit , ut pcjfimum f acinus audtrcyit pauci^ plu- 
 res vellent^ omnes paterentur. But let fuch Military Per* 
 fonsbe alTured, and well reputed of, rather than Facti- 
 ous and Popular, holding alfo good correfpondence with 
 the other great Men in the State^ or elfethe Remedy is 
 worfe than the Difeafe. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Of Atheifm. 
 
 I Had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend^ and 
 the Talmud^ and the Alcoran^ that this Univerfal 
 f rftmg is withQut 4 Mind. Aad thercfgre God never 
 
 wrought 
 
41 5^V Francis Bacon*^ ^Jf^V- 
 
 wrought a Miracle to convmce j4theifm, becaufe his 
 ordinary Works convince it. It is true, that a little 
 Philofophy inclineth Man's mind to Jtheifm^ bur depth 
 in Phfl?fophy bnngeth Mens minds about to Religion ^ 
 for while the mind of Man looketh upon fccond Caufes 
 fcattered, it may fometimes reft in them, and go no 
 furdier : But when it beholdeth the Chain of them 
 Confederate and Linked together, it muft needs fly to 
 Troztidence and Deity. Nay, even that School which is 
 moft: accufed of Atheifm, doth molt demonftratc Religi- 
 on : That is, the School of Leucippus and Democritiis^ and 
 Epicurus, For it is a thoufand times more credible, that 
 four mutable Elements, and one immutable fifth Ef- 
 fencc, 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 
 without a Divine Marlbal. The Scripture faith. The Fool 
 hath [aid in his hearty there ts no God : It is not faid, Tlye 
 Fool\>Ath thought in his heart : So as he rather faith it by 
 roce to himfelf, as that he would have, 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 appqareth in nothing more, that 
 jithelfm is rather in the Lip^ than in the Heart of MaB, 
 rthan by this ^ That Jtheifts will ever be talking of that 
 I their Opinion, as if they fainted in it within themfelves, 
 / and would be glad to hz ftrengthned by the confent of 
 / others. Nay more, you fhall have Jtheifts itvivt to get 
 I pifciplss^ as it fareth with other Sects. And, which is 
 moll: of all, you ihall have of them that will fliffer for 
 Jtheijm and not recant ^ wb»<^eas if they did truly 
 %/ think, that there v/ere no fuch thing 2i%God^ why fhould 
 they trouble therafelves -^ Epicurus is charged, that he 
 did but diflTemble for his Credit's fake, when he affirmed, 
 there were Bkifed Natures^ but foch as enjoyed them- 
 felves, without having refpe(ft to the Government of the 
 World ^ wherein, they fay, he did temporize;^ though 
 in fecrqt he vho^^gpt there was no God. But certainly 
 
■Of Atheifm. 4^ 
 
 he is traduced ^ for his I^VordsAre Nohlc and Divine^ 
 Non JDeos vulgt mgare prrfamtn^ fedvul^i Opimoncs Din 
 applicare profanwn. Plato could have faid no more : And 
 although he had the confidence to deny the Jdmimflra- 
 tion^ he had not the .power to deny the xVjf^re. The In- ^ 
 d'tayis of the K?/^ have names for their particular gods^ 
 though they have no name forGo^^ as if the Heathens 
 fhould have had the names o^ Jupiter^ jjpolln^ Alars^ &c. 
 but not the word Dens : which fhews, that even thofe 
 barbarous People have the notion, though they have not 
 the latitude and extent of it. So that againil the u^tbcifh 
 the very Savages take, part with the very fubcilcf]: Phi- 
 lofophers-: Tlie Conteqplative Jtheift is rare : A Dia- 
 goms^ a Bion^ a Lucian perhaps, and fome others • and yet 
 they feem to be n -.ore .than they are : For that all that 
 impugn a received Ri.l[{t(}n or Sv.perjlhicn^ are by the ad- 
 verfe part branded with the name of /itheifls. But the 
 great y^tk//^5 indeed are f^ypocrites^ w-hkh are-eve r hand- 
 Hng Holy Things, but without feeling^ fo as they mult 
 needs be cauterized in the end. The Caufcs of Jthcifm v 
 are Diviftons in Religion^ if they be many : For any one 
 mam Divifion addeth -Zeal to both fides, but many Di- 
 viiions introduce Atheifm. Another is, Scx/idal o{ Priefls^ 
 when it is come to that which St. Bernard faith, Non 
 eft jam dicer e^ ut populus.^ ftc facer dos : quJa ncc fic populus^ 
 ut facer dos. A third is, Cullom of Prophane Scoffing m 
 Holy Matters^ which doth by little and.iittle deface the 
 Reverence of Religion And hiMy^ Learned Time. ^^ e- , 
 fpecia.lly with Peace and Profperity •, for Troubles and ^ 
 Adverfities do more bow Mens minds to Religion. They 
 that deny a Go.'/, deilroy Man's Nobility : for certainly 
 Man is of kin .to the Beafls by his .Body •, and if he be 
 not of kin to 6Wby his Spirit-, he is a bafe and ignoble 
 Creature. It delhoys likewife Magnanimity, and the 
 raifing H.unnane Nature : For take an ex.anT]-)ie of a Dog, ^/> 
 and mai-k what a generofity and courage he will put on, 
 when he finds himfelf maintained by a Man, vv ho to 
 h'm isi^Ilead of a Cod^ or AicUcr natura: Vvhich cou- 
 
44 Sir Francis Bacon'x Effays. 
 
 rage is manifeftly fuch , as that Creature without the 
 ^ confidence of a better Nature than his own, could never 
 attain. So Man, when he refleth and alTureth himfelf 
 upon divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and 
 faith, which humane Nature in it felf could not obtain. 
 Therefore as Atheifm is in all refpcds 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- 
 fons, fo it is in Nations. Never was there fuch a State 
 for Magnanimity, as Rome. Of this State hear what Ci- 
 cero faith, Quam volumus^ licet^ P aires Confcripti^ ncs ame- 
 Tniis^ tamen nee numero Hifpams^ nee rcbore Gallos^ nee cat- 
 Uditate Poems ^ nee arttbus Gr^cos ^ nee denique hoc ipfo hujus 
 Gentis & Terra domeftico nativoque Jenfu Jtalos ipfos & La- 
 tinos • fed Pietate ac Religione^ atque hac una Sapentia^ qubd 
 Deorum Immortalium Numine^ omnia regi guhernarique per^ 
 fpeximus^ omnes Gentes Nationefque fuperavimus. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Of Super ftitton^ 
 
 / T T w^ere better to have no Opinion of God at all, than 
 1 fuch an Opinion as is unworthy of him : For the 
 • one is Unbelief, the other is Contumely^ and certain- 
 ly Super ftition is the reproach of the Deity, Plutarch faith 
 well to that purpofe : Surely (faith he) / had rather a 
 great deal Men fliould fay^ there was no fuch Man at all as 
 Plutarch, than that they flwuld fay., that there was one Plu- 
 tarch, that would eat his Children as foon as they were horn ^ 
 as the Poets fpeak of Saturn. And as the Contumely is 
 greater towards G'oi, fo the Danger is greater towards 
 Men. j^thtifm leaves a Man to Senfe, to Philofophy, 
 to Natural Piety, to Laws, to Reputation^ all which 
 rnay be guides to an outward Moral Vertue, though Re^ 
 iigion were not ; But SuperJljtio7i difmounts all thefe, and 
 
 ereileth 
 
of Super ftition. 45 
 
 erecteth an abfolute Monarchy in the miuds of Men, 
 Therefore Atheifm did never perturb States ^ for it makes 
 Men weary of themfclves, as looking no further : And 
 we fee the times inclined to Atheifm (as the time of Au- 
 guflus Cdcfar) were civil times. But Superjflitio>i hath 
 been the Confufion of many States, and bringeth in a 
 new Primum Mobile , that ravifheth all the Spheres of 
 Government. The Mafter of Superjlition is the People j 
 and in all Superjlition^ Wife Men follows Fools, and Ar- 
 guments are fitted to Pradtice in a reverfed order. It 
 was gravely faid by fome of the Prelates in the Council 
 ofTrent^ where the Dodrine of the School-men bare 
 great fway. That the School-men were like Aftroncmcrs^ 
 which did feign Eccentricks^ and Epicycles^ and fuch Engines 
 of Orbs^ to fave the Phenomena ^ tho^ they knew there vrere 
 no fuch things. And in like manner, that the School- 
 men had framed a number of fubtil and intricate Xv/- 
 oms and Theorems^ to fave the pradice of the Church. / / 
 The Caufes of Superfhittons are, pleafmg and fcnlual 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, efpeci- 
 ally joined with Calamities and Difafters. Superjlition 
 without a Veil is a deformed thing j for, as it addeth 
 deformity to an Ape to be fo like a Man ^ fo the fimi- 
 litude of Superflition to Religion m.akes it the more de- 
 formed. And as wholefome Meat corrupteth to little 
 Worms • fo good Forms and Orders corrupt into a 
 Number of petty Obfervances. There is a Superjlition 
 in avoiding Superjlition^ when Men think to do beft, if 
 they go furtheft from the Superjlition formerly received. 
 Therefore Care would be had, that (as it fareth in ill 
 Purgings) the good be not taken away v^ith the bad^ 
 
 which 
 
46 Sir Francis Bacon'jf E//^jy. 
 
 which commonly is done. When fhe People is the Re- 
 former. 
 
 XVIIL 
 
 Of Tra\^el. 
 
 TRAFEL^ in- the younger Sort, is a part of Edu- 
 cation ^ in the elder, apart of Experietice. He 
 that Trjwto/; into' a Countrey before he hath fome En- 
 trance into the Langnage, goeth to School^ and not to 
 Travel. That young Men Tr^z/c/ under fome Tutor, or 
 grave Servant, I allow weU, fo that he be fuch a one 
 that hath the Language, and hath been in the Countrcy 
 before, whereby. he may be able to tell tliem, what 
 things are worthy, to be feen in tiie Countrey where 
 they go, what Acquaintances they are to feek, what 
 Exercifes or Difcipline the Place yieldeth. For elfe 
 young i\1en fl-jall go hooded, and look abroad little. It 
 isaflrange 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 moil part they omit it ^ as if Chance 
 were fitter to be regiltred 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 AmbaiHidors: The Courts of 
 Juftice, while thr/ fit and hear Gaufes^ and fo of ConJ- 
 fiilories Ecclefiailick : I'he 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 Ruines : Li- 
 braries, Colleges, Dilputations and Lectures, where any 
 are: Shipping and Natives: Honfes and Gardens of 
 State and Pleafure near great Cities : Armories, Arfe- 
 nals, Magazines, Exchanges, Burfes, Ware-houfes \ Ex^ 
 
 crcifes 
 
Of Travel. 47 
 
 ercifes of Horfinanihip, Fencing, Training . of Soldiers, 
 and the like : Comedies, fnch whereunto the better fort 
 of Perfons do refort. Treafures of Jewels and Robes : 
 Cabinets and Rareties. And to conclude, whatfoever 
 is memorable in the Places where they go. After all 
 which the Tutors or Servants ought to make diligent 
 Enquiry. As for Triumphs, Mafques, Feafls, Weddings^ 
 Funerals, Capital Executions, and fuch Shews ^ Men 
 need not to be put in mind of them ; yet are they not 
 to be neglefled. 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 mull do. Firfl, as we faid, he muft 
 have Tome entrance into the Language before he goeth. 
 Then he muft have fuch a Servant or Tutor as know- 
 eth the Countrcy, as was likewife faid. Let him carry 
 with him alfo fome Chart or Book , defer ibing the 
 Coyntrey where he Travcllcth , which will be a good 
 key to his Enquiry. Let him keep alfo a Diary. Let liim* 
 not ftay long in one City or Town, more or lefs, as the 
 Place deferveth, but not long : Nay, when he flayeth 
 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 >/ 
 himlelf from the Company of his Countrey-men, and 
 diet in fuch Places where there is good Company of the 
 Nation where he Travelleth, 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 may a- 
 bridge his Travels with much profit. As for the Ac- 
 quaintance which is to be fought in Travel^ that which . 
 is moft of all profitable, is' Acquaintance with the Sc* %/ 
 cretaries and employed Men of AmbalTadors ^ for fo in 
 Travelling in one Country, he ftiall fuck the Experience 
 of many. Let him alfo fee and vilit eminent Perfons, 
 in all kinds, which are of great Name abroad •, that he 
 may bcabk to tell how the Life agreeth with the Fam^: 
 
 For 
 
4? Sir VrzncisB^LConsEjfays^ 
 
 For Qliarrel^ they are with Care and Difcretion to he 
 avoided: The/ are commonly for Miftrefles, Healths, 
 Place, and Words. And let a Man beware how he 
 keepeth Company with Cholerick and Ql'^arrelfome 
 PeiTons, for they will engage him into their own Qiiar- 
 rels. When a rr./z;e//er retm-neth hom.e, let him not 
 leave the Countries where he hath Travelled^ altogether 
 behind him, bnt maintain a Correfpondency by Letters 
 with thofc of his Acquaintance which are of moft worth. 
 And let his 7?\tz/d appear rather in his Difcourfe, than 
 in his Apparel or Gcfture ^ and in his Difcourfe let him 
 be rather advifed in his Anfwers, than forward to tell 
 • Stories : And let it appear, that he doth not change his 
 Countrcy 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. 
 
 of Emftre. 
 
 IT is a miferable State of Mind, to have few things 
 to defi! e, 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 languifhing, and have many Reprefentations of 
 Perils and^ Shadows, which makes their minds the lefs 
 clear. And this is one reafon alfo of that effeft which 
 the Scripture fpeaketh of ^ That the King^s heart w infcru- 
 table. For, multitude of Jealoufies, and lack of fome 
 predominant defire that fhould marfhal and put in or- 
 der all the reft, maketh any Man's heart hard to find or 
 found. Hence it comes likewife, that Princes many 
 times make themfelves defire, and let their Hearts up- 
 on Toys; Sometimes upon a Building, fometimes upon 
 erecting of an Order, fometimes upon ths advancing 
 
 of 
 
Of Empire. 49^ 
 
 of a Pei foa, fometimes upoa obtairting excellency iit 
 fome Axx. or Feat of the Hand ^ as Ntro for playing on 
 the Harp, Domitian for Certainty of the Hand with the 
 Arrow ^Commodus for playing at Fence, Caracalla tor dri-^ 
 ving Chariots, and the like.-' This feemeth incredible 
 unto thofe that know not the principal • That the mind 
 of Man js more chsurcd and rcfrcflKd by profiting in fmall » 
 things^ th.xn by fianding at a ft ay in great. We fee al for ir . 
 that the Kirigs tlvdt have been fortunate Conquerors in 
 their firft years, it being not pofilble for them to go for- 
 ward infinitely, but that they mnft have fome check or 
 arrcft in their Fortunes, turn in their latter years to be 
 Superftitious and Melancholy : As did Alexander the 
 Great, Diockftan ^ and in our Memory,C/;^r/fi the Fifthy 
 and others : For he that is ufed to ^oibrward, and fmd- 
 eth a (top, falleth out of his ow^l favour, andTs i^^tiL the 
 thing he was. 
 
 To fpeak now of the true Temper of Empire ^ It is a 
 thing rare, and hard to keep ; for both Temper and 
 Dillemper confift of Contraries. Cut it is one thing to 
 mingle Contraries, another to interchange them. The 
 Anfwer of Apollonius to Fcfpajlan is full of excellent In^' 
 fh-uclion^ ^£^/p^y;j;; asked him, What was Nevo'5 oz'cr- 
 throw ? He anUvered, Nero could touch and turn the Har^ 
 Tvell, but in Government fomctimes he ufed to vrind the pirn 
 too high^ fometimes to let them down too low. And certain 
 it is, that nothing deftroyeth Authoriry fo much, as the* 
 unequal and untimely interchange of Power Frejfcd too 
 far, and Relaxed too much. 
 
 This is true,that the Wifdom of all thefc latter Timc^ 
 in Princes Affairs, is rather fine Deliveries, and Shifc- 
 ings of Dangers and iMifchiefs, when they are near^ 
 than folid and grounded Courfcs to keep them aloof. 
 But this is but to try Mailjerics vvith Fortune : and l?c 
 Men beware how they negled and fufier matter of 
 Trouble to be prepared : for no Man can forbid the 
 fpark, nor tell whence it may come. The difnculties 
 m Princes BBftnefs are maay and i^vcat; but the great- 
 
 y 
 
y 
 
 yo Sir Francis Bacons ^jf^P* 
 
 eft difficulty is often in their own mind. For it is com 
 inonv^'iih Princes {^dkh Tacitus) to will Contradictories 
 Sunt plemmque Regum voluntates vehemcntes^ & inter fe 
 contrari£. 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 Wives^ 
 t\\Q\x Childrm^ ihzKTreUtcs or C/er/^^their Nobles^ their 
 Second Nobles or Gentlemen^ their Merchants^ their Cow- 
 mons^ and their Men of War. And from all thefe arife 
 Dangers, if Care and Circnmfpedion benotufed. 
 
 Firft, For their Neighbours : There can no general 
 Rule be given (the occafions are fo variable) fave one, 
 which ever holdcth, which is, that Prmcci do keep due 
 Centinel, that none of their Neighbours do over-grow 
 fo, (by increafmg of Territory, by imbracing of Trade, 
 by Approaches, or the like) as they become more able 
 to annoy them, than they were. This is generally the 
 v/orkof Handing Connfcls to forefee, and to hinder it. 
 During that Triumvirate of Kings^ King Henry the 8^/:? of 
 Englrnd^ Francisiht ifi^ King of France^ ^nd Charles the 
 ^th Emperour, there was fuch a Watch kept, that none 
 of the Three could win a Palm of Ground,but the other 
 Two would ftraight-ways balance it, either by Confe- 
 deration, or if need were, by a War, and would not 
 in any wife rake up Peace at Intereft. And the like was 
 done by that League, (which Guicciardinc faith, was the 
 Security of Italy) made between Ferdinando King of 
 Naples^ Lorendus Medices^ and Ludovicus Sforza^ Poten- 
 tate,thconeof F/'?/T;2Cf,the other of Aiilain, Neither is 
 the Opmion of feme of the School men to be received ^ 
 That a War cannot juftly be 7nade but upon a precedent Injury 
 or Provocation. For there is no quellion,but a juft Fear 
 of an imminent Dangcr,though there be no Blow given, 
 is a lawful Caufe of a War. 
 
 For their Wives : There are cruel examples of them. 
 Ltvia is infamed for the poyfoning of her Husband : 
 Kolaxana^ Solymanh Wife, was the dcftruftion of that re- 
 nowned Pi ince, Sultan Mujia^ha, and Other v^ife trou- 
 bled 
 
Of Empire: 5 1 
 
 bled his Houfe and Succv iTion : Edivofd the Second of 
 England^ his Queen had Ln j principal hand in tlie depot- 
 fing and murther of her Husband. This kind cf darf- 
 gcr is then to be feared, chiefly when the Wives have 
 Plots fortheraifing of their own Children, or elfc that 
 they be A dvont relies. 
 
 For their Chihlrcn: The Tragedies likewifeof dan- 
 gers from them have been many. And generally the 
 cntring of Fathers into fufpicion of their Children^ hath 
 been ever unfortunate. The deftrudion of Muftaphd 
 (that we named before) was fo fatal to Solymanh Line^ 
 as the SucccJJion of the Turks from Solyman until this day'^ 
 is furpe(rred to be untrue, and of Itrange Blood ^ for 
 that Stlymus the fecond was thought to be fuppoficitious, 
 The deftrudion of Crtf^us^ a young Prince of rare to- 
 wardnefs, by Conftant'mus the Great, his Father, was in 
 like manner fatal to his Houfe ^ for both Conjlantinns 
 and Confiance his Son died violent Deaths ^ and Conftan- 
 tius his other Son did little better, who died indeed of 
 Sicknefs, but after that 5r«//^m(x had taken Arms againfl 
 him. The deftru6tion of Dcmertius^ Son to Philip the 
 Second of Macedon^ turned upon the Father, w^ho died 
 of Repentance. And many like Examples there are, 
 but few or none where the Fathers had goodby fuch 
 diilrult, except it were where the Sons were up in open 
 Arms againft them; as was Sdymus the Firit againft 
 BajaT^et^ and thethree Sons of Henry the Second, King 
 of England, 
 
 Yoxt\\€vc Tr^laust When they are proud and great, 
 there is alfo danger from them ;, as it was in the times" 
 of Jnfelmus^ and Thomas Becktt^ Archbilhops of Canter^ 
 bury^ who with their Crofiersdid almoft try it with the 
 King's Sword -, and yet they had to deal with flout and 
 haughty Kings; William Rufus^ Henry the Fiilh and 
 Henry the Second. The danger is not from the State^ 
 but-where it hath a dependance of Foreign Authority ; 
 or where the Church-men come in, and are elected, not 
 by the collation of. the Kingj or particular Patrons, but 
 by. the People/ E 2 For 
 
J 2 Sir Francis Bacon'^ EJfays. 
 
 For their Nobles : To keep them at a diftancc it is not 
 amifs, but to deprefs them may make a King more ab^ 
 folute, but lefs fafe, and lefs able to perform any thing 
 that he dcfires. I have noted it in my Hiftory of King 
 Nenry the Seventh, of England^ who deprefTed his Nobi- 
 lity '^ whereupon it came to pafs^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 Bufinefs^ fo that in effeft he was 
 fain to do all things himfelf. 
 
 For their Second Nobles : There is not much danger 
 from them, being a Body difpeiTed. They may fomc- 
 times difcourfe high, but that doth little hurt. Belldes 
 they are a counterpoize to the higher iVb^/%,that they 
 grow not too potent : And lailly, being the mo ft imme- 
 diate in Authority with the Common People, they do 
 beft temper popular Commotions. 
 
 For their Merchants : They are rena porta ; and if 
 they flouriih not, a Kingdom may have good Limbs, 
 but will have empty Veins, and nourish little. Taxes 
 and Impofts upon them, do feldom good to the King's 
 Revenue •, for that he wins in the Hundred, he lofeth in 
 the Shire ^ the particular Rates being increafcd, but the 
 total bulk of Trading rather decreafed. 
 
 For their Commons : There is little danger from them^ 
 except it be where they have great and potent Heads, or 
 whereyDU meddle with the point of Religion, or their 
 Cuftoms, or means of Life. 
 
 For their y^fw of i^'ar : It is a dangerous State,where 
 they live and remain in a Body, and arc ufed to Dona- 
 tives, whereof we fee examples in the Jamz,aries and 
 Fretori.m Bands of Rome : But Trainings of Men, and 
 Arming them in feveral places, and under feveral Com- 
 manders, and without Donatives, are things of De- 
 fence, and no danger. 
 
 Princes avQ likQ to Heavenly Bodies^ which caufe good 
 or evil times; and which have much fenerations but no 
 ^cft. All Precepts concerning Kin^s^ are in effect com- 
 prehended 
 
Of Counjeh 55 
 
 prehended ia thofe two Remembraaces, Memento quod Y 
 €S HomOy and Memento quod es Deus^ or Fke Dei ; the 
 one bridleth their Power, and the other their Will. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Ol Qomfd. 
 
 THE greatefl: trull between Man and Man is the 
 trufl of Giving Comfcl : For in other confidences 
 Men commit the parts of Life, their Lands, their Goods, 
 their Children, their Credit, fome particular Affair t 
 but to fuch as they make their Counftllors^ they commit 
 the whole, by how much the more they are obliged to 
 all faith and integrity. The wifelt Pnnces need not 
 think it any diminution to their Greatnefs, or derogati- 
 on to their Sufficiency, to rely upon CounfeL Cod him- 
 felf is not without, but hath made it one of the great 
 Names of his blefled Son : Th^ Counfellor -^ Solomon hath 
 pronounced. That in Counfcl is StahtUty. Things will 
 have their firft or fecond agitation •, if they be not tof* 
 fed upon the Arguments ot Counftl^ they will be toffed 
 upon the waves of Fortune^ and be full of inconftancy^ 
 doing and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken Man. 
 Solomon's Son found the force of Counfel^ as his Father 
 faw the necefTity of it. For the beloved Kingdom of 
 God was firft rent and broken by ill Counjel • upoa 
 which Comfel there arc fet for inltruclion the two marks, 
 whereby )iad Counsel is for ever beft dilcerned, that it 
 ^N2L%young Counfel for the Perfons, and vtoltnt Ccunfd for 
 the Matter. 
 
 The ancient Times to fet forth in figure, both the 
 incorporation, and infeparable conjunction of Counfel 
 v^ith Kings^ and the vrife and politick ufe of Coimjelhy 
 Kingy^ the one in that they fay, Juj^iter did Marry 
 M^tis^ which fignifi^th Counfel^ whereby they intend that 
 
 E 3 Sovm'^nty 
 
54 Sir Francis BaconV Ejjays. 
 
 '. Sovri^eignty IS mzvYitd to Counfel\ the other in that 
 which foUoweth, which was thus : They fay, after 
 Jupiter was married to Afetis^ Ihe coriceived by him, 
 aad was^jvith Child: but Ju^ita fuftered b.er not to 
 iflay till llie brov/i,ht forth, but eat her up^ whereby 
 J-iC became himfelf with Child, and was delivered of 
 Pallas Armed out ot his Head ^- which monftrous Fa^ 
 blc contaiiieth a fecret of Ertipire^ how Kiri^s are to 
 jnake ufeof their Council of State, Thatfirfi: they ought 
 to refer matters unto them, which is the firfl begetting 
 or impregnation •, but when they are elaborate, mould- 
 ed, and ihaped in the Womb of their Council^ and 
 grow ripe, snd ready to be brought forth, that then 
 they fuifer not their Council to go through with the 
 refolution and diredion, as if- it depended on them^ 
 but take the matter back into their ovv^a hands, and 
 make it appear to the World, that the Decrees and fi- 
 nal Directions (which, becaufe they come forth with 
 T.rudcnce and Fomr^ arc refembled to Pallas Armed) 
 proceeded from themfeh'es : And not only from their 
 Authority^ but f the more to add reputation to themfelves) 
 from their Head and Device. 
 
 Let us now fpeak of the r/iconvenlencles of Counfel^ an4 
 pi the Kennedies, The Jnconveniencies that have be^ 
 fiotcd in calling and ufing Counfel^ as three: Firft, the 
 revealing of Affairs, whereby they become lefs fecret, 
 Secondly, the weakning of the Authority of Princes, 
 as if they were lefs of themfelves. Thirdly, the dan- 
 ger of being unfaithfully Comifelkd^ and more for the 
 good of them that Counfel^ than of him that is Coun- 
 sj jelled. For which Jnconveniencies^ the Dodlrine of Jtaly^ 
 and practice of France in fome Kings times, hath in- 
 troduced C^k'j^er Councils-^ a Remedy worfe than the 
 Difeafe. 
 
 Asto S^cm^ .* Princes are not bound to communicate 
 all matters with all Counfellors.^ but extraft and feleft. 
 Neither is it necelFary, that he that confulteth what he 
 fbould do, fnould declare Vj'hat he will do. But let 
 
 frince^ 
 
of CounfeL ^5 
 
 Princes beware,that the unfecrcting of their Affairs conies 
 
 not from themfelvcs. And as for Cabinet CenndU^ in 
 
 may be their Motto ^ Tlenus rtmarum fum : One futile 
 
 Perfon, that maketh it his glory to tell, 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 Pcr- 
 
 fons befide the Ktng : Neither are thofc Coimfds un^ 
 
 profperous;, for befides the Secrecy^ they commonly go 
 
 on conflantly in one Spirit of Dire-ftion without di* 
 
 flraftion. But then it mull be a prudent King, fuch as 
 
 is able to grind with a H^md-fmll •, and thofe Inward 
 
 Counfellors had need alfo be wife xMen, and efpecially 
 
 true and trulty to the King's ends ^ as it was with King 
 
 Henry the Seventh, of England^ who in his greateft bu- 
 
 fmefs imparted hirafelf to cone, except it were to A^or^ 
 
 ton and Fox. 
 
 For weahning of Authority : The Fable (heweth the 
 Remedy, Nay, tlie Majefty of Kings is rather exalted 
 than diminilhed, when they are in the Chair of Coun- 
 fd. Neither was there ever Prince bereaved of his de- 
 pendencies by his Council^ except where there hath been 
 either an over-greatnefs in one Councellor,^ or an over- 
 ftrid combination in divers,which are things foon found 
 and holpen. 
 
 For the I ail Inconvenience^ that Men will Counfti with 
 an Eye to themfelvcs : Certainly, Non invntict fidem fu^ 
 perterram^ is meant of the nature of Times, and not of 
 all particular Perfons. There be, that are in nature, 
 faithful and fmcere, and plain, and direct, not crafty 
 and involved: Let Prmcex above all draw to themfelvcs 
 fuch natures. Befides Counccllors are not commonly fo 
 united, but that one Comcellor keepeth Centinel over 
 another j fo that if any do Counfel^ out of Faction, or 
 private ends, it commonly comes to the King's Eir. 
 But the beft Remedy is, if Princes know their Counfdlors 
 ^s well as ih^iv Counceliors know them ^ 
 
 E 4 Frmitit 
 
 / 
 
5 (i Sir Francis Bacon x Ejjays. 
 
 J^rincjpis eft virtus maxima mjfe fuos, 
 
 r And on the other fide, C ounfellor s i^honld not be too 
 / fpcculative into their Sovereign's Perfon. The true 
 compofition of a CounfcUor^ is rather to beskiil'd in their 
 Mailers Bnfinefs, than in his Nature^ for then he is 
 like toadvife him, and not to feed his humour. It is 
 of fingular ufe to Princes^ if they take the Opinions of 
 their Cnuyifd^ both feparately and together. For pri- 
 vate opinion is more free, but opinion before others is 
 jnore reverend. In private. Men are more bold in 
 their own humours-, and in confoit, Men are more 
 
 . obnoxious to others humours: Therefore it is good to 
 
 / t3ke both. And of the inferior fort, rather in private, 
 
 to preferve freedom 3 of the greater, rather in confort, 
 
 y to preferve refpecl. It is vain for Princes to take Coun- 
 fel^ concerning Mcittirs^ if they take no Counfel like- 
 \Yirc concerning Perfons : for all Matters are as dead 
 Images ^ and the life of the execution of Affairs refceth 
 in the gocd choice of Perfons. Neither is it enough tp 
 confult concerning Perfons, fecurJum genera^ as in an 
 Idea or Aiatb.matital Defcrtption^ what the kind and cha- 
 raffrerof the Perfon (hould be:^ for the greatefb errors 
 are committed, and the moll Judgment is fhewn in the 
 f,ho[c^o^ Individ^ ^ a! s. It was truly fsid. Optitni Conftli- 
 art', mortui ^ Books will fpeak plain when Counfellors 
 blanch. Therefore it is good to be converlant in them, 
 eff'ccially the Books of uich as themfelves have been 
 A%3rs upon the Stage. 
 
 The Coimcils at this day in mofl plr?ces are but fami- 
 - liar meetings, where matters are rather talked on than 
 
 y debated. And they run too fwift to the Order or Aft 
 of Counfel It were better, that in Caufes of weight, 
 the Matter were propounded one day, and not fpoken 
 till the next day ^ In no(h Confilium. So was it done 
 in the CommiiTion of Vnion between England and Scot-: 
 \A''J.^ which wa3 a gravt; and orderly AfTcmbly. I 
 
 comniiend 
 
/ 
 
 O/Ddjys. 57 
 
 commend fet days for Petitions : for it gives both the 
 Suitors more certabty for their attendance, and it frees 
 the meetings for matters of Eflate, that they may Hoc 
 agere. In choice of Committees for ripening Bufinefs 
 for the Council^ it is better to chiife inditferent f-erfons, 
 than to make an IndifFerency, by putting in thofe that 
 are ftrong on both fides. I commend alfo ffanding 
 Commiljions ^ as for Trade, for Treafure, for War, 
 for Suits,for fome Provinces : For where there be divers 
 particular Councils^ and but one Council of SUte^ (as it 
 js in Spain) they arc in eifeft no more than Handing 
 Commiffions'^ fave that they have greater Authority: 
 Let fich as are to inform Councils out of their particular^ 
 Profefllons fas Lawyers, Sea-men, Mint-men, and the 
 like) be firfl heard before CGmmittces^ and then, as 
 occafion fervps, before ih^ Council. And let them not 
 come in multitudes, or in a Tribunitious manner^ for 
 that is to Clamour Councils^ not to inform them. A 
 long Table, aud a fquare Table, or Seats about the 
 Walls, feem things of Form, but are things of Sub- 
 ftancc • for at a long Table, a few at the upper end in 
 efied; fvvay all the tpufinefs^ but in the other Form, 
 there is more ufe of the Councilors Opinions that fit 
 Jower. A King^ when he preiides in Council^ let him y^ 
 beware how he opens his own Inclination too much ia 
 that which he propoundeth ^ for elfe Counfellors will but 
 take the wind of him, and infteadof giving Free Coun^ 
 /d, fing him a Song of Placebo, 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Of Delays, 
 
 FORTUNE is like the Market^ where many times 
 if you can (lay a little, the Price will fall. And 
 again, it is fcmetimcs like Sibylla'sO^Qv^ which at firft 
 pffpfetl^ the Commodity at full, the^ confum^tji part 
 
 and 
 
5 8 Sir Francis BaconV EJfays: 
 
 and part,and ftill holdeth np the Price. For Occaftm^z^ it 
 is in the Common Verfe) tumeth a bald Noddle^ after /he 
 hath prefented her Locks in Front ^ and no hold taken ; or at 
 lead turneth the handle of the Bottle firft to be re- 
 ceived, and after the Belly, which is hard to clafp. 
 Thereis furcly no greater Wifdom, than well to time 
 the Beginrings and Onfets of Things. Dangers are no 
 more light, if they once feem light-, and more Dan- 
 gers have deceived Men, tlian forced them. Nay, it 
 were better to meet fome Dangers half way, though 
 they come nothing near, than to keep too long a watch 
 upon their Approaches ; for if a Man watch too long, 
 it is odds he will fall afleep. On the other fide, to be 
 deceived with two long (badows, as fome have been, 
 when the Moon was low, and Ihone on their Enemies 
 back, and fo to (hoot off before the time •, or to teach 
 Dangers to come on, by over-early Buckling towards 
 them, is another extream. The Ripenefs or Unripe* 
 nefs of the Occafion, (as we faid) mult ever be well 
 weighed ^ and generally it is good to commit the Be- 
 ginnings of all great Aflions to Jrgus vvith his hun- 
 dred Eyes, and the Ends to Briarcus with his hundred 
 Hands; firft to Watch, and then to Speed. For the 
 Helmet of Pluto^ which maketh the Politick Man go in* 
 vifible, is Secrecy in the Coimfel, and Celerity in the Exe- 
 cution. For when things are once come to the Execu- 
 tion, there is no Secrecy comparable to Celerity^ like 
 the motion of a Bullet in the Air, which flycth fo fwift, 
 3s it out-runs the Eye. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 of Qumlng. 
 
 WE take Cunning for a Sinifl-er or Crooked Wif- 
 dom. And certainly there is great difference 
 between a Cuming Man and a Wife Map, not only in 
 
 poiot 
 
of Cunning. ^^ 
 
 point of Honefty, but in point of Ability. There be 
 thatcanpacktlie Cards, and yet cannot play well: fo 
 there arefome that are good in CanvafTes and Fadions^, 
 that are otherwife Weak Men. Again, it isone thing 
 to underftand Perfons, and another thing to under- 
 ftand Matters-, for many are perfedl in Mens Humours, 
 that are not greatly capable of the real part of Bu- 
 iinefs, which is the Cbnititution of one that hath ftu- 
 died Men more than Books. Such Men are fitter for 
 Pradice than for Counfel : and they are good but ia 
 their own Alley, turn them to new Men, and they 
 have loft their Aim .* So as the old Rule to know a 
 Fool from a Wife Man ; Mittc umbos nudos ad i^notos^ & 
 vidchis^ doth fcarce hold for them. And becaufe thefe 
 Cuming Mm are like Haberdafhers of fmall Wares, it 
 is not amifs to fet forth their Shop. 
 
 It is a point of Cunning to wait upon him, with 
 whom you fpeak, with your Eye, as the Jefuits give 
 it in Precept : For there may be many wife Men that 
 havefecret Hearts and tranfparent Countenances. Yet 
 this would be done v^^ith a demure Abafmg of your Eye 
 fometimes, as the jefuits alfo do ufe. 
 
 Another is, that when youhaveany thing to obtain 
 of prefentdifpatch, you entertain and amufe the Party 
 with whom you deal, with fome other Difcourfe, that 
 he be not too much awake to make Objedions. I knew 
 a CounceUor and Secretary^ that never came to Queen £//- 
 TLaheth of EngUnd with Bills to fign, but he would al- 
 ways firft put her into fome Difcourfe of Eftate, that 
 (he might the lefs mind the Bills. 
 
 The like furprize may be made by moving things^ 
 when the Party is in hafte, and cannot ftay to confider 
 advifedly of that is moved. 
 
 If a Man would crofs a Bufmefs, that he doubts fome 
 other would hanfomely and effedually move, let him 
 pretend to wilh it well, and move it himfelf in fuch 
 fort as jnay foyl it. 
 
 The 
 
6o Sir Francis Bacon'5 Effays. 
 
 The breaking off in the midft of that one was a- 
 bo'jt to fay, as if he took himfelf up, breeds a grea- 
 ter Appetite in him with whom you confer to know 
 more. 
 
 And becaufc it works better, when any thing feem- 
 eth to be gotten from you by Qiieftion, than if you 
 offer it of your felf ; you may lay a Bait for a Qusfti- 
 on, by (hewing another Vifagc and Countenance than 
 you are wont; to the end, to give occafion for the 
 Party to ask, what the matter is of the Change, asNe- 
 hemiah did ^ And I had not before that time hem fad before 
 the King, 
 
 In things that are tender and unpleafmg, it is good 
 to break the Ice byfome whofe words are of lefs weight, 
 and to referve the more weighty voice to come in as 
 by chance, fo that he may be asked the Queftion upon 
 the other Speech •, as Narciffus did in relating to ClaU" 
 dius the marriage of Adeffalina and Silius, 
 
 In things that a Man would not be feen in hhnfelf, 
 it is a point oi Cunning to borrow the name of the World, 
 as to fay, The World fays^ or, Then is a Speech ^- 
 hroad, 
 
 I knew one, that when he wrote a Letter, he would 
 put that which was moft material in the Pofl-fcript^ as if 
 it had been a By-matter. 
 
 I knew another, that when he came to have Speech, 
 he would pafs over that he intended moft, and go forth, 
 and come back again and fpeak of it, as a thing that he 
 had almoft forgot. 
 
 Some procure themfelves to be furprii'd at fuch times, 
 as it is like the Party that they work upon will fuddenly 
 come upon them, and to be found with a Letter in 
 their hand, or doing fomewhat which they are not 
 acaiftumed; to the end they may be oppofed of 
 thofe things, which of themfelves they are defirous to 
 utter. 
 
 It is a point of Cunning^ to let fall thofe words in a 
 Man's ov/a Name^ which he would have another Man 
 
 leara 
 
of Cuming. 6i 
 
 learn and ufe, and thereupon take advantage. T knew 
 two that were Competitors for the Secretaries Place, ia 
 Qiieen Elizabeth's Time, and yet kept good Qiiarter 
 between themfelves, and would confer one with another 
 upon the Bufinefs^ and one of them faid, That to be 
 a Secretary in the Declination of a Monrnxhy^ was a tick- 
 lilh thing, and that he did not affedit: The other 
 ftraitcaughtup thofe Words, and difcourfed with di- 
 vers of his Friends, That he had no reafon to defire to 
 be a Secretary in the Declining of a Monarchy, The 
 firft Man took hold of it, and found means it was told 
 the Queen^ Who hearing of a Declination of a Monarchy^ 
 took it fo ill, as (he would never after hear of the 
 others Suit. 
 
 There is a Cunning ^which we in EnglandcdW^ The turn- 
 ing of the Cat in Pan-^ which is, when that which a Man 
 fays to another, he lays it as if another had fjid it to 
 him; and to fay truth, it is not ea fie, when fuch a mat- 
 ter pafs'd between two, to make it appear from which 
 of them it firft moved and began. 
 
 It is a way that fome Men have to glance and dart at 
 others, by juftifying themfelves by Negatives ^ as to 
 fay, This I did not: A% Tigellinus did towards Burrhus -^ 
 Se non diverfas fpes^ fed incolumitatem Imperatoris fimplki' 
 ter fpeCiare. 
 
 Some have inreadinefsfo many Tales and Stories, as 
 there is nothing they would infinuate, but they can 
 wrap it into a Tale, which ferveth both to keep them- 
 felves more in Guard, and carry it with more Pleafure. 
 
 It is a good point of Cunning^ for a Man to fhape the 
 Anfwer he would have in his own Words and Propoli- 
 tions :; for it makes the other Party ftick the lefs. 
 
 It is ftrange, how long fome Men will lie in v;ait 
 to fpeak fomewhat they defire to fay, and how far about 
 they will fetch, and how many other matter^ they will 
 beat over to come near it; it is a thing of great Patience, 
 b«Jt yet of much Ufe, 
 
 Afud- 
 
6 1 Sir Francis Bacon'5 £//^jj. 
 
 Afudden, bold, and unexpedled Quefliion, doth ma- 
 ny times furprize a iVan and lay him open ; Like to him^ 
 that having changed his Name, and walked in Pauls^ a- 
 noiher fuddcnly came behind him, and called him by 
 his true Name,whereat flreight-vvays he looked back. 
 
 But thtfc fmall Wares, and petty points of Cunning 
 are infinite :, and it were a good deed to make a Lift of 
 them : For that nothing doth more hurt in a State, than 
 that Cunning Mm pafs for Wife, . 
 
 But certainly fome there are, that know the Reforts 
 andFallsof Bufmefs, that cannot fmk into the Main of 
 it : Like a Houfe that hath convenient Stairs and En- 
 tries, but never a fair Room. Therefore you fhall feo 
 them find out pretty Loofes in the Conclulion, but are 
 no ways able to examine or debate Matters : and yet 
 commonly they take advantage of their Inability, and 
 would be thought \¥its of diredion. Some built rather 
 upon the abufmg of others, and (as we now fay) Put^ 
 ting tricks upon tbem ^ than upon the foundnefs of their 
 own proceedings. But Solomon faith, Prudens advmit 
 ad gyejjus fuos^ Stultus divertit ad dolos. 
 
 XXIIL 
 
 Of IVifdom for a Mans felf. . , 
 
 AN^Ht is a wife creature for it felf, but it is a fhrewd 
 thing in an Orchard or -Garden. And certainly 
 Men that are gr^at Lovers ofThemfelves^ waftethe Pub- 
 lick. Divide with reafon between Self-love 2ind Society ^ 
 and be fo true to thy 5e//, as thou be not falfe to others, 
 efpecially to thy King and Country. It is a' poor Cen- 
 ter of a Mans Anions, Himfelf. It is right Earth 5 for ; 
 that only ftands faft upon its own Center j whereas all •' 
 things that have affinity with the Heavens^ move upon; 
 the Center of another which they benefit. The refer- 
 ring 
 
Of m/dom for a Mans Self. 6 ) 
 
 ring of all to a Mans Self^ is more tolerable in a Sove- 
 reign Prince ^ becaufe Thmfelves^ rre not only Thcfn- 
 felvcs^ but their Good and Evil is at the Peril of the pub- 
 lick Fortune. But it isa defperate Evil in a Servant to 
 a Prince, or a Citizen in a Republick. For vvhatfoe- 
 ver Affairs pafs fuch a Mans hands, he crooketh them 
 to his own ends, v;hich mull needs be often Eccentrick 
 to the ends of his Mailer or State : Therefore let Prin-^ 
 ces or States chi;fe fuch Servants as have not this mark ; 
 except they mean their Service fiiould be made but the 
 acceflary. That which makcth the effect more perni- 
 cious, !-, that all proportion is loft ^ it were dif-pro- 
 portioii oiiough for the Servants good, to be preferred 
 before the t.iaflers ^ but yet it is a greater extream, 
 when a little gcod of the Servant Ihall carry things a- 
 gainlt the great good of the Mailers. And yet that is 
 the cafe ot bad Officers^ Treafurers, AmbalTadors, Ge- 
 nerals, and other falfe and corrupt Servants, which fee 
 a Byafsupon their Bowl, of their ovn\ petty ends and 
 envies, to the overthrow of their Mailers great and im- 
 portant Affairs. And for the moll part, the Good 
 which Servants receive, is after the model of their own 
 fortune • but the Hurt they fell for that Good, is after 
 the model of their Mailers Fortune. And certainly 
 it is the nature of extream 5c//- Lowrj, as they will fet 
 an Houfe on fire, if ic were but to roaft their Eggs : And 
 yet thefe Men many times hold credit with their Mailers, 
 becaufe their Study is but to pleafe them, and profit 
 Thcmfelves ^ and for either refpedt they will abandon the 
 good of their Aftairs. 
 
 Wifdom for a Mans felf'is in many branches thereof a 
 depraved thing. It is the Wifdom cf Fats ^ that will be 
 fure to leave the Koufe fometimie before it fulls. It is 
 the Wifdom of the Fox^ that thrulls out the Badgtr^ who 
 digged and made room for him. It is the Wifdom of 
 Crocodiles, that (hed tears when they would devour. But 
 that which isfpecially to be noted, is, that thofe which 
 fas Cicero fays of Pom^ey) arc, Sui ama^.ks fmc rivuli^ 
 
 are 
 
64 Sir Francis Bacon'5 E/Z'ijx. 
 
 are many times unfortunate. And whereas they have 
 all their time facrificcd to Tbemfclves^ they become 
 in the end '7l?^'n/e/z/c5 Sacrifices to the Inconftancy of For- 
 tune, whofe wings they thought by their Self-Wifdom 
 to have pinnioned. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Of Innovation. 
 
 As the births of living Creatures at firll are ill fha-^ 
 pen, {o^vc3.\\ Innovations^ which are the births 
 of Time. Yet notwithflanding, as thofe that firft bring 
 Honour into their Family, are commonly more wor- 
 thy than moll that fucceed : So the firft Precedent (if it 
 be good) is feldom attained by imitation. For ill to 
 Mans nature, asitftands perverted, hath a natural mo- 
 tion, ftrongeft in continuance: But Good as a forced 
 motion, ftrongeft at firft. Surely every AMicine is an 
 Innovation'^ and he that will not apply new Remedies, 
 muft expert new Evils : for Time is the gvQcitQ[t Innova- 
 tor. And if Time of courfe alter things to the worfe, 
 and Wifdom and Counfel ftiall not alter them to the 
 better, what fhall bethe end? It is true, that what is 
 fettled by Cuftom,thoug,h it be not good, yet at leaft it 
 is fit. And thofe things which have long gone together 
 are as it were confederate within themfclves, whereas 
 new things piece not fo well : But though thev help by 
 their utility, yet, they trouble by their Inconformity. 
 Belides, they are like Strangers^ more admired, and leis 
 favoured. All this is true, if Time ftood ftiil ^ which 
 contrariwife moveth fo round, that a froward retcntl* 
 on of Cuftom is as turbulent a thing, as an Innovation : 
 and they that reverence too much old Times, are but a 
 fcorn to the new. It v/ere good therefore, that Men 
 in their Innovations would follow-the example of Time 
 
 it 
 
Of Tfifpatch. 6^ 
 
 it felf • which indeed Inmvateth greatly, but qiiietly^^ 
 and by degrees, fcarce to be perceived : for otherwife 
 whatfoever is new, isunlookcd for^ and ever it mends' 
 fonie, and pairs other: And he that is holpen, take? 
 it for a Fortune, and thanks the Time ; and he that h 
 hnrt, for a Wrong, and imputeth it to the Author. It 
 is good alfo, not to try Experiments in Stat s, excepc 
 the necelTitybe urgent, or the utility be evident^ and 
 well to beware, that it be the Reformation that dravy- 
 eth on the Change, and not the, dellre of Change that 
 pretcndeth the Reformation. And laftly, that the 
 JNovelty^ though it be not rcjjded, yet be held for a 
 rufped: And as the Sv-ripture faith. That wc make t 
 fland upon the ancient way^ and then look about us^ a^d dif- 
 co7jer what is the ftrci^ht and right vpuy^ and jo to walk 
 iyi it. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 0/ 'Difparch. 
 
 AFfeBed Difpatch is one of the mofl dangerous things* 
 to Builnefs that can be. It is like that whicli 
 tiie Pjiylicians call rre-'Ugcflmi^ov F-Jafty Digcfl'wn^ which 
 is fure to fill the Body full of Crudities, and fecret feeds 
 of Difeafes. Therefore meafure not DiTpatch bv the 
 times of fitting, but by the advancement of the BuU- 
 nefs. And as in Races, k is noc the large flrrde, or 
 high Lift that makes the Speed ^ fo in Bulinef<, the 
 keeping clofc to the Matter, and not taking of it toa 
 much at once, prOcurerh Difpatch. It is the care of 
 feme only to come otF fneedily for the timc^ or to con- 
 trive fome filfe Periods of Bnfmefs, beca ufe they may 
 feem Afen of Difpatch. But it is one thing to abbreviate by 
 contrading.^anor.her by cntiiiig ofr':, and Bulhicfs fo h.and- 
 kd at federal littinHS av inectfii^s^ goer!; commonly 
 
 f b:rck- 
 
66 Sir Francis Bacon's Ejfajs. 
 
 backward or forward in an unfteady manner. I knevr 
 a Wife Man^ that had it for a by-word, when he faw* 
 Men hallen to a Conclufion , Stay a little^ that we may 
 make an end the fooner. 
 
 On the other fide, True Difpatch is a rich thing. For 
 Time is the meafure of Bufiaefs, as Money is of Wares- 
 and Bufiuefs is bought at a dear hand, where there is 
 fmall Dif patch. The Spartans and Spaniards have been 
 noted to be of fmall Bifpatch^ Mivenga la Aduerte de 
 Spagna^ Let my death come /rowz Spain, for then it will 
 be fare to be long in coming. 
 
 Give good hearing to thofe that give the firfl Infor- 
 mation in Bnfmcfs -^ and rather dired them in the be- 
 ginning, than interrupt them in the continuance of 
 their Speeches : for he that is put out of his own order, 
 will go forward and backward, and more tedious 
 while he waits upon his Mem.ory, than he could have 
 been, if he had gone on in his own courfe. But fome- 
 times it is fccn, that the Moderator is more troubie- 
 ibme than the A6:or. 
 
 Iterations are com.monly lofs of Time, but there is no 
 fiich gain of Time, as to iterate often the State of the 
 Ouejiion -^ for it chafeth away many a frivolousSpeech as 
 it is coming forth. Long and curious Speeches areas 
 fit for Difpatch^ as a Robe or a Mantle with a long train 
 is for a Race. 
 
 Prefaces and Pafiages, and Excufations, and other 
 Speeches of reference to the Perfon, are great wafters 
 of time ^ and though they feem to proceeclof modefty, 
 'they are bravery. Yet beware of being too material, 
 when there is any impediqnent or bbltruiflion in Mens 
 Wills; forprc-occapationof mind ever requireth Pre- 
 face of Speech, like a fomentation to make the unguent 
 enter. 
 
 Above all things, Order^ and Dijlrihution^ and Sing- 
 ling out of Pa-ts^ is the life of Difpatrh : fo as the Difiri- 
 hition be not too fabtle ^ foi^, he tKat doth not divide, 
 will never enter well into bufinefs : and he shat divi- 
 
 deth 
 
0{ Seeming Wife. 6f 
 
 dethtco much will never come out of it clearly, To 
 ciiuie time, i^ to fave time, and an unfeafonable' 
 motion is but beating the Air. There be three parts 
 of Buiiners:;, thQ PrcparatiGn^ the Debate or Exajninatioji^ 
 and the Perfecl'wn ^ whereof if ydai look for Difpjtch 
 let the middle only be the work of many, and the firft 
 and lalt the woikof few. The proceeding upon fome- 
 what conceived ill writing, doth for the molt paYt fa- 
 cilitate DiJ patch : For though it fliould be wholly re- 
 jv61:ed, yet that Negative is more pregnant of directi- 
 on, than an Indtfinhe ^ as Afhesare more generative tharf 
 Dull. 
 
 XXVL 
 
 Of Jecimng Wife. 
 
 IT hath been an Opinion, that the French arc wifet 
 than they feem, and the Spaniards feem wifer than 
 ti;ey are. But howfoever it be between Nations^ cer- 
 tainly it is fo bctw;e.i Man and Man. For as the j4- 
 pjftle faith of Godlinefs^ having a /hew of Godltnefs^ hut 
 dc::Yingthe Fewer thtrenf-^ fo certainly there are in points 
 of vvildom and fufliv.iency, that to do nothing of little 
 very folcmnly ^ Afag>w coriatii nugas. It is a ridiculous 
 thing, and fit for a Satyr, to Perfohs of Judgment, to 
 fee what fliifts thefc Formalifts have, and v7iiat pro- 
 fpcdives to make Superficies to f^em Body^ that hath' 
 depth and bulk. Some are fo clofc rcferved, as they 
 will not Ihew th^ir Wares, but by a d:^rk light; and 
 feem always to keep back fomevhat: A itd when they 
 know within themfelves, they fpeak of that they do^ 
 not well know, would neverthelefs feem to ethers, to 
 know of that v/hich they may no*: well fpeak. Some 
 Jhelp themfeWes wkh Countenance and Gclhire, and 
 
 F 1 rire 
 
6 8 Sir Francis Bacon^ Bffiys. 
 
 are wife by Signs • as Cicero faith of Fifo^ that when he 
 anfwercd him, he fetched one of his Brows up to his 
 Forehead, and bent the other down to his Chin : Re- 
 fpondcs^ altcro ad Frontem fublato^ altcro ad Mentum de- 
 p'eljo fiiftrcilio^ cYudtlitatem tibi non flacere. Some think 
 to bear it, by fpeaking a great Word, and being per- 
 temptory ^ and go on, and take by admittance that 
 which they cannot make good. Some whatfoever is 
 beyond their reach, will feem to defpife or make light 
 of it, as impertinent or curious, and fo will have their 
 Ignorance feem Judgment. Some are never without a 
 ditfercnce, and commonly by amufnig Men with a fub- 
 tilcy, blanch the matter^ ot vihom J. Gellhis isiith^ Ho^ 
 rn'mem deUru77i qui verborum mmutiis rcrum frangit pndera. 
 Of which kind alfo Plato in his Protagoras biingeth in 
 Trodicus in fcorn, and maketh him make a Speech, that 
 confiftethof diftindions from the beginning to the end. 
 Generally fuch Men in all deliberations find eafe to be 
 of the Negative fide, and affed a credit to objed and 
 foretel difliculties : For when Propohtions 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 
 the bane of Bufmefs. 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 have to maintain the credit of their Sufficiency. 
 Seeming Wift^ Men may make ihift to get Opinion, but 
 let no Man chufc them for employment, for certainly 
 you were better take for buiincfs a Man fomewhat ab- 
 fiircl, ihau over-formal. 
 
 XXVIL Of 
 
69 
 
 XXVIf. 
 
 Of Friendfl?ip. 
 
 IT had been hard for him that fpake it, to iiave put 
 more truth and untruth together in few words, than 
 in that Speech, W^xifoever is delighted in Solitude^ is either 
 a wild Beafl^ cr a God. For it is moft true, that a na^ 
 tural and fecret hatred, and avcrfation towards Society 
 in any Man, hath fomewhat of the Savage Beaii ^ but 
 it is moll untrue, that it fnould 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 dciire to 
 fequefter a Mans felf for a higher Converllition ^ fuch 
 as is found to have been falfly and fcignedly in fome of 
 the Heathen, as Epimcnidcs the Candian^ Numa the Ro^ 
 man^ Emfedocks the Stctlian^ and yipollonius of Tyana-^ 
 and truly and really in divers of the ancient Hermits 
 and Holy Fathers of the Church. But little do Men 
 perceive what Solitude i% and how far it extendcth ; 
 for a Crown is not Company, and Faces are but a 
 Gallery of Pictures, and Talk but a Thinking Cymbal^ 
 where there is no Love. The Latine Adage meeteth 
 with a little. Magna Civitas^ magna fclitudo\ becaufs 
 in a great Town Friends -dVQ fcattered, fo that there is 
 not that feilowlhip, for the moft part, which is in lefs 
 Neig^ohourhoods. But we may go farther, and affirm 
 moli truly, that is a nicer and miferable Solitude to 
 want Friends^ without which the World is but aWiU 
 dernefs: And even intliisSenfe alfo of Solitude^ who- 
 foever in the Frame of his Nature and Aifedions is 
 unfit for Friend/htp^ hje taketh it of the Beail, and no^ 
 from. Humanity. 
 
 A Principal Fmit of Friend/J)ip is, the Eafe and Dif-? 
 charge of the Fulnefs and Swellings of the Heart, which 
 PalFions of all kinds do caiife and induce. We know 
 
 F 3 Pif. 
 
70 Sir Francis Bacon*^ Ejjays: 
 
 Pifeafes of Stoppings and Suffocations are the moil dan- 
 geioiis in the Body, and it is not nmch otherwife in 
 Mind : You may take Sa^'za to open the Liver, Steel 
 to open the Spleen, Flower of Siilpur for the Lungs, 
 C^yiumi;^ for the Brain ; but no Receipt openeth the 
 Hearty but a true Friend, to whom you may impart 
 Griefs, Joys, Fears, Hopes, Sufpicions, Counfels, and 
 vvhatfoever Ueth upon the Fleart to oppvefs it^ in a kind 
 of Civil Shrift or Confellion. 
 
 It is a ilrange thing to obfcrvc, how high a Rate 
 great Kings and Monarchs do Fct upon this Fndt of 
 "frieyidpn^ wh.ereof we fpeak ^ fo great, as they purchafe 
 it many times at the hazard of their own Safety and 
 Greatnefs. For Princes, in regard of the Diltance of 
 their Fortune from that of their Subjects and Servants, 
 cannot gather this Fruit, except (to make themfelves, 
 capable thereof J they raife fome Perfons to be, as it 
 were, Companions, and almoil; Equals to themfelves, 
 which many times forteth to Inconvenience. The mo- 
 dern Languages give unto fuch Perfons the Name of 
 fjvowites or Privadoes^ as if it were matter of Grace or 
 Convcriition. But the Roman Name attainech the true 
 "life and Caufe thereof, naming them Partirip^s Cwa- 
 rumi, for it is that which tieth the knot. And we fee 
 plainly that this hath been done, not by weak and paf- 
 lionate Princes only, but by the Wifefc, and moil Po- 
 litick that ever reigned : who liave oftentimes joyned to 
 themfelves fome of their Servants, whom both them- 
 felves have called F/iends^ and allowed others likewife 
 lo call them in the iame manner, uling the word v^^hich is 
 received between Private Men. 
 
 L. Sylla^ when he commanded Roryw^ ralfcd Ponrpey 
 ('after fnrnamed \hQG■rcat^ to thiit Height, that Pom pey 
 vaunted himfelf for Sylla's Over-match ; For when he 
 had carried the Cw/l^i'//;/]? for a friend of his againft the 
 purfuit of Sylia^ and that Sylk did a little refent 
 thereat, and began to fpeak great, Pt?w]7f)/ turned upon 
 him ^"igainj and in effcft bad him be ^^uier ^ £0?' that 
 
 ' - niore 
 
of Friend jhlp. yi 
 
 more Men adored the Sun-riftng than the Sun-fettlng. With 
 Julius^ Decius Brutus had obtained that Interefl, as he 
 fet himdownin his Teftament, for Heir in Remainder 
 after liis Nephew. And this was the Man that had Poi^^er 
 with him, to draw him forth to his Death. Fcr whea 
 Cafar would have difcharged the Senate, in regard of 
 fome ill prcfages, andefpecially a Dream of Cjlpurnia-^ 
 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 Jntomus im Let* 
 ter which is recited Fe)'battm in one of Cicero's Philip fi- 
 ques^ called him Fcnefica^ Witch -^ as if he had enchanted 
 Cd;far, Juguflus raifed Jgrippa (though of mean Biith^ 
 to that Heighth, as when he confuked with Afcecenas 
 about the Marriage of his Diughter Julia^ Alceccnas 
 took the Liberty to tell him, That he mufl either m.trry 
 his Daughter to Agrippa, or take away his Life-^ there was 
 no third w ay ^ he had made him fo great. With libcrius 
 Cafar^ Scjanus had afcended to that Heighth, as they 
 two were termed and reckoned as a pair of Friends. Tim- 
 ber ius in a Letter to him, faith, Hac pro Amtcitia nojlra 
 non Gccultavi -^ and the whole Senate dedicated an Altar 
 to Friend/hip^ as to a Godaefs^ in refpecl of the great 
 Dearnefs of Friendjlnp between them too. The like or 
 more was betweei* Septimius Severus and Plant ianus ^ for 
 he forced his elded Son to marry the Dauehrer of PLm^ 
 tianus.^ and would maintain Ptof/^«.'^f in doing alfronts 
 to his Son, and did v/ritealfo in a Letter lo the Senate 
 thcfe words •, / love the Alan fo wcll^ as Iwifh he may over^ 
 love me. Now if thefe Princes had been as:^. T^ajan^ or 
 a Marcus Aurcl'ms^ a Man might have thought, that this 
 had proceeded of an abundant goodnefs of Nature ; 
 but being Men fo wife, of fnch ftrengch andfeverity of 
 Mind, and fo extream Lovers of themfclves, as all theft 
 were^ it proveth molt plainly, that they found their 
 own Felicity (though as great as ever happened to Mor- 
 tal Man j but as an half Piece, except they might have 
 
 F 4 a 
 
72 Sir Francis Bacon'i Ejjays, 
 
 ^ Friend to make it Entire ^ and yct,which is more, they 
 were PW'/^a'5 that had Wives, Sons, Nephews, and yet 
 all thefe could not fiipply the Comtort of fricndji.jp. 
 
 It is not to be forgotten, what Coimnincs obferveth of 
 his Aiaf}:er, Duh Charles x\\z Hardy^ namely^ That he 
 wonld communicate his Secrets with none ^ and leafl; 
 of all thofc'Sccrcts which troubled him mofb. Where- 
 upon he goeth on, and faith, that towards his latter 
 time .-, That cloftr.efs did im>^aiy^ aiid a little pcriflj his un- 
 der ft andlnr . Smely, Commrr.es might have made the 
 fam.e judgment alfo, if it had pleufed him, of his fe- 
 cond MaRer, Lems the Eleventh, whofe Clofenefs 
 was indeed his Tormentor. The Parable of Pythagoras 
 is dark, but true. Cor nc edito^ Eat not the Heart. Cer- 
 tainly if a Man would give it a hard Phrafe^ thofc that 
 want Friends to open themfelve?. unto, are Cannibals 
 of their own Heart, But one thing is moit admirable, 
 (wherewith I will conclude this firll Fruit of Frknd- 
 /hip^) which is. That this Communicating of a Man's 
 Self to a Fr;e;;t/, works two contrary effects-, for it rc- 
 doubleth Joys^ and cutteth Griefs in Haifs -^ for there is 
 Dp Man that imparteth his Joys to his Friend^ but he 
 Joycth the more^ and no Man that imiparteth hh Griefs 
 to his Friend^ but hz grieveth the lefs. So that it is in 
 truth ^n Operation upon a Man's Mind of like Vertue, 
 as the Jlchimifts ufe to attribute to their Stone for Man's 
 Body, that it worketh all contrary effects, butfliil to 
 the Good and Benefit of Nature ;, but yet without bring- 
 ing in the Aid of j^khymifts^ there is a manifeft Image of 
 this in the ordinary courfe of Nature: For in Bodies 
 !i;«/6;7 ftrengthenethand cheriiheth any natural Action ^ 
 and on the other fide, weakneth and dulleth any vio- 
 lent Imprcfiion •, and even foit is of Minds. 
 
 The fecond frfi/> of Friend/hip is Healthful and Sove- 
 reign for the Vnderftanding^ as the firft is for the Afted i-^ 
 pns ; for Friend/hip maketh indeed a fair Day in the jtf^ 
 jedions from Storm and Tempefts ^ but it maketh Day- 
 U^htxv\ the Jffalions from Tempefts ^ but it maketh Day- 
 '-^ ■ ■" " ■ " ' ' light 
 
of FricrJpvp. 7 J 
 
 li^ht ip.th^Vndtrftar^dhni out of Darknefs and CcnfuHon 
 of Thoughts. Neither is this to be undciffcrd only of 
 Faithful Couniel which a Man rcceiveth trcni his 
 Friend : but before you come to thro:, cei tain it is, iliat 
 whofoever hath his Mind fraught with n^any Thouahts, 
 his Wits and Undevlianding do Clarillc and breakup 
 in the CoiTinjunicating and Difcourfing with another ^ 
 he toUcth his Thoughts more eahly, he niarlhalleth 
 them more orderly, hefceth how they look Vv hen they 
 arc turned intoWcids. Finally, he vvaxeth wifer thaa 
 Pjimfclf^ and that more by an hours Difcourfe, than 
 by a days Meditation. It was v/ell Hiid by Thcwrfucks 
 to the king of rcrjui^ 7'hjt Sieah was like Cloth of Arras 
 opened and put alroad ^ whtrchy the Jma^ery doth appear in 
 Figure^ whereas in Thoughts tley lie but as in lads. Nei- 
 ther is this fecond fnut of Fricndjhip^ in opening the 
 Vndcrftandtng^ reft rained only to ^\\q\\ Friends as are able 
 to give a I\1an Counfel^ (they indeed are befl) but e- 
 ven without that a Man Icarncthof himfelf, and bring- 
 eth hisown Thoughts to Light, and whetteth his Wiu 
 as againd a Stone, which its felf cuts not. In a Word, 
 a Man were better relate himfelf to a Statue or Pidiure, 
 than to fuifer his Thoughts to pafs in fmother. 
 
 And now to make this fecond Fruii of Fricndjl-ip 
 compleat, that other Point which lieth open, and faf- 
 leth within Vulgar Obicrvation, which is Faithful Coun-- 
 fcl from a Frieyid fkraclitus faith well in one of his 
 i^nigma's-, Dry Light is ever the heft. And certain it is^ 
 that the Light that a Man rcceiveth by Counfel from a- 
 nother, is drier and purer than that which conitih from 
 his own Vnderftanding and Judgment^ which is ever in- 
 fufed and drenched in liis JjUcIions and CuRoms, fo as 
 there is as much difference between the Coimftl that a 
 Friend giveth, and that a Man giveth himfelf, as there 
 is between the Counfd of a Friend^ and of a Flatterer-^ 
 for there is no fuch Hatterer as in a Man's Self ^ and 
 there is no fuch remedy againft Flattery of a Man's Self, 
 as ^he liberty of a FritrJ, Counfd is of two forts j the 
 
 one 
 
74 'S/V Francis Bacon'i Ejfays. 
 
 one concerning Manners^ the other concerning Bufmefs* 
 For the firft • the bell prefervative to keep the Mind 
 in Health, is the faithful Admonition of a Friend, The 
 calling of a Man's felf to a ftri^ft account is a Medicine 
 Ibmetimc too piercing and corrouve. Reading good 
 Books of Morality, is a little Flat and Dead. Obfer- 
 ving our Faults in others, is fometimcs unproper for 
 onr cafe. But the belt Receipt (belt, I fay) to work, 
 and bell: to take, is the Admonition of a Friend. It is a 
 itrange thing to behold, what grofs Errors, and ex- 
 tream abfnrdities many fefpecially of the greater fort) 
 do commit, for want of a Frimd to tell them of them, 
 CO the great damage both of their Fame aixi Fortune: 
 for, as St. James faith, they were as Men that look fome- 
 times into a Glafs^ and prefently forget their own Jhape and 
 favour. As for Bufmefs^ a Man may think, if he will, 
 that two Eyes fee no more than one, or that a Game- 
 Iter feeth always more than a looker pn •, or that a 
 Man in Anger is as wife as he that hath faid over the 
 four and twenty Letters-, or that Musket may be fhot 
 off as well upon the Arm, as upon a Reft ^ and fuch 
 other fond and high Imaginations, to think himfelf All 
 inx^ll. But when all is done, the help of good Cowifel 
 is that which fetteth Bufinefs llreight ^ and if any Man 
 think that he will take Counfel^ but it fhall be by pieces, 
 asking Co^w/f/ in one bulinefs.of one Man, and in ano- 
 ther bufinefs of another Man ^ it is well, (that is to fay, 
 better perhaps than if he ask'd none at allj but he run- 
 neth two dangers- one, that he fhall not faithfully be 
 Counfelled ^ tor it is a rare thing, except it be from a 
 perfect and entire Friend^to h^vc Cowifel given, but fuch 
 as fhall be bowed and crooked to fome ends, which he 
 hath that givethit.The other that he fhall have Counfcl 
 given,hurtful and unfafe, (though with good meaning) 
 and mixt ♦, partly of mifchief,and partly of remedy : even 
 as if you would call a Phyfician,thatis thought good for 
 the cure of the Dlfeafe you complain of, but is unac- 
 quainted with your Body , ^nd therefore niay put you 
 
of friend (Inf. 75 
 
 in a way for preicnt Cure , bnt overthroweth yonr 
 Health in fome other kind, and fo cure the Difcafe, 
 and kill the Patient. But a Friend that is wholly ac- 
 quainted with a Man's Eftate, will beware by furthering 
 any preient Bujhjcfs^ how he dafheth upon other Incon- 
 venience ; and therefore refts not upon fattcrcd Cowjfels^ 
 for they will rather diftracl; ^nd niif-lead, than fettle 
 and diied. 
 
 After thefe two noble Fruits of Frioid/hip^ (Peace in 
 the yjjfdlions^ ^nd Support of the JudgnjCfii) followeth the 
 la.0: Fruit which is like the Powegrayiate^ fall of many 
 kernels :^ I mean Ad^ and Bearing a part in all Aftions 
 and Gccafiom. Heie the belt way to reprefent to the 
 life the manifold ufe of Friendflvp^ is to call and fee, hosv 
 many things there are, which a Man cannot do him- 
 felf-, and then it will appear, that it was a fparing 
 Speech of the Ancients, to fay, That a Friend is another 
 hinjfelf -^ for that a Fritnd is far more than himfclf. 
 Men have their time, and die many times indefireof 
 fome things, which they principally taketo heart -^ The 
 bellowing of a Child, the finilbingof a Work, or the 
 like. If a Man have a true Fnoid^ he may refb almoit 
 fecure, that the care of thofe things will continue after 
 him : So that a Man hath* as it were two Livesln his 
 defire?. A .Man hath a Body, and that Body is con- 
 fined to a place ^ but where Friendjhip is, all Oiiices of 
 Life are as it were granted to him and his Deputy ; for 
 he may exercifethem by his Friend. How miany things 
 are there, which a Man cannot, with any face or com- 
 jinefs, fay or do himjfelf? A Man cm fcarce alledge 
 his own merits with modefly, much lefs extol them; 
 A Man cannot fcmetimes brook to fupplicate or beg* 
 and a number of the like. Br.t all thefe things are grace? 
 ful in a Friend's Mouth, which are blufliing in a Man's 
 own. So again, a Man's Perfon hath many proper 
 Relations, Which he cannot put olf. A Man cannot 
 fpeak tohisSon, but as a Father-, to his Wife but as 
 a Husband ^ to his Enemy, but upon terms. Whereas' a 
 
 friend 
 
y6 Sir Francis Bacon j B/Jays. 
 
 Friend may fpeak as the cafe requires and not as it fort- 
 eth with the Perfon : But to enumerate thefe things 
 were endlefs : I have given the Rule, where a Man 
 cannot fitly play his own part: If he have not a Fh'ewJ, 
 he may quit the Stage. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Of Expence^ 
 
 RICHES are for fpending, and fpendingfor Ho- 
 nour and good Adions : ThcrcfoYQ Extraordinary 
 Expencc muil be limited by the worth of the occafion. 
 For Voluntary Vndowg may be as well for a Man's Coun- 
 try^ as for tiiQ Kingdom of Heaven^ hut Ordinary Expence 
 ought to be limited by a Man's Eftate, and governed 
 with fuch regard, as it be within his compafs, and not 
 fubjedl to deceit and abufe of Servants, and ordered to 
 the heft ihcw, that the Bills may be lefs than the Efti- 
 mation abroad. Certainly, if a Man will keep but of 
 even hand, his Ordinary £xpe^2ca ought to be but to the 
 half his Receipts: And if he think to wax Rich, but to 
 the third part. It is no balfenefs for the greateft to de- 
 fcend and look into their own Eftate. Some forbear it, 
 4iot upon ne.;ligcnce alone, but doubting to bring thcm- 
 felves into melancholy, in refpect they fhnll find it 
 broken -^ but Wounds cannot be cured without fearch- 
 jng. He that cannot look into his own Eftate at all, 
 had need both chufe well thofe whom he employcch, 
 and change them oftner- for new are more timerous, 
 ar.d lefs fubtle. He that can look into his Eftate but 
 Icldo n, it behoveth him to turn all to certainty. A 
 Man had need, if he be plentiful in fome kind of Ex- 
 pnce^^ to be as faving again in fome other .* As if he be 
 plentiful in Diet, to be faving in Apparel; If hQ be 
 plentiful in the Hall, to be faving in the Stable, and 
 rhe like, for hx that is plentiful in E^l^cnccs of all kinds, 
 
 \vil! 
 
of Kingdoms aiidEftates. yj 
 
 will hardly be preferved from decay. In clearing of a 
 Man's Eftate, be may as well hurt himfclf, in being 
 toofudden, as in letting ic run on too long. For hafty 
 Selling is commonly as difadrantagcous as Interelt. 
 Befides, he that clears at once will relapfe -, for fin- 
 ding himfelf out of Itreights, he will revert to his 
 Cuftoms : But he that clcareth by degrees, induceth 
 a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his 
 Mind asuponhis^Eftate. Certainly, who hath a State 
 to repair, may not defpife fmall things : And com- 
 monly it is lefs difbonourable to abridge petty Charges, 
 than to ftoop to petty Gettings. A Man ought warily 
 to begin Charges, which once begun w^ill continue •, but 
 in matters that return not, he may be more magnifi- 
 cent. 
 
 . XXIX. 
 
 0/" tht true ^reatnefs of I^ngdoms 
 and Eftates. 
 
 THE SYiQQch oilhemiJlocksthQ yithman^ which was 
 haughty and arrogant, in taking fo 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, hefaid, He could not fiddle^ but yet be 
 could make a fmall Town a great City. Thefe words, 
 (holpen a little with a Metaphor) may cxprefs two dif- 
 fering abilities in thofe that deal in bulinefs of Ellate. 
 For if a true Survey be taken of Counfeliors and Staiei- 
 men, there may be found (though rarely^ thofe which 
 can make a fmall State great^ and yet cannot fiddle : As 
 on the other fide, there will be found a great m.any 
 that can fiddle wqvy cunningly, but yet are fo tar from 
 being abk to make a /w-;?/! State great ^ as their Gift lietti 
 
 the 
 
7 8 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Effiiys. 
 
 the other way, to bring a great and flourifhing Eflate 
 to ruin and decay. And certainly thofc degenerate 
 Arts and Shifts, whereby many Counfellors and Go- 
 vernors gain both favour with their Mailers, and efti- 
 mation with the Vulgar, deferve no better name than 
 Fidllyig^ being things rather pleafing for the time, and 
 graceful to themfclves only, than tending to the weal 
 and advancem.ent to the State which they ferve. There 
 are alfo ( no doubt j Counfellors and Governours 
 which may b2 held fufficient (Nc^otivs pares) able to^ 
 manage Affairs, and to keep them from Predp:cs^ and 
 tnanifefl: inconvenicncies, which neverthelcfs are far 
 from the ability to raife and ampliiie 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 
 Greatffefs of Kingdoms and Eftates^ and the Means thereof. 
 An Argument' fit for Great and Mighty Princes to 
 have in rheir Hand, to the end, that neither by over- 
 me^fiiring their Forces, they leefe themfclves in vain 
 Entcrprifcs nor on the other hde, by imdervaluing 
 them, thcv defcend to fearful and pufilanimous Coun- 
 fels. 
 
 The Grcatncfs cf an Eftate in Bulk and Territory, 
 doth fall finder meaiure;, and the 6 mz.^j^q/jr of Finances 
 and Revenr.e, doth fall under computation. The Pe- 
 pulation may appear by Muflers, and the Number and 
 Greatnefs cf Cities and Towns by Cards and Maps. 
 But yet there is not any thing among Civil Affairs, 
 raore fijbjcct to error, than the right valuation, and true 
 judgment, concerning the Power and Forces of an 
 Eilate. 
 
 The Kingdom of Heaven is compared not to any great 
 Kernel or Nut, but to a Grain of Muftard-feed, which 
 is one of the leafl Grains, but hath in it a property and 
 Spirit hallily to get up and fpread. S6are their States 
 great in I'erritory, and yet not apt to Enlarge or Com- 
 ir.and ^ and fome that have but a fmali dimcnilon of 
 .Stem, and yet apt to be the Foundations of great Mo- 
 riarchies. * Wailed^ 
 
of Kingdoms and E[iates. 79 
 
 Walled Towns, Stored Arfenals and Armories. 
 Goodly Races of Horfe, Chariots of War, Elephants, 
 Ordnance, Artillery, and the like : All this is but a 
 Sheep in a Lyon's Skin, except the breed and difpoiition 
 of the People be flout and warlike. Nay, Number 
 (k felf) in Armies importeth not much, where the 
 People is of weak courage : For, (as rirgil faith^ It ne- 
 ver troubles a Wolf^ how many the Sheep be. The Army 
 of thtVerfians^ in the Plains of Arhela^ was fuchavaft 
 Sea of People, as it did fomewhat aftonifh the Com- 
 manders in ^to.^j^^e^-'s Army ^ v/hocame to him there- 
 fore, and vvibedhim to fetupon them by Night ; but 
 he anfwered. He would not pilfer the Fiiiory : And the 
 Defeat was ealie. 
 
 When Tigranes the Armenian^ being encamped upon 
 a Hill with 400P00 Men, difcovered the Army of the 
 Romans^ being not above 140CO marching towards 
 him, he made himfelf merry with it, and faid, Tondcr 
 Men are too many for an Amhaffage^ and to few for a Fight : 
 But before the Sun fet, he found them enough to give 
 him the Chafe with infinite Ilaughter. Many are the 
 examples of great odds between Number and Courage: 
 fo that a Man may truly make a Judgment, That the 
 principal point of Greatnefs in any State^ is, t^o have a 
 Race of Military Men. Neither is Money the Sinews 
 of War, ( as it is trivially faid ) where the Sinews 
 of Mens Arms in Bafe and Effeminate People are fail- 
 ling. For Solon faid well to Croeffus^ (when in oflen- 
 tation he fhewed him his Gold) Sr,\ if any other come^ 
 that hath better Iron than you^ he will be Afafler of all this 
 Gold. Therefore let any Prince or State think foberly 
 of his Forces, except his Militia oi Natives be of good 
 and valiant Soldiers. And let Princes on the other 
 fide, that have SubjecVs of Martial dlfpofition, know 
 their own ftrength, unlefs they be otherwife wanting 
 unto themfelves. As for Afcrccnary Forces^ (which is the 
 Help in this Cafe) all examples fhew, that whatfoever 
 Fftate or Prince doth reH upon them. Fie may fpread 
 
 bis 
 
8o Sir Francis BaconV Effays. 
 
 his Feathers frr a tims^ hut he will mew them foon after. 
 The Bkjfi-^.g of Jud.ts and Iffackn' will never m?ec'. 
 That the fakirs People or Njtion Jhov.li he both the Lion] 
 whclp^ and Afs between Burthens : Neither vviil it be, that 
 a People o\rer-l.ud with T^xtj, (lioii Id e\rer become Va- 
 liant and Martial. It is true, that Taxes levied by 
 Confcnt of the State, do abate Mens Courage Jefs, as 
 it hath b^cn feci notably in the Exercifc^ of the Low Coun- 
 tries -^ aad in Pome degree in the Suhftdies of Englmd: 
 for yon muft norc, that we fpeak now of the Heart, and 
 not of the Purfe. So that although the fanie iribnte 
 and Tix^ laid by Gonfent, or by impofmg, be ail one 
 to the Purl^^, yet it works diveifly upon the Courage : 
 fo that you may conclude, That no People oz/cr-char^ed with 
 Ir.ibute^ is fit for E'^pire. 
 
 Let StLUes that aim nt Crt'^/-;7i?/>, take heed how their 
 Nobility and Gentlemen do multiply too faft : For that 
 maketh the Common Subjeci: grow to be a PeaH^nt 
 and a bafe Swain, driven out of Heart, and in eifed: 
 but a Gentlcmans Laboroar: even as you may fee int 
 Coppice Woods. If you leave your Stadles toathick^ yf>u 
 fjja'l nci'cr have clean Underwood^ but Scrubs and Bujhes, 
 So in Cou :tyics^ if the Gentlemen be too many, the Cow- 
 ww^ win be bifc: and you will bring it to that, that 
 not the hundredth Poll will be ht be for an Helmet^ efpe- 
 cially as tothe Infantry^ which is the Nerve of an Ar- 
 my i^ and P> there will be great Population and little 
 llrength. This which I fpokof, huh been no where 
 better feen, than by comparing of En:^land and France: 
 whereof England^ thoir^h far Icfs iit Territory and Po- 
 pulation hath been nevertheicfs an Over-match ^ in re- 
 gard the Ad iddle People oi E>igl:md make good Soldiers, j 
 wliich the Peafants of France do not. And herein the 
 device of K. Henry the Seventh (whereof I have fpokea 
 largely in the Hijlory of his Life) was profound and Ad- 
 mirable in making Farms and Houfes of Flusbandry,- 
 of a Standard: That is, maintidued with fuch a Pro- 
 portion of Land uiiro thcniy as may brev?d a Stibje^^ to 
 
 live 
 
of Kingdoms and E/iatesl g 1) 
 
 live ill Convenient Plenty, and no Servile Condition 5 
 
 and to keep the Plough in the hands of the Owner^ 
 
 arid not meer Hirelings. And thus indeed you flial! 
 
 attain to rirgil\ Charadter v;hich he gives to Ancient 
 
 Italy. 
 
 . Terra pot ens armifeiue at que ub re Cleba, 
 
 Neither is that State (which for any thing I know^ 
 is almofl peculiar to England^ and hardly to be fouricl 
 any where elfe, except it be perhaps i.i Poland) to be 
 pafTedovcr^ I mean the State of Free Servants and jit^ 
 tendants upon Noblemen and Gentlemen^ which are no 
 ways inferiour to the Teomanry for Arms : and therefore, 
 out of all Qiieftion, the Splendor and Magnificence, and 
 great Retinues, and Hofpltality of Noblemen and G*e«- 
 tkmeyi received into cullom, doth much conduce untc? 
 Alartial Greatnefs: Whereas contrariwife, theclofeand 
 rcferved Living of Nobkmen and Gentlemen^ caufeth a 
 Penury of Afilitary Forces, 
 
 By all means it is to be procured, that the trunk of 
 Nebiichadr,ezz,ar'*s Tree of Monarchy^ be great enough to 
 bear the Branches, and the Boughs -^ that is, T hat the 
 Natural SubjeBsoiiYit Cxovjn ox St:?.te, bear a fnfficienc 
 Proportion to the Stranger Subuirts that they govern^ 
 Therefore all States that are liberal of Natural ivatiort 
 towards Strangers are fit for Empire. For to think that 
 an Handful of People can with the greatelt Courage 
 and Policy in the World, embrace too large extent of 
 Domini6ri, it may hold for a time, b\it it will fail {ud- 
 deiily. The Spartans were a nice People iri point of 
 Naturalization ^ whereby, while they kept their compafs 
 they ilood firm •, but when they did fpread, and their 
 Boughs were become too great for their Steir,, the;/ be- 
 came a Wind-fall upon the fuddcn. Never any State 
 vVas in this Point fo open to receive Strarigers into their 
 Body, as were the Romans^ iherefore it forted with 
 them ^cordingly : for they grew to the greatefl Mo-' 
 na:fchy. Their manner was to grant Natutalization ,- 
 ^Whkh they ei^Ded Jus Ovhatts) and to grant it in the 
 
 6 higM^ 
 
82 Sir Francis Bacon 5 EJfays. 
 
 bighcfl: Degree ^ that is, not only Jus Commercii^ Jus 
 
 Coyinubii^ Jus H^reditatM^ but alfo Jus Sv.ffragil^ and Jus 
 flonorum. And this, not to lingular Perfoas alone, but 
 likewife to whole Families ^ yea, to Cities, and fome- 
 timcs to Nations. Add to this their Cuftom of Plan- 
 tation of Colonics^ whereby the Roma^i Plant was re- 
 moved into the Soil of other Nations ^ and putting 
 both Conditutions together, you will fay, that it was 
 not the Romans that fpread upon the World ^ but it 
 was the World that fpread upon the Romans'^ and that 
 was the furc Way of Crcatnefs. I have marvelled 
 fometimes at Spain ^ how they clafp and contain fo 
 large Dominions with fo few natural Spaniards : But 
 fare the whole Compafs of Spain is a very great Body 
 of a Tree, far above Rome and Sparta at the firfl : And 
 befides, though they have not had that ufage to natu- 
 ralize liberally, yet they have that which is next to it ; 
 that is. To employ^ almofl indifferently^ all Nations in their 
 Afilitia of ordinary Soldiers J yea, and fometimes in their 
 JHigheft Commands, Nay, it feemeth at this inltant, they 
 are feniible of this want of Natives, as by the Pragmatical 
 San&iort^ now publifhed, appeareth. 
 
 It is certain, that Sedentary and Within-door Arts^ and 
 delicate Manufactures, (that require rather the Finger, 
 than the Arm) have in their Nature a Contrariety to a^ 
 r.iilitary Difpofition. And generally all Warlike People 
 are a little idle, and love Danger better than Travel : 
 neither mud they be too muchbrokenof it, if they fiiall 
 be prefcrved in vigour, llierefore it was great Advan- 
 tage in the Ancient States of Sparta^ Athens^ Rome^ and 
 others, that they had the ufeof Slaves^ which commonly 
 did rid thofe Manufactures ; but that is abolifhed in 
 greatell part by the Chriftian Law. That w^hich cometh 
 nearelt to it, is to leave thofe Arts chiefly to Stran- 
 gers (which for that purpofe are the more eafily to be 
 received) and to contain the principal Bulk of the 
 vulgar Natives within thofe three kinds ^ Tillers oi the 
 Ground, Free Servants^ and Handicrafts Men of ftrong 
 
 and 
 
Of iQnodoms and Ejlates. 8 ; 
 
 and manly Arts ^ as Smiths, Mafons, Carpenters, &'r.' 
 jiot reckoning profefTed Soldiers. 
 
 But above all, tor Empire and Greatmfs it importetfi 
 mofl, that a Nation do profefs Arms as their principal 
 Honour, Study and Occupation : For the things which we 
 formerly have fpokcn of, are but Habtlitations towards 
 Arms • and what is HabUitation^ without Intention and 
 ^{i? Romulus after his death (as they report or feign) 
 fent a Prefcnt to the Romans^ that above all they fhould 
 intend Arms, and then they Ihould prove the greateli 
 Empire of the World. The Fabrick of the State of 
 Sparta was wholly f though not wifely) framed and 
 compofed to that Scope and End. The Perjtans and 
 Macedonians had it tor a flaQi. The Galls^ Germans^ 
 Gotbs^ Saxon:^ Normans^ and others had it for a time. The 
 7urh have it at this day, though in great Declination. 
 Of Chriftian Euro^e^ they that have it , are in effect 
 only the Spaniards. But it is fo plain. That every Man 
 profiteth in that he mojl intendeth^ that it needeth not to 
 be flood upon. It is enough to point at it, that no 
 Nation vv'hich doth not direi^ly profefs Arms, may 
 look to have Greatnefs fall into their mouths. And oii 
 the other fide, it is a mofl certain Oracle of Time, that 
 thofe States that continue long in that profeflion fas" 
 the Romans and Turks principally have donej do won- 
 ders ^ and thofe that have profelTed Arms but for an 
 Age, have notwithflianding commonly attained that 
 Greatnefs in that Age, which maintained them lung 
 after, when their Profeflion and Exercife of Arras are 
 grown to decay. 
 
 Incidenti-to this Peine is, for a State to have thole 
 Laws or piftoms which may reach forth unto theni 
 jull Occafions (as may be pretended^ of War : For 
 there is that Juftice imprinted in the Nature of Men 
 that they enter not upon VVars (whereof io many Ca- 
 'imities do cnfue) but upon feme, or at leafl ipecious" 
 r rounds and Qi^iarrcls. The Turk hath at hand, for 
 :afe. of War, tlie Propagation of his Law or Sed, a 
 
 G 2 Quarrel 
 
84 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Effajsi 
 
 Quarrel that he may always command. The Romans^ 
 though they efteemed the extending the Limits of their 
 Empire to be great Honour to their Generals, when it 
 was done ^ yet they never relied upon that alone to be- 
 gin a War. f irft therefore, let Nations that pretend to 
 Creatnefs^ have this ; that they be fenlible of wrongs, ei- 
 ther upon Borders, Merchants, or Politick Minifters, 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 the Ro' 
 mans : Infomuch as if the Confederate had Leagues 
 defenfive with divers others States, and upon Invafioa 
 offered, did deplore their Aids fcverally ^ yet the Ro- 
 mam would ever be the foremofl:, and leave it to none 
 other to have the Honour. As for the Wars which 
 were anciently made on the behalf of a kind of Party, 
 or tacit Conformity of Eftate, I do not well fay, how 
 they may be well juflified : As when the Romans made 
 a War for the Liberty of Gracia ^ or when the Laceda^ 
 tnoniant and Athenians made Wars to fet up or pull down 
 Democracies and Oligarchies ^ or when Wars were made 
 by Foreigners, under the pretence of Juftice or Pro- 
 teftion, to deliver the Subjects of others from Tyranny 
 and OpprelTion, and the like. Let it fuffice. That no 
 Eftate exped to be Great ^ that is not awake, upon any 
 juH Occafion of Arming. 
 
 No Body can be healthful without Exercife ^ Nei- 
 ther Natural Body, nor Politick-, and certainly to a 
 Kingdom or Efiate^ a jult and Honourable War is the 
 true Exercife, A Civil War indeed is like the Heat of 
 a Fever ; but a Foreign War is like the Heat of Exer^ 
 cife^ and ferveth to keep the Body in health : For in a 
 flothful Peace both Courages will effeminate, and Man- 
 ners corrupt. But howfoever it be for Happinefs with- 
 out all Qucftion ^ for Greatncfs^ ic maketh to be fti\], 
 for the moft part in Arms ^ and the ftrength of a 
 Veterane Army (though it be a chargeable Bufinefsj 
 always on Foot, is that which commonly givetb the 
 
 Law, 
 
Of t^in^doms and E[latesl 8 y 
 
 Law, or at leafl the Reputation amongft all Neighbour- 
 States; as may well be feen in Spaw^ which ha-^h had 
 in one part or other a Veterane Army, almoU coniinu* 
 ally, now by the fpace of fixfcore years. 
 
 To be Mailer of the 5^^, in an Abridgment of a Mo- 
 narchy. Cicero writing to Attkus^ of Pompey his Pre'- 
 paration agai nil Cafar^ faith, Conftlmm Pompeii plane 
 Themifl odeum cfl ^ Put at enim qui A'fari potitw\ eum Re^ 
 rum potiri. And without doubt Pompey had tired out 
 Cafar^ if upon vain Confidence he had not left that 
 Way. We fee the great EfFeds of Battels by Sea. The 
 Battel of ABium decided the Empire of the World. 
 The Battel oiLepanto arrclled the Greatncfs of the Turk^ 
 There be many Examples, where Sea-Fights have beea 
 Final to the War : But this is when Princes or States 
 have fet up their Reft upon the Battels. But thus much 
 is certain, that he that commands tlie 5^.-/, is at great 
 liberty, and may take as much, and as little of the 
 War, as he will ; whereas thofc that be flrongell by 
 Land, are many times neverthelefs in great Itreights. 
 Surely at this day, with us of Europe^ the Vantage of 
 flrcngth at Sea (which is one of the principal Dowries 
 of this Kingdom of Great Britain) is great: Both be* 
 cauie moft of the Kingdoms of Europe are not meeriy 
 In-land, but 'girt with the^c^^, moll part of their Conii- 
 pafs • and becaufe the Wealth of both Indies feem ia 
 great part but an AccelTary to the Command of the 
 Sea. 
 
 The Wars of Latter Jges feem to be made in the Dark, 
 in refpe(ft of the Glory and Honour which refledled up- 
 on Men from the Wars in Ancient Time. There be now 
 for Martial Encouragement, fome Degrees and Orders 
 of Chivalry, which neverthelefs are conferred promif. 
 cuoully upon Soldiers, and no Soldiers^ and fome Re- 
 membrance perhaps upon the Scutcheon ; and fom« 
 Hofpitals for maimed Soldiers, and fuch like things. 
 But in Ancient Times, the Trophies ere^fced upon the 
 JPJ^ceofthe Victory 5 the Funeral Laudstives aad Mo- 
 
 Q % ftiuneuts 
 
8(5 Sir Francis Bacoa i Ejfays. 
 
 numents for thofe that died in the Wars ^ the Crowns 
 and Garlands perfonal ^ the Style of Emperor, which 
 the great King of the World after borrowed •, the Tri- 
 umphs oi the Generals upon their Return^ the great 
 Donatives and LargelTes upon the disbanding of the 
 Armies, were things able to enflame all Mens Courages. 
 But above all, that of the Triumph amongft the Romans^ 
 was not Pageant or Gawdry, but one of the Wifeft 
 and Nobkfl: Inflitutionsthat ever was: For it contained 
 three things ^ Honour to the General -^ Riches to the 
 Treafury out of the Spoil *, and Donatives to the Army. 
 But that Honour perhaps were not fit for Monarchies^ 
 except it be in the Perfon of the Alouarch himfelf, or his 
 Sons^ as it came to pafs in the times of the Roman Em- 
 perors^ 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 Subjects, forae Triumphal Garments and Enfigns to 
 the General. 
 
 To conclude, No Man can, by Care taVmg f' as the 
 Scripture faith) add a Cubit to his Stature^ in this little 
 Model of a Man's Body •, but in the great Frame of King^ 
 doms and Common-wealths^ it is in the Power of Princes 
 or Eftatestoadd Amplitude and G're^tf^f/j to their King^ 
 4oms. For by introducing fuch Ordinances, Conilitu- 
 tions and Cuiloms, as we have now touched, they 
 may fow^ Greatnefs to their Pofterity and Succeflion. But 
 thefe things are commonly not obferved, but left to take 
 their chance. 
 
 . XXX. 
 OJ ^e^iment of HealtL 
 
 mpH ERE is a Wifdom in this beyond the Rules of 
 
 JL Phyfick: A Man's own Obfervation what he finds 
 
 good of^ and v^hat he finds hurt of, is the belt Fhyfick 
 
 ^ to 
 
Of^gitnent of Health. 87 
 
 to preferve Health. But it is a fafer concluiion to fay, 
 7 his agreeth not well mth we, therefore J will not continue Jt^ 
 than this, / find no offence of tbis^ therefore I may ufc it. 
 For itrength of Natnre in Youth palleth over many 
 ExcefTcs which are owing by a Man till his Age. Dif- 
 cern of the coming on of years, and think not to do 
 the fame things flill^ for Age will not be defied. Be- 
 ware of fudden change in any great point of Diet ^ 
 and if necefllty inforceit, fit the reft to it : For it is a 
 Secret both in Nature and Stare, that it is fafer to change 
 many things than one. Examine thy Cuftoms of Di- 
 et, Sleep, Excrcife, Apparel, and the like: And try 
 in any thing thou Ibalt judge huitful, to clifcontinue it 
 by little and little •, but fo, as if thou doft find any in- 
 convenience by the change, thou come back to it again : 
 For it is hard to diftinguifh that which is generally held 
 good and wholcfome, from that which is good particu- 
 larly, and lit for a Mans own Body. To be free mind- 
 ed, and chearfuUy difpofed at hours of Meat, and of 
 Sleep, and of Exercife, is one of the beft Precepts for 
 long Life. As for the PafTions and Studies of the Mind ; 
 avoid Envy, anxious Fears, Anger fretting inwards, 
 fubtil and knotty Inquifitions, Joys, and Exhilarations 
 in Excefs, Sadnefs not communicated •, entertain Hopes, 
 Mirth rather than Joy, variety of Delights, rather thaa 
 furfeit of them. Wonder and Admiration, and there- 
 fore Novelties, Studies that fill the Mind with fplendid 
 and illuftrious Obje-fts, as Hiftories, Fables, and Con^ 
 templations of Nature. If you fly Phyfick in Health al- 
 together, it will be too ftrange for your Body whea 
 you fhail need it. If you make it too familiar, it will 
 work no extraordinary cffed when Sicknefs cometh, 
 I commend rather fome Diet for certain Seafons, than 
 frequent ufe of Thyftck^ except it be grown into a Cu*- 
 ftorh : For thofe Diets alter the Body more, and trouble 
 it lefs. Defpife no new Accident in your Body, but 
 ask opinion of it. In Sicbufs rcfped Health princialiy^ 
 mi In Healthy Mion -, For thofe that put their Bodies 
 
 G 4 to 
 
88 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Effaysl 
 
 to endure in ffealths may in moil Sichieffes^ which are 
 not very fliarp, be cured only with Diet and tending. 
 Cdfus coiM never have Cpokea it as a Phyftcian^ had h? 
 not been a wife Man withal, when hegiveth it for one 
 of the great Precepts of Health and Lading, That a 
 JVlandovary, and interchange Contraries, but with aa 
 inclination to the more benign Extream. life Falling 
 and fnll Eating, but rather full Eating- Watching and 
 Sleep, but rather Sleepy Sitting and Exercife, but rather 
 CxercifCj and the like^ So fhall Nature be cherifhed, 
 9nd yet taught Malleries, Thyficians are fome of them 
 fo pleafing, and conformable to the humour of the Pa- 
 tient, astliey prefs not the true cure of the Difeafe^ 
 and fome other are fo regular, in proceeding according 
 iii An for the Difcafe, as they refped not fufficiently 
 the ondition of the Patient. Take one of a middle 
 Ten-.^jer, or if it may not be found in one Man, com- 
 bine two of either fort; and forget not to call as well 
 the befb aicqualnted with your Body, as the befl reputed 
 pf for his Faculty. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 of Sufpicion. 
 
 SVSricIONS amongft Thoughts are like-Bats a- 
 mongfb Birds, they ever fly by twilight. Certain- 
 ly they are to be reprefled, or at leaft well guarded •, for 
 they clond the Mind, they leefe Friends, that they check 
 yyilh Bufinefs, whereby Bufinefs cannot goon currant 
 and conftantly. They difpofe Kings to Tyranny, Huf- 
 bands to Jealoufie, Wife Men to Irrefolution and Me- 
 lancholy, They are defeds, not in the Heart, hut in 
 the Brain; for they take place in the flouteft Natures: 
 4s in the Example of Henry the Seventh of £w^te^, 
 i\i^X^ wa^ not a more SufpicioHs iMan, nor ? more Stout : 
 * ^ " ■ '• ■ Mi 
 
OjX>ifcourfe. Sp 
 
 And in fuch a compofition they do fiifall hurt. For 
 commonly they are not admitted, but with examination 
 whether they be likely or no • but in fearful Natures 
 they gain ground too fall. There is nothing makes a 
 iMan/«jpe(^much, more than to know little^ and there- 
 fore Men fhould remedy Sufpicion^ by procuring to 
 know more, and not to keep their Sufptcions in fmother. 
 What would Men have ? Do they think thcfe they im- 
 •ploy and deal with are Saints? Do they not think they 
 will have their own Ends, and be truer to themfelvcs 
 than to them ? Therefore there is no better way to 7no* 
 derate Sufpicmn^ than to account upon fuch Sufpiclons as 
 true, and yet to bridle them as falfe. For fo far a Man 
 ought to make ufe oiSufpicwns^ as to provide, as if that 
 fhould be true that hcjufpc{}s^ yet it may do him no 
 hurt. 5/(/p/aow5 that the mind of it felf gathers are but 
 Buzzes, but Sj(/]?;ao«^ that are artificially nourilhed, and 
 put into Mens heads by the tales and whifpering of o- 
 thers, have Stings. Certainly the beft means to clear 
 the way in this fame Wood of bufpicions^ is frankly to 
 communicate them with the Party that he fufpe^s ; for 
 thereby he (ball be fure to know more of the truth of 
 them than he did before •, and withal, Ihall make that 
 Party more circumfpedf, not to give further caufe of 
 Sufpkion. But this would not be done to Men of bafe 
 Natures: For they, if they find themfelves onc<: fufpa^^ 
 ed^ will never be true. The Italians fay, Sofpctto Ucoitia 
 fcde-^ as if Sufpicion did give a Pafsport to Faith : But it 
 pught rather to kindle it, to difcharge it k\t 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 OJ Difcourje, 
 
 SOME in thtir Difcourfe defire rather eommcndatw 
 on of Wit, in being able to hold all Arguments, 
 than of Jucjigm^nt iu difc^rning what is true : As if i^ 
 
 were 
 
90 Sit Francis Bacon 5 EJJays. 
 
 were a praife to know what might be faid, and not 
 what Ihould be thought. Some have certain Common 
 Places, and Themes, wherein they are good, and want 
 variety*, which kind of Poverty is for the moll part te- 
 dious, and when it is once perceived, ridiculous. The 
 honourablefl part of Talk, is to give the occafion, a- 
 gain, to moderate and pafs to fomewhat elfe ♦, for then 
 a Man leads the Dance. It is good in Bifcourfe and 
 Speech of Converfation, to vary and intermingle Speech 
 of the prefent occafion with Arguments, Tales with 
 Reafons, asking of Qiieftions with telling of Opinions, 
 and Jeft with Earneft : For it is a dull thing to Tire, 
 and as we fay now, to Jade any thing too far. As for 
 Jell, there be certain things which ought to be privi- 
 leged from it^ namely. Religion, Matters of State, 
 Great Perfons, any Man's prefent Bufinefs 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. 
 
 Parce^ Fucr^ Jlimulis^ & fortius utere lorn. 
 
 And generally Men ought to find the difference be- 
 tween Saltnefs and Bitternefs. Certainly he that hath 
 a Satyrical Vein, as he miaketh others afraid of his Wit, 
 fo he had need be afraid -of others Memory. He that 
 quellioneth much, (hall learn much, and content much ^ 
 but efpecially if he apply his Queftions to the skill of 
 the Perfons whom he asketh : For he fliall give them 
 occafion to pleafe therafelves in fpeaking, and himfelf 
 (hall 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 their turns to fpeak. 
 Nay, if there be any that would reign, and take up all i 
 the time, let him find means to take them off, and to 
 bring others on, as Muficians ufe to do with thofe that 
 dance too long GalUards, If yoii diffemble fometimea 
 
 yoyr 
 
CfDifcourfe. pV 
 
 yaur knowledge of that you are thought to know, you 
 fhall be thought another time to know that yuu know- 
 not. Speech of a Man's felf ought to be feldom, and 
 well chofen. I knew one was wont to fay in fcorn, f/e 
 muft needs he a Wife Man^ he freaks fo much of himfdf : 
 And there is but one cafe, wherein a Man may com- 
 mend himfelf with good Grace, and that is, in com- 
 mending Vertue in another • efpecially if it be fnch a 
 Vertue whereunto himfelf pretendeth. Speech of touch 
 towards others Ihould be fparingly ufed : For Difcourfe 
 ought to be as a Field, without coming home to any 
 Man. I knew two Nohkmen of the Weft part of England 
 whereof the one was given to fcofF, but kept ever Royal 
 Cheer in his Houfe ; The other would ask of thofe 
 that had been at the others Table, Tell truly^ wa6 there 
 never a Flout or dry Blow given? To which the Guefl 
 would anfwer. Such and fucb a thing faffed : The Lord 
 would fay, / thought he would mar a good Dinner. Difcre- 
 Hon oi Speech is more than Eloquence ; and to fpeak agreea- 
 bly to him with whom we deal, is more than to fpeak 
 in good words or in good order. A good continued 
 Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, fhews 
 flownefs •, and a good Reply, or fecond Speech without 
 a good fettled Speech, ihev\eth Shallownefs and Weak- 
 nefs ; as we fee in Bcafts, that thofe that are weakeft in 
 the Courfe, are yet nimbleft in the Turn ; as it is be- 
 twixt the Greyhound and the Hare. To ufe too many 
 Circuraftances ere one come to the Matter, isweaii- 
 fome-, to ufe none at all, is blunt. 
 
 XXXIIL 
 
o 2 Sir Francis Bacon'^ EJfays; 
 
 XXXIIL 
 
 Of flantations. 
 
 PLANTATIONS are amongfl Ancient, Primitive, 
 and Heroical Works. When the World was young, 
 it begat more Children j 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 Plantation 
 in a pure Soil, that is, where People are not Dtj}lanted^ 
 to the end, to Plant others ^ for elfe it is rather an Ex- 
 tirpation, than a Plantation, Planting of Countreys is 
 like Planting of Woods •, for you muft make account to 
 lofe alraoll Twenty years Profit, and exped your Re- 
 compence in the end. For the principal thing that hath 
 been the deflruclion of moil Plantations^ hath been the 
 bafe and hally drawing of profit in the firft years. It 
 is true, fpeedy Profit is not to be negled^cd, as far as 
 may fland with the good of the Plantation^ but no fur- 
 ther. It is a fhameful and unblefled thing, to take the 
 Scum of People, and wicked condemned Men, to be 
 the People with whom you Plant: and not only fo, hut 
 it fpoileth the Plantation-^ for they will ever live like 
 Rogues, and not fall to work, but be lazy, and do mif- 
 chief,and fpendViftuals,and be quickly weary ^ and then 
 certifie over to their Countrey to tjie difcredit of the 
 Plantation. The People wherewith you Plant, ought to be 
 Gardeners., Plough-men, Labourers, Smiths, Carpenters, 
 Joiners, Fifhermen, Fowlers, with fome few Apothcr. 
 caries. Surgeons, Cooks, and Bakers. In a Countrey 
 o{ Plantation^ firitlook about what kind of Vidual the 
 Countrey yields of it felf to hand ^ as Chefnuts, Walnuts, 
 Pine-Apples, Olives, Dates, Plumbs, Cherries, Wild- 
 Honey.^ and the like, and make ufe of them. Then 
 coniider what Victual, or Efculent things there are, 
 vvhich grov/ fpeedily^ a^d v^^ithiii the year ^ as Parfnips, 
 
 GsiTOts, 
 J 
 
of Plantations. p^ 
 
 Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Raddilh, Artichoaks of 
 Jerufakm^ Maiz^ and the like. For Wheat, Barley, 
 and Oats, they ask too much labour : But with Peafe 
 and Beans you may begin, both becaufe they ask lefs la- 
 bour , and becaufe they ferve for Meat as well as for 
 Bread. And of Rice likewife cometh a great encreafe, 
 and itisa kind of Meat. Above all, there ought to be 
 brought ftore of Bisket, Oat-meal Flour, Meal, and 
 the like, in the beginning, 'till Bread may be had. For 
 Beafls and Birds, take chiefly fuch as are leall fubjed 
 to Difeafes, and multiply fafteft ^ as Swine, Goats, 
 Cocks, Hens, Turkeys, Geefe, Houfe-Doves, and the 
 like. The Victual in Plantations ought to be expended, 
 almofl as in a belieged Town^ that is, with a certain 
 Allowance^ and let the main part of the Ground 
 employed to Gardens or Corn, be to a common ftock, 
 and to be laid in, and llored up, and then delivered 
 out in Proportion, befides fome Spots of ground that 
 any particular Perfon will manure for his own private 
 Ufe. Confider likewife what Commodities the Soil, 
 where the Plantation is, doth naturally yield, that they 
 may fome way help to defray the charge of the Planta- 
 tion : So it be not, as was faid, to the untimely prejudice 
 of the main bufmefs ^ as it hath fared with Tabaco in 
 Ftrginia. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much, 
 and therefore Timber is fit to be one. If there be Iron 
 Ore, and Streams 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, v;here they are, cannot but yield great profit. 
 Soap-Aflies likewife , 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 Ptetfrj lazy in other things. For Government, let 
 it be ifl th^ hands of one affifted with fome Counfel-, 
 
 and 
 
9 4 Sir Francis BaconV Effays. 
 
 and let them have commiffion to exercife Martial Laws 
 with fonie limitation. And above all. Let Men make 
 that Profit of being in the Wildernefs , as they have 
 God always, and his Service before their Eyes. Let not 
 the Government of the Plantation depend upon too 
 many Counfellors and Undertakers in the Country that 
 Tlantcth^ but upon a temperate number ; and let thofe 
 be rather Noblemen and Gentlemen, than Merchants ; 
 for they look ever to the prefent Gain. Let there be 
 Freedoms for Cultom, till the Ptef^f/ow be of Strength 5 
 and not only Freedom from Cuftom, but Freedom to 
 carry their Commodities, where they may make the 
 bell of them, except there be fome fpecial caufe of Cau- 
 tion. Cram not in People, by fending too fail, Com- 
 pany after Company, but rather hearken how they 
 walle, and fend Supplies proportionably ^ but fo, as the 
 number may live well in the Plantation^ and not by fur- 
 charge be in penury. It hath been a great endangering 
 to the health of fome Plantations^ that they have built a- 
 long the Sea and Rivers in marifh and unwholefome 
 Grounds. Therefore, though you begin there to a- 
 Toid Carriage, and other like Difcommodities, yet build 
 Hill rather upwards from the Streams, than along. It 
 concerneth likewife the Health of the Plantation^ that 
 they have good ftore of Salt with them, that they may 
 ufe it in their Victuals, when it fnall be neceffary. if 
 yon Plant where Savages are, do not only entertain 
 them with Trifles and Gingles, but ufethem jullly and 
 grcicioully, with luPncient guard neverthelefs • and do 
 noi win their Favour by helping them to invade their 
 Enemies, 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 Plantation grov/s to 
 ilrength, then it is time to Plant with Women as welt 
 as with Men, that the Plantation may fpread into Gene- 
 rations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the 
 frnfullei]; thing in the- World to forfake or deilitiite g 
 
 PMMfO'i^ 
 
Of Riches. 9 J 
 
 Plantation once in forwardnefs^ for befides the diihonour, 
 it is guiltinefs of Blood of many commiferable Per- 
 
 fons. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Of <l{iches. 
 
 I Cannot call ^/ckj better than the baggage of Vertiie. 
 The Roman Word is better. Impedimenta ^ for as the 
 Baggage is to an Army, fo is Riches to Vertue. It can- 
 not be fparcd , nor left behind, but it hindreth the 
 March : Yea, and the care of it fometimes loieth or 
 difturbeth the Vidlory. Of great Riches there is no 
 real ufe, except it be in the Diftribution, the reft is but 
 conceit r So faith Solomon^ Where much is there are many 
 to confume it ^ and what hath the owner ^ hut the fight of it 
 ■with his eyes ? The perfonal 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 little Stones 
 and Rareties? And what works of Oftentation are un- 
 dertaken, bccaufe there might feem to be fome ufe of 
 great Riches ? But then you will fay, they may be of 
 life to buy Men out of dangers or troubles : As Solomon 
 faith, Riches are a ^rong Hold in the Imagination of the 
 Rich Man, But this is excellently exprefied. That it is 
 in Imagination^ and not always in Fad : For certainly 
 great Riches have fold more Men than they have bought 
 out. Seek not proud Riches^ but fuch as thou niayeft 
 get juftly, ufe foberly, diftribute chearfully and leave 
 contentedly : Yet have no Abftradt nor Friarly contempt 
 of them, but diftinguifh, as Cicero faith well of Rahirius 
 Pofthumm ; In fiudio yet amplificandce apparebat^ non Ava- 
 riu<£ pradam^ fed viflrumerMim Bonitaiis^ qiutri^ Flear- 
 
 ken- 
 
^6 Sir VrzndsBicons Effays^ 
 
 ken alfo to Solomon^ and beware of hafty gathering of 
 Ekhas: Qui f eft mat ad Divitias^ non erit infons. The 
 Poets feign, that when Flutus (which is Riches) is fent 
 from Jupiter^ he limps and goes ilowly • but when he 
 is fent from Pi'.to^ he runs, and is fwift of Foot ^ mean- 
 ing, that Riches gotten bf good means, and juft labour^ 
 pace {lowly: Bur when they come by the death of o- 
 thers, as by the courfe of Inheritance, Teftaments^ and 
 the llkej they come tumbling upon a Man. But it 
 might be applied likcwife to Pluto^ taking him for the 
 Devil*, for v;hen Riches come from the Devil (as by 
 Fraud, and Opprellion, and unjuft means j they come 
 upon Speed. The ways to inrich are many, and moft 
 ct them foul •, Parfimony is one of the bell, and yet is 
 not innocent ^ for It with-holdeth Men from Works of 
 Liberality and Charity. The Improvement of the ground 
 is the moft natural obtaining of Riches ^ for it is our 
 Great Mothers Bleffing, the Earths, but it is flow ^ and 
 yetwheret^e Men of great wealth do ftoop to Husban- 
 dry, it multiplieth Riches exceedingly. I knew a Noble- 
 man of England^ that had the greateft Audits of any 
 Man i n my Time : A great Grafier, a great Sheep- Mafter^ 
 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 
 feemeda Sea to him in refpedt of the perpetual Impor- 
 tation. It was truly obferved by One, that himfelf 
 came very hardly to a little Riches^ and very eafily to 
 great Riches ^ for when a Man's Stock is come to that, 
 that he can expeft the Prime of Markets, and overcome 
 thofe Bargains, which for their greatnefs are tew Mens 
 money,and be Partner in the Induftries of Younger Men, 
 he cannot but increafe mainly. The Gains of ordinary 
 Trades and Focations are honeft, and furthered by two' 
 things, chiefly, by Diligence, and by a good Name^ 
 for good and fair dealing. But the Grains of Bargains 
 are of a more doubtful Nature, when Men fhall wait 
 tipoii others Ncceffity^ broke by Servants and Inftru-- 
 
Of Riches. ^f 
 
 jJients to draw them on, put off others ciinningiy thai 
 would be better Chapfnen, and the like practices whicH 
 are crafty and naught. As for the Chopphjg of Baygains^ 
 when a Man buys, not to hold, but to fell over again^- 
 that commonly grindeth double, both upon the Seller 
 and upon the Buyer. Sharings do greatly inrkh^ if the 
 Hands be well choferl that are trulted. Z^fury is the cer- 
 taineft means of Gnhi , though one of the worft^ as 
 that whereby a Man doth cat his Bread, In fudore vuU 
 tus alieni: And befides, doth plow upon Suildays. 
 But yet, certain though it be, it hath Flaws -^ for that 
 the Scriveners and Brokers do value unfoiUid Men to 
 ferve their own turn. The Fortune^ in being the fitfl 
 in an Invention^ or in a Privilege^ doth cauie fomctimes .^ 
 wonderful overgrovrth in Riches-^ as it was with thefirll: 
 Sugar-Mania the Canaries: therefore if a Man can play 
 the true Logician^ to have as well Judgment as Invention, 
 he may do great matters, cfpecially if the Tunes be fii:. 
 He that relteth upon Cains Certain^ fhall hardly grovv to 
 great ^/rki; and he that puts all upon Adventures^ doth 
 oftentimes break, and come to Poverty: It is good 
 therefore to guard Adventura v;ith Certainties that may 
 uphold lofles. Afonopolles and Coe?nption of Wiixcs for Re- 
 fale^ where they are not retrained, are great means t6 
 ewlch , cfpecially if the Party have intelligence what 
 things arc like to come into requeft, and to (lore him- 
 felf beforehand. Riches gotten by Service^ though it 
 be of the bell; Rife, yet when they are gotten" by Flat- 
 tery, feeding Humours, and other iervile Conditions, 
 they may be placed amongfl: the Worft. As for fiiliing 
 for Teflaments and Eixccutorfljtps^ (as Tacitus faith of Sene- 
 ca^ Tc'ftartienta & Orhos tanqu.im Indagiae caft') it is yet 
 worfe, by how much men fubnut thcmrdves to mea- 
 ner perfons, than in Service. Believe not mtich them' 
 that feem to defpifo Rubes :^ for they dcfpife them than 
 defpLiir of them, and none worfe when they com^ to 
 them. Be not Peimy-vdfe ^ Ricks have Wings, and 
 fomctimes they fly ?>way of themfelves:, fometimes' 
 
9? Sir Francis Bacon'5 Bjfci)s. 
 
 ihey miift be fct flying to bring in more. Men leave 
 their Fkhes eitrier to their Kindred, or to 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 
 prey, round about to feize on him, if he be not the 
 better cflabliiled in Years and Judgment. Likewife 
 glorious Gifts and Foundations are like Sacrifices with- 
 out Salt^ and but the Painted Sepulchres of Alms^ which 
 foon will putrefic and corrupt inwardly : Therefore mea- 
 lure not thine advancements by quantity, but frame 
 them by mcailire^ and defer not Charities till death: 
 For certainly if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth 
 fo is rather liberal of another mans, than of his own. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 OfTro^hecies. 
 
 I ME AN not to fpeak of Divine Prophecies^ nor of 
 Heathen Oracles, nor of Natural Predidions, but 
 only of Prophecies that have been of certain Memory^ 
 and from hidden Caufes. Saith the Pythonijfa to Saul^ 
 Tg morroxv thou and thy Son /hall be with me. Homer hath 
 thcfe Vcrfcs. 
 
 Jt dornus <iy£nea cunBvs dominabitur 0Yt$ 
 EtnatinaiorMYi^ & qui nafcentur ah illis. 
 
 A PrcpLcfic^ as it feems, of the Roman Empire, Seneca^ 
 the Tragedian^ hath thefe Verfes. 
 
 Venient Annis 
 
 Secula fcris^ quibus Oceanus 
 Vincula reru?n laxet^ 6* ingens 
 Pat cat Tcllus^ Tiphyfque novos 
 JDetcgat orbes ^ ncc ftc terrvs 
 VltimaTbuk: 
 
of Prophecies. 90 
 
 A Prophefie of the Difcovery of America, The Daugh- 
 ter of Po/ycr^fc^ dreamed, that Jnp/^tr bathed herFather| 
 and Apollo anointed him ^ and it camic to pafs that h^ 
 was Crucified in an open Place, where the Snn made 
 his Body run with Sweat, and the Rain wafhed it^ 
 Vhilip of Macedon dreamed he fealed up his Wife's Bel- 
 ly^ whci-eby he did expound it that his Wife {liouldbe 
 barren: But Anftjnder the South-Sayer told him his 
 Wife was with Child, bccaufe Men do not ufe to feat 
 Velfcls that arc empty. A Phantafm that appeared to 
 M. Brutus in his Tent, faid to him, Tlnlifpis iterum me 
 'videbi5. Tiberius faid to Galki^ Tn quoque^ Galba^ de- 
 guftabvs Imperiuw. In Fcfp.ijlan's time there went a Pro- 
 phecy in the Eail, that thofe that (hould come forth of 
 Jiidea fliould reign over the World : Which though it 
 may ht was meant of our Savicw\ yet Tacitus expounds 
 it ox Fcfpafian. Do77ntian dreamed the night before he 
 was flain, that a Golden Head was growing out of the 
 Nape of his Neck : And indeed the" fccceifion that fol- 
 lowed him for many years made Golden Times. Henry 
 the Sixth of England^ faid o^ Henry the Seventh, when 
 he was a Lad, and gave him Water, this vs the Lad 
 that /hall enjoy the Cronn for nhich we firive. When I was 
 in France^ I heard from one DodioxPena^ that the Queen 
 Mother^ who v/as given to curious Arts, caufed the 
 King her Husband^s Nativity to be Calculated under 
 a falfe Name: And the Aftrologer gave a Judgment,, 
 that he fhould be killed in a Duel ^ at which the Queen 
 laughed, thinking her Husband to be above Challenges 
 and Duels : But he was flain upon a Courfe at Tilt, the 
 Splinters of the Staif of A^ongomcry going in at his Bever. 
 The trivial Prophecy that I heard when I was a Child, 
 and Queen Elizabeth v/as in the Fk)wer of her Y^ars,. 
 was ; 
 
 H i When 
 
Voo Sir Francis Bacons Ejfays. 
 
 when Hempe isfputt^ 
 England's done. 
 
 Whereby it was generally conceived, that after the 
 Princes had Reigaed, which had the principal Letters 
 of that Word Hempe^ (which were Henry^ Edward^ 
 Mary^ Philip^ and Eliz^abeth^) England fliould come to 
 utter Confulion^ which thanks be to God is verified 
 in the Change of the Name •, for that the King's Style is 
 no more of England^ but of Britain. There was alfo a- 
 nother Prophecy^ before the Year of 88. which I do not 
 well ufiderlland : 
 
 There /hall befeenupon a day^ 
 Between the Baugh and the May, 
 'The Black Feet of Norway. 
 When that vs come andgone^ 
 England build Houfcs of Lime and Stone ^ 
 For after Wars /hall you have none. 
 
 It was generally conceived to be meant of the Spanifh 
 Fleet that came in 88. For that the King of Spain\ Sir- 
 name, as they fay, is Norway. The Predidtion of Re- 
 
 ^iomontanus^ 
 
 OBogeftmiis ofl.avus mirabilis j^nmiSy 
 
 Was thought likewifc accomplifhed, in the fending of 
 that great Fleet, being the great eft in ftrength, though 
 not in number, that ever fwam upon the Sea. As for 
 Cleon'^ Dream, 1 think it was a Jeft ^ It was, That he 
 was devoured of a long Dragon ^ and it was expounded 
 of. a Maker of Saufages that troubled him exceedingly. 
 There aie numbers of the like kind, efpecially if you 
 include Dreams and Predi[iions of Aflrology. But I have 
 fet down thcfe few only of certain credit for example. 
 My judgment is, that they ought all to be defpifed, and 
 
 ought 
 
of Amhltion. loi 
 
 ought to ferve but for winter-talk by the fire-fide- 
 Though, when I fay Defiifed^ I mean it as for belief h 
 for otherwife, the fpveading or publifhing of them is ia 
 no fort to be Defpifed-^ for they have done much mif- 
 chief. And 1 fee many fevere Laws made to fupprefs 
 them. That that hath given them grace, and fome 
 credit, confifleth in three things: Firfl", That Men 
 mark when they hit, and never mark when thy mifs^ 
 as they do generally alfo of Dreafns, The fecond is. 
 That probable Conjedures, or obfcure Traditions, ma- 
 ny times turn thcmfelves into Prophecjjs^ while the Na- 
 ture of Man, which coveteth Divination^ thinks it no 
 peril to foretell that which indeed they do but colled : 
 As that of Seneca s Verfc. For fomuch was then fabjedt 
 to Demonll ration, that the Globe of the Earth had 
 great Parts beyond the Atlantick ^ which might be pro- 
 bably conceived not to be all Sea : And adding thereto, 
 the Tradition in Tlito\ Timicus^ and his Atlanticus^ it 
 might encourage one to turn it to a Pr edition. The 
 third and Laft (which is the Great onej is, That al- 
 mofl: all of them, being infinite in number, have been 
 Impoftures, and by idle and crafty Brains meerly coa* 
 trived and feigned after the Event palt. 
 
 i 
 
 XXXVL 
 
 Of Amhltion. 
 
 AMBITION is like Chole)\ which is an Humour that 
 maketh Men Adive, Earned, full of Alacrity, and 
 Stirring, if it be not ftopped, but if it be Hopped and can- 
 not have its way, it becometh adufl, and thereby Ma- 
 lign and Venomous. So Ambitious Men , if they find 
 the way open for their Rifmg, and ilill get forward, 
 they are rather Bufie than Dangerous^ but if they be 
 ' checkt in their defires, they become fecretly difconteaty 
 
 H 3 ari 
 
f ©I Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejjays. 
 
 and look upon Men and Matters with an Evil Eye, and 
 are beltpleafcd when things go backward, which is the 
 worll property in a Servant of a Prince or State. There- 
 fore it is good for Princes, if they nfe Ambitious A'fen^ to 
 handle it fo, as they be dill Progreffive, and not Retro- 
 grade:^ which, becanfe it cannot be without inconve- 
 nience, it is good not to ufe fuch Natures at all. For 
 if 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 nfe Men of Ambitious Na- 
 tures^ except it be upon necefiity, it is fit we fpeak ia 
 what cafes they are of neceflity. Good Commanders in 
 the Wars ninfb be taken, be they never fo Ambittom ^ 
 for the life of their Service difpenfeth mxh the reft ^ and 
 to take ;j Soldier withont Anibitmi^is to pull off his Spurs. 
 There is alfo great ufe of Ambitious Mcn^ in being Skreens 
 to Princes in matters of Danger and Envy:, for no maa 
 will take that part, except he be like a feel'd Dove, that 
 rnounts and mounts, becanfe he cannot fee about him. 
 There is ufe alfo o{ AmbitifAi: Men^ in pulling down the 
 greatnefs of any Subjcc^t that over-tops ^ as Ttheritu afed 
 ^ilicro in pulling dowm o{ Sejanus, Since therefore they 
 muft be ufed in fuch cafes, there reileth to fpeak how 
 they are to be bridled, that they rnay be lefs DangeroM. 
 There is lefs D.mger of them, if they be of mean Birth, 
 thin if they be Noble-, and if they be rather harfh of 
 Nature, than Gracious and Popular; and if they be 
 rather new raifed, than grown cunning, and fortified ia 
 their Greatnefs. It is counted by fomc a weaknefs in 
 Princes to have Favourites -^ but it is of all others the belt 
 remedy againfh Ambitious Great Ones. For whea the 
 way of pleafuring and difpleafurlng lieth by the Favou- 
 rite^ it ?:. iinpoilible any other fhould be Over-great, A- 
 nether means to curb them, is to balance them by o- 
 thers as proud as they. But then there mull be fome 
 middle Councellors r.q keep things ileady^ for without 
 that Ballaft the Ship will roul too much. At the leall, 
 <7.,Prii)ce may animate and inure fqme meaner Perfons^ 
 
 to 
 
of Masks and Trmnphs. \o\ 
 
 to be as it were Scourges to Amhttioiis Men. As for the 
 having of them obnoxious to mine, if they be of fear- 
 ful Natures, it may do well ^ but if they be flout and 
 daring, it may precipitate their Defigns , and prove 
 dangerous. As for the pulling of them down, if the 
 Affairs require ir^ and that it may not be done with fafe- 
 ty fuddenly, the only way is, the enterchangc continu* 
 ally of Favours and dlfgraces ^ whereby they may not 
 know what to expec% and be as it were in a Wood. 
 Oi Ambitions ^ it is iefs harmful the Ambition to prevail in 
 great things, than that other to appear in every things 
 for that breeds confullon, and mnrs bniinefs. But yet 
 it is Iefs Danger, to have an A?nbitioiis /"I/j?/z ftirringia 
 buiinefs, than great independences. He that fecketh to 
 be eminent amongfb able Men, hath a great ta^k-, but 
 that is ever good for the Publick ^ but he that plots to 
 be the only Figure amonpft Cyphers, is the decay of an 
 whole Age. Homur hath three things in it : The Van* 
 tage Ground to do good, the approach to Kings and 
 Principal Perfons, and the raifmg of a Mans own For- 
 tune. He that hath the belt of thefe Intentions when 
 he afpireth, is an honeit Man ^ and that Prince that 
 can difcern of thofe Intentions in another that afpireth, 
 is a wife Prince. Generally, let Princes and States chufe 
 fuch Miniflersasare more fenlible of Duty, thanof Riv 
 fmg ^ and fuch as love Bufinefs rather upon Confcience 
 than upon Bravery •, and let them difcern a bufie Nature 
 from a willing Mind. 
 
 XXXVIL 
 
 Of yliasks and Triumj^hs. 
 
 THESE Things are but Toys, to come amon^^H 
 fuch feriousObfervations. But yet, fin:e Princes 
 will have fuch things, it is better they fnould be graced 
 
 K 4 with 
 
I P4 Sir Francis Bacon j Ejjays, 
 
 \yith Elegancy, than daubed with Coft. Danoni^ to Song^ 
 is a thing of great State c^iid Plcallire. I underlland it, 
 that the Song be in Choire, placed aloft, and accompa- 
 nied with fonie broken Muuck, and the Ditty fitted to - 
 the Device. j4[iing in Song^ efpecially in Dialogues^ hath 
 cd\ extrcamgood Grace : 1 fiy Jclmg^ not Dancing^ (for 
 that is a mean and vnlgar thing) and the roices oi the 
 Dijhgue would be ftrong and manly, (a Bafc, and a 
 Tenor, no Treble,) and the Ditty High and Tragical, 
 not Nice or Dainty. Several Cbuires placed one over a- 
 gainll another, and taking the Voice by Catches, Jn- 
 tbem-mk^ give great Pleafure. Turning Dunces into Fi- 
 gure is a childifh curiofity ^ and generally let it be noted, 
 that thofe tilings which I here let down, are fuch as do 
 jiabirally take the Senie, and not refpeft petty Wonder- 
 ments. Ic is true, the derations oi Scenes^ fo it be qui- 
 etly.^ antl witiioiit noife, are things of great Beauty and 
 pleaAire, for thej^ feed and relieve the Eye, before it 
 be full of the fame Objed. Let the Sce:ies abound with 
 X/^'L% fpecialiy Cckurcd and leaned -^ and let the Afaf- 
 hrs^ or any other that are to.comcdown from ta^Scene^ 
 have fonie motions upon the Scene it felf, before their 
 poming down^ for it draws the Eye itrangely, and 
 n^akesit with great pleafure to defire to fee that it can- 
 not perfectly difcern. Let the Songs be Laud and Chear^ 
 jtil^ and not Chirpings or Tidings. Let die Aiafick like- 
 wife be Shs(rp and L.cud^ and well pljccd. The Colours 
 that (hew befl by Candle-light, are White, Carnation, 
 and a kind of Sea-water Greeny and Ous or Spangs^ as 
 vhi^y are of no great Cofl, fo they are of mofb Glory. 
 As for Rich Embroidery^ it ^s lojt, and not difccrned. 
 Let the Suits of Maskers be graceful, and fnch as become 
 thePerfonwhen theVizars are off, not after examples 
 of known Attires^ Turks, Soldiers, Mariners, and the 
 like. Let Anti -masks not be long, they have been com- 
 monly of Fools^ Satyrs, Baboons, Wild-men, Antiques, 
 Beails, Spirits, Witches, Ethiops, Pigmies, Turquets, 
 ^lymphs, Rufticks, Cupids, Statiia's moving, and the; 
 ' ' ■ " ' • like. 
 
Of Ts(ature in }Aen. i 05 
 
 like. As for Jngels^ it is not Comical enough to put 
 them in Anti-masks -^ and any thing that is hideons, as 
 Devils, Giants, is on the other lide as unfit. But chiefly, 
 let the Adufick of them be Recreative, and with feme 
 llran^e Changes. Some fireet Odoprs fuddcnly coming 
 forth, without any drops filling, are in fnch a Com- 
 pany, as there is Steam and Heat, things of great plea- 
 fure and rcfreilimcnt. Douhle AUsks^ one of Men, a- 
 nother of Ladies, addeth State and Variety. But all is 
 nothing, except the Room be kept clear and neat. 
 
 For Jufis^ and Turmys^ and Barrkrs^ the Glories of 
 them are chiefly in the Chariots wherein the Challen- 
 gers make their Entry, fpccially if they be drawn with 
 Itraiige Beafts, as Lions, Bears, Camels, and the like -, 
 or in the Devices of their Entrance, or in the bravery 
 of their Liveries, or in the goodly Furniture of their 
 Horfes and Armour. But enough of thefe toys. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Of Nature in Men. 
 
 Nj^TVRE is often Hidden, fometimes Overcome, 
 feldom Extinguiihed. Force miaketh Nature more 
 violent in the Return ^ Dodrine and Difcourfe maketh 
 Nature lefs importune: But Cuflom 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 firll will make him dejeded, by often 
 Failings^ and the fecond will make him a fmall Pro.- 
 ceeder, though by often Prevailings. And at the firft, 
 let him praclife with Helps, as Swimmers do with Blad- 
 ders orRuHics^ but after a time let him practife with 
 difadvantages, as Dancers do with thick Shooes: For 
 it breeds great Perfecfion , if the Pracf ice be harder 
 than the life. Where Nature is mighty, and therefore 
 the Vi<^ory bard, tjie Degrees h;icl peed be, Firif, to 
 
 ft^y 
 
ic6 S/V Francis Bacon V EJfays: 
 
 flay and arrefl; Nature in time, like to him that would 
 fay over the Four and Twenty Letters when he was 
 Angry, than to go lefs in quantity : As if one Jhould 
 in forbearing Wine, come from drinking Health3 to a 
 Draught at a Meal, and lallly to difcontinue altogether : 
 But if a Man have the Fortitude and Refolution to en- 
 franchife himfelf at once, that is the bell ^ 
 
 Opt'nnus Hie animi vlndex^ Udcntia pewits 
 Finciila qui rupitj dedoluit({ue femcL 
 
 Neither is the Ancient Rule amifs to bend Nature^ as 
 a wand to a contrary Extream, whereby to fet it right, 
 nndcrflanding it where the contrary Extream is no Vice. 
 Let not a Man force a Habit upon himfelf with a perpe- 
 tual Continuance, but with fome Intermillion ; for 
 both the Paufe re-inforceth the new Onfet : And if a 
 Man that is not perfed be ever in pradife, he fhall as 
 well pradife his Errors, as his Abilities, and induce 
 one Habit of both ^ and there is no means to help this, 
 but by feafonablc Inter million. But let not a Man truft 
 his Victory 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 e^/op's 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 hirafeif often to it, that he may be little 
 moved with it. A Mans Nature is bell: perceived in pri- 
 vatenefs, for there is no Alfe^ion in PafTion, for that 
 putteth a Man out of his Precepts^ and in a new Cafe 
 of Experiment, for their Cuftom ieavcth him. They 
 are happy Men whofe Natures fort with their Vocations, 
 other wife they may fay, Multum Jncola fuit Jnima mea-^ 
 when they converfe in thofe they do not effecV. In 
 Studies whatfoever a man commandeth upon himfelf, 
 let him fet hours for it* but whatfoever is agreeable to 
 his Nature^ let him take no cave for any fet Times, for 
 
of QuUom ayul Educatoin. lor 
 
 his thoughts will fly to it of themfel ves ^ fo as the fpaces 
 of other bufinefs or Studies will fuffice. A mans Nature 
 runs either to Herbs or Weeds •, therefore let him Tea-* 
 foiiably water the one, and dellroy the other. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 of Cuftom and Education. 
 
 MENS Thoughts are much according to their In- 
 clination, their Difcourfe and Speeches according 
 to th.eir Learning and infufed Opinions -^ but their Deeds 
 are after as tncy have been accujlorjicd : And therefore as 
 /rhcbiazel v;c\[ noted, (though in an ill-favoured In- 
 Ihncej there is no trulling to the force of Nature nor 
 to the bravery of Words, except it be corroborate by 
 Cuftom. His inflance is, that for the atchieving of a 
 defperate Confpiracy, a Man fhould not reH upon th.e 
 fiercenefi of any Mans Nature, or his refolute underta- 
 kings :, brt take fuch an one as hath iiad his hands for- 
 merly in Blood. But Machiavel knew not of a Frier 
 Clement^ not a Ravaillac^ nor a Jauveoy^ nor a Baltaz^r 
 Gerrard'^ yet this Rule holdeth flill, that Nature, nor 
 the Engagements of Words are not fo forcible as Cuftoms. 
 Only Superftition is now fo well advanced, that Men 
 of the firfb blood are as firm as Butchers by Occupation, 
 ^nd Votary Refolution is made Equipollent to Cuftom^ 
 even in matter of blood. In other things the predomi- 
 nancy of Cuftom [} every where villble, info much as a 
 man would wonder to hear men Profefs, Proiefb, En- 
 gage, give great Words, and then do jiifl as they havQ 
 done before, as if they were dead Images, and Engines 
 moved only by the v^-heels oiCiftom. We fee al fo the 
 Reign or Tyranny of Cuftoiv^ wliat it is. The Indians 
 (I mean the S'ccl of their Wife Men) lay themfelves 
 Quietly upon a flack pf WQpd^ and fo Sacrifice thcmr 
 
1 o 8 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Effays. 
 
 Selves by fire. Nay, the Wives ftrive to be burned with 
 the Corps of therr Husbands. The Lads of Sparta of 
 ancient time, were wont to be fcourged upon the Altar 
 of Diana without fo much as Squeaking. I remember 
 in the beginning of Qvieen Eliz.abeth"s time, oi England^ 
 an Irifli Rebel condemned, put up a Petition to the De- 
 puty^ that he might be hanged in a Wyth, and not in 
 an Halcer, becaufe it had been fo ufed with former 
 Rebels. There be A^onks in Rulfta^ for Penance, that 
 will (it a whole night in a Veflel of Water, till they be 
 engaged with hard Ice. Many examples may be put 
 down of the force of Cuftom^ both upon mind and bo- 
 dy. Therefore fmce Cuftom is the Principal Magiltrate 
 of man's life, let Men by all means endeavour to ob- 
 tain good Cuftoms, Certainly Cuftom is moft perfed 
 when it beginneth in young years: This we call Edu- 
 catioyi^ which is in effed but an early Cuftom, So we fee 
 in Languages, the Tongue is more plain to all Expref- 
 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 
 fuifered themfelves to fix, but have kept themfclves open 
 and prepared to receive continual amendment, which 
 is exceeding rare But if the force oi Cuftom^ Simple 
 and Separate, be great, the Force of Cuftom Copulate, 
 and Conjoyned, and Collegiate, is far greater. For 
 their Example teacheth. Company comforteth. Emu- 
 lation quickneth. Glory raifeth : So as in fuch Places the 
 Force of Cuftom is in his Exaltation. Certainly the great 
 multiplication of Virtues upon humane Nature, refteth 
 upon Societies well ordained and difciplined: for Com- 
 moa-weakhs and good Governments do nourifh Virtue 
 Grown, but do not much mend the Seeds. But the 
 miferyis, that the mofl effectual Means are now apply- 
 e4 to the Ends leaft to be defir^d, 
 
 0/ 
 
I 
 
 109 
 
 XL. 
 
 Of Fortune. 
 
 T cannot be denyed, but outward accidents con- 
 duce much to Fortune : Favour,Opportunity,Death of 
 others, Occafion fitting Virtue. But chiefly the niould 
 of a Man's Fortune is in his own hands. Faber qui/que 
 Fortunafuce^ faith the Poet. And the mofl frequent of 
 External Caufes is, that the Folly of one man is the 
 Fortune of another. For no man profpers fo fiiddeniy, 
 as by others errors. Serpens nifi Serpcntem comederit mn 
 fit Draco. Overt and Apparent Virtues bring forth 
 Praife; but there be Secret and Hidden Virtues that 
 bring forth Fortune, Certain Deliveries of a Man's fclt^ 
 which have no Name. The Spani/h Name, Vefemboltura^ 
 partly exprefleth them, when there be not Stands nor 
 Reftivenefs in a Man's Nature^ but that the Wheels of 
 his Mind keep way with the Wheels of his Fortune. 
 For fo Livy Rafter he had defcribed Cato Major^ in 
 thefe words, in illo viro^ tantum Rohur Corporis & Anmii 
 fuit^ ut quocunque loco natns ejfct^ Fortunam fibifa^urus vi- 
 deretur) falleth upoh that, that he had P^erfatile Ingenium. 
 Therefore if a man look fliarply and attentively, he Ihall 
 fee Fortune: For though (he be blind, yet (he is not in- 
 vifiblc. The way of Fortune is like the Milky Way in 
 the Sky, which is a Meeting or Knot of a number of 
 fmall Stars -^ not feen afunder, but giving Light together ; 
 So are there a number of little, and fcarce difcerned 
 Virtues, or rather Faculties and Cultoms that make men 
 Fortunate, The Italian note feme of them, fnch as a 
 Man would little think: When they fpeak of one that 
 cannot do amifs, they will throw in into his other 
 Conditions that he hath. Toco di Matto, And certainly, 
 there be not two more Fortunate properties, than to have 
 a little of the F(?o/,and not too much of the Hmnjl. There- 
 fore extream Lovers of their Gountry,or Mailers, were 
 nQVcv Fortunate^ neither can they be. For when a man 
 
 placetli 
 
1 1 o Sir Francis BaconV EJJays. 
 
 placeth his thov.ghts without himfelf, he goeth not his 
 own way, and hafty fortune niaketh an Rnterprifer 
 and Remover :, f the French hath it better. Enterprmant 
 or Remuant) but the exercifcd Fortum maketh the able 
 Man. Fortune is to be Honoured and Refpec^ed, if it 
 be but for her Daughters, Confidence and Reputation : For 
 thofe two Felicity breedeth-, the firil, within a Man's 
 felf, the latter in others tov;ards liim. All wife men to 
 decline the Envy of their own Virtues, ufe to afcribe 
 thein to Providence and Fortune-^ for fo they may the 
 better afiiirc them: And belidcs, it is Greatnefs in a 
 Man to be the Care of the Higher Powers. So Cafar 
 faid to the Pilot in the Tempeft, Crf/rir£wpor.'a5, & For^ 
 tunarn ejus. So Sylla chofe the Name of Felix ^ and not 
 oi Magnus. And it hath been noted, that thofe that af- 
 cribe openly too much to their own Wifdom and Policy, 
 end Vnfortunate. It is written, That Timotheus the Athe- 
 nian^ after he had, in the account he gave to the State 
 of his Government, often interlaced his Speech, And in 
 thvs Fortune had no part^ never profpercd in any thing he 
 undertook afterwards. Certainly there be, whofe Fo?^- 
 tuncs arc like Hwrnerh V(^jes^ that have a Slide and Ea(i- 
 nefs more than the Verfes of other Poets, as Plutarch 
 faith oiTimokon's Fortune^ in refpect of that oiAgeftlaus^ 
 or Epammond.vs : And that this fhould be, no doubt it is 
 much in a Man's felf. 
 
 xu. 
 
 OfUfury. 
 
 A N Y have made witty Invedives againfl Vfwy. 
 They fay, That it is pity the Devil fhould have 
 God's pa% vviiich is the Tithe, ' That the VfurerisxhQ 
 greatelt Sabbat h-breaker,beca ufe his Plough goeth every 
 Suyiday. That the Vjurer is the Drone that l^iygil fpeaketh 
 of; Ignavum 
 
OjUfurj. Ill 
 
 Ignavumfucm pecus a prttfepibus arcent. 
 
 That the Vfurer breaketh the firft Law that was made 
 for Mankind after the Fall •, which was, Infudore vultus 
 tut conjcdes pamm tuum^ not, Infudore vultus alieni. That 
 ZJfurers fhould have Orainge-tawny Bonnets^ becaufe they 
 do Judaize, That it is againft Nature, for Money to be- 
 get Money ^ and the like, I fay this only, that Vfury is a 
 Concejfum propter dmtiem cordis: For fince there mull be 
 Borrowing and Lending, and Men are fo hard of Heart, 
 as they will not lend freely, Vfury mufl be permitted. 
 Some others have made Sufpicious and Cunning Pro- 
 pofitions'-of Banks, difcovery of Men's EUates, and o- 
 ther Inventions, but few have fpokcn of Vfury ufefully. 
 It is good to fet before us the Incommodities and Common 
 dities of Vfury^ that the good may be either Weighed 
 out, or Culled out ^ and warily to Provide, that while 
 we make forth to that which is better, we meet not 
 with that which is worfe. 
 
 The Dlfcommoditks of Vfury are, Firfl, that it makes 
 fewer Merchants: for were it not for this lazy Trade of 
 Vfury^ Money would not lie Itill, but would in great 
 part be employed upon Merchandiiing , which is the 
 Fena Porta of vC^ealth in a State. The fecond. That iE 
 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 fo well, if he fit at 
 great Vfury. The third is incident to the other two; 
 and that is. The decay of Cufl-oms, of Kings, or States^ 
 which Ebb or Flow with Merchandizing. The fourth. 
 That it biingeth theTreafureofa Realm or State into a 
 few hands ^ for the Vfurer being at Certainties, and o- 
 thcrs at Uncertainties, at the end of the Game moll 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- 
 ment of Money is chiefly either Merchandizing or Pur- 
 
 chafing 
 
1 1 2 Sir Francis Bacon*5 Ejf^ys. 
 
 chafing and ZJfury way-lays both. The Sixth, That it 
 doth dull and damp all Indnftries, Improvements, and 
 new Inventions, wherein Mony would be ftirring, if 
 it vvcre not for this Sing. The laft. That it is the Can- 
 ker and Riiine of many Men's Eftates, which in procefs 
 of time breeds a publick Poverty. 
 
 On the ether fide, the Commodities o^VftoyarQ: Firll, 
 That howfoevcr Vfwy in fome refpedt hindreth Mer- 
 chandizing:, yei in fome other it advanceth it -^ for it 
 is certain, that the greatelt part of Trade is driven by 
 young Merchants, upon borrowing at Interelt : So as 
 if the Z^'fwer either call in, or keep back his Money, 
 there will enfije prefently a great (land of Trade. 
 The fecond is. That were it not for this eafie borrow- 
 ing upon Intercfl ^ Mens neceffities would draw upon 
 them a moft fndden undoing, in that they would be 
 forced to fell their Means (be it Lands or Goods) far 
 under foot •, and lb whereas t^/l/r^ doth but gnaw upon 
 thcni, bad Ivlarkecs would fwallow them quite up. As 
 for Mortaging or Pawning, it will little mend the mat- 
 ter :i for either men will not take Pawns without L/^/c, or 
 if they do, they will look precifely for the forfeiture. I 
 remember a cruel Monied Man in the Country, that 
 would fay, the Devil take this Vfury^ it keeps us from 
 Forfeitures of Mortgages and Bonds. The third and 
 laft is, That it is a vanity to conceive, that there would 
 be ordinary borrowing without profit :^ audit is impo- 
 fibie to conceive, the number of inconveniences that 
 will enfae, if borrowing be cramped •. Therefore to 
 fpeakof thcabolifliing oiVfury is idle. Ail States have 
 ever had it in one kind, or rate or other: fo as that o- 
 pinion mull be fent to Vtopa. 
 
 To fpeak now of the Rtformation and Rei^Jement of z;- 
 fury how the Difcornmodities of it may be bell avoided, 
 and the Commodities retained. It appears by the Balance 
 oiComm.odities and Dlfccmmodiuts oivfwy^ twa things 
 are to be reconciled: The one, that the Teoth oivfury 
 be grinded, that it bite not too much : The other,- that 
 
 there 
 
OfUfurj. 11^ 
 
 there ht left open a means to invite ^Ionied Men td 
 lend to the Merchants, for the Continuing and Q]uck- 
 ning of Trade. This cannot be done, except you in- 
 troduce two feveral forts oiVfury^ a /^y^and n greater. 
 For if you reduce Vfury to one low rate, it will cafe the 
 Common Borrower^ but the Aicrchant will be to feek for 
 Money. And it is to be noted. That the Trade of Mer- 
 chandize^ being the moft Lucrative^ may beart^/wry at ^ 
 good rate ^ other Contracts not fo. 
 
 To ferve both Intentions the way would be chiefly 
 thus : That there be two Rates of Vfiiry^ the one Free 
 and General for all, the other under Licence only to cer- 
 tain Perfons^ and in certain Places of Mcrch:indiz.iyig. Firit 
 therefore, let Vfury in general he reduced to five in the Hun- 
 dred^ and let that Rate be proclaimed to be Free and Cur- 
 rant ^ and let the State (hut it felf out to take any penal- 
 ty for the fame. This will preferve Botrowiiii^ from 
 any general Stop or Drynefs. This will eafc infinite 
 Borrowers in the Country. This will in good part raife 
 the price of Land, becaufe Land purchafed at Sixteen 
 years purchafe, will yield Six in the Hundred, and fome- 
 what more,whereas this Rate of Intereft yields but Five. 
 This by reafon will encourage and edge Indullrious and 
 Profitable Improvements , becaufe many will rather 
 venture in that kind, than take Five in the Hundred^ 
 efpecially having been ufcd to greatre'proht. Secondly, 
 Let there be certain Perfons Licenfed to lend to known Mer- 
 chants^ upon^/«% nt a High-Rate 'j and let it be wit la 
 the Cautions following. Let the Rate be, even with 
 the Merchant himfclf, fomewhat more eafie than that 
 he ufed formerly to pay: for by that means all Bor- 
 rowers [hall have fomc .eafe by this Reformation, be he 
 Merchant or whofoever. Let it be no Bank or Com- 
 mon Stock, but every man be Malter of his own M^- 
 ney. Not that I altogether miQike Bank?;^ but' they will 
 hardly be brooked, in regard of certain fufpicions. Let 
 the State be anjpA'cred fome fmall matter for the Licence^ 
 and the reft left to the Lender ^ for if the abatement bo 
 
 \ bur 
 
1 14 sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejfa)5. 
 
 fcut fmall, it will no whit difcourage the Leader. For 
 he, for example, that took before Ten or Nine in the 
 Hundred, will fooncr defcend to Eight in the Hundred, 
 than give over his Trade of Vfury^ and go from Certain 
 Gains to Gains of Hazard. Let thcfe Licenfed Lenders 
 be in number indehnite, but reftrained 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 Licence of Nine will not fuck 
 away the current Rate of Ftve-^ 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 Authoriz^e 
 Vfury^ which before was in fome places but permifTive : 
 The' Anfvver is, that it is better to mitigate Vfwy by De- 
 claration^ than to fuftcr it to rage by Connivence. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Of Youth and Agt. 
 
 AVaxi that is Toung in Tcar^^ may be Old in Hours, 
 if he have loft no time, but that happeneth rarely. 
 Generally Tmth is like the firft Cogitations, not fowife 
 as the fccond :, for there is a 'Xouth in Thoughts as well 
 as in Ages: And' yet the Invention of Toung Men is 
 more lively than that of Old, and Imaginations ftream 
 into their m.inds 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 palfed the Meridian of their years ^ as it 
 was with ']u]im Ccefar^ and Scptiimus Stverus^ of the 
 latter of whom it isfaid, Juventutmi cgit Error ihus^ imo 
 Furor ibm^lenam-^ and yet he was theablefl Emperor al- 
 moft of all the LiH. But repofed Natures may do well 
 m\routh^ as it is ktn in A-ignftus Cctfjr^ Cofmus Duke 
 of Florence^ Gafton ck Foix^ and others. On the other 
 fide, Heat and Vivacity in Jge^ b an excellent Com- 
 
 pofition 
 
Oflouth and Agt , 115 
 
 pofition for bnfiiiers. Tourig Mm are fitter to invent than 
 to jndge, fitter for Execution than for Counfel, and fitter 
 for new projeds than for fettled biifinefs, for the Experi- ■ 
 ence of Jgc in things that fall within the compjfs of it 
 diredleth them, but in new things abufeth them. The 
 Errors oiToimg Aden are the mine of Bnhnefs; biit the 
 Errors of v^^e^ yl/c;7amonnt but to this, that more might 
 have been done or fooner. Toung Men in the conduct 
 and manage of Adions embrace more than they can 
 hold, iHr more than they can quiet, fiy to the end with- 
 out confideration of the means and degrees, purfue ibme 
 few Principles which they have chanced upon abfurdly, 
 care not to innovate, which draws unknown Inconveni- 
 cncies: ilfc extream Remedies at firll, and that! which 
 doubleth all Errors, will not acknowledge or retracl 
 them, like an unready Horfe, that will neither Stop nor 
 Turn. Men of Jgc object too much, confnlt too long^ 
 adventure too lictle, repent too foon, and feldom drive 
 bulinefs home to the full period, but content tbemfclves 
 with a mediocrity of Succefs, Certainly it is good to 
 compound Employments ot both ^ for that will be good 
 for the prefunt^ bccaufc the vertues of either .^^^emay cor- 
 real: the defec\s of both, and good for Succcfllon, that 
 Toting Aim may be Lxarneis, while Afen in Jgc arc ACtors. 
 And laftly, good for Extern yicci dent ^^ becaufe Autho- 
 rity followeth Old Mcn^ and Favour and Popularity 
 Toiith. But for the moral part, perhaps Youth will have 
 the preheminence, as /4oe hath for the politick. A cer- 
 tain Rabbin upon the Text, Tour young Mcnjhali fee vijioas^ 
 imdynur old A'fenfljjll drcjm drams ^ infcrreth, that Toioig 
 Men are admitted nearer to God than O/t/, becaufe f'ifi- 
 on is a clearer Revelation than a Dream, And certain - 
 iy the more a .Man drinkcth of the World, the moie 
 it intoxicatcth •, and Jge doth profit rather in tiie pow- 
 ers of llnderflanding, than in the Vcrtiics of the Will 
 and Afiedtions. There be fome have an over-car Iv 
 Ripenefs in their years, which fadetli betimes, Thcfc 
 arc firft fuch as have brittle Wits^ tlic edge v/hcreof is 
 
 I t ioon 
 
1 1 6 Sir Francis Bacon ^ ^Jf^)^* 
 
 foon turned', fnch as was Hcrmogems the Rhetorician^ 
 whole Books arc exceeding fnbtil, who afterwards wax- 
 ed Ihipid. A fecond fort is of thofe that have feme 
 natural Difpolitions which have better grace in Touth 
 than in y^^e ^ fuch as ih a fluent and luxuriant Speech, 
 v;hich becomes Touth well, but not Jge: So TuUy faith 
 of HoYtenftus^ Idem manehat^ neque idem decchat. The 
 third is , of fuch as take too high a (train at the 
 fuil, and are inagnanimous more than Trad of years 
 r«an uphold: As was Scipo yifricamis^ of whom Uvy 
 laith in effedr, Vltima[rtnm cedebant. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 Of beauty. 
 
 \jr'ERTUE is like a rich Stone, bell: plain fet; and 
 Turely, Vertue is belt in a Body that is comely, 
 though not of delicate Features, and that hath rather 
 Dignity of Prefence, than Beauty of Afpedt. Neither 
 is it almoU: feen that very Beautiful Ferfons are otherwife 
 of great \'ertue, as if Nature were rather bufic not to err, 
 than in labour to produce Excellency 5 and therefore 
 they prove accomplifhed, but not out of great Spirit, and 
 Ihidy rather Behaviour than Vertue. But this holds not 
 always, for yluguflus Cafar^ Titus refpafianus^ Philip de 
 Belle of France^ Edward the fourth of England^ Jkihiades 
 of Athens^ Ifmael the Sophy of Verfia^ were all high 
 a^d great Spirits, and yet the mofl Beautiful Men of 
 their times. In Beauty^ that oi Favour is more than 
 that of Colour ^ and that of decent and gracious Ahtion^ 
 more than that of Favour, That is the bell part of 
 Beauty which a Picture cannot exprefs, no nor the firll 
 light of the Life. 1 here is no excellent Beauty that hath 
 not fome flrangenefs in the proportion. A Man can- 
 not tell, whether Jpelles or Jlhert Durcr were the more 
 tiifler : whereof the one would make a Pcrfonage by 
 
 Geometrical 
 
of Deformity. \ \ 7 
 
 \ Geometrical Proportions, the other by taking the bell 
 i Parts out of divers Faces to make one excellent. Such 
 I perfonages I think would pleafc no body, but the Pain- 
 I ter that made them. Not but I think a Painter may 
 make a better Face than ever was, but he muft do it b/ 
 a kind of Felicity^ (as a Mulician that raaketh an excel- 
 lent Air in Mulick) and not by Rule. A Man Ihall 
 fee Faces, that if you examine them part by part, you 
 I (hall find never a good, and yet altogether do well. If 
 it be true, that the principal part ot Beauty is in decent 
 motion, certainly it is no marvel^ though Perjons in Tears 
 feem many times more amiable, Pukhrorum Autwnnus fub- 
 cher-^ for no Toutb can be comely, but by pardon, and 
 confidering the Touth^ as to make up the comelinefs. 
 Beauty is as Summer-Fruits, which are eafie to corrupt, 
 and cannot lait, and for the molt part it makes a dillb- 
 lutc Toutb^ and an ^^f, a little out of countenance; but 
 yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh Vcrtues 
 fliine, and Vices blufh. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Of Deformity. 
 
 DEFORMED Perfom are commonly evea with Na- 
 ture-, for as Nature hath done ill by them, fo do 
 they by Nature, being for the moil: pare (as the Scrip- 
 ture faithj void of Natural Jjfedion^ and fo they have 
 Revenge of Nature. Certainly, rhcre is a confent be- 
 tween the body and the mind, and where Nature err- 
 eth in the one, (he ventureth in the other •, Vbi peccat in 
 uno^ pcriclitatur in altera. But becaufe there is in Man 
 an Ele(ftion touching the Frame of his mind, and 3 Nc- 
 rellicy in the Frame of his body, the Stars of natural 
 Inclination are fometimes obfcurcd by the Sun of Dif* 
 cipline and Vcrtue '- Therefore it is good no conlidcr of 
 
 I 3 Ikformhy^ 
 
1 1 8 Sir Francis Bacon'5 Ejjays. 
 
 Dcformty^ not ns a Sign which is more deceivable, but 
 as a Ca life which feldom failcth of the Efted. Whofo- 
 ever hath any thing fixed in his Perfon that doth in- 
 dnce Contempt, hath alfo a perpetual Spur in bimfelf 
 to refcnc and deliver himfelf from Scorn. Therefore 
 all Deformed Pcrfons are extream bold. Firfl:, as in their 
 own Defence, as being expofcd to Scorn, bnt in pro- 
 cefs of time, by a general Habit. Alfo it ftirreth in 
 them indnftry, and efpecially of this kind, to watch land 
 obferve the weaknefs of others, that they may have 
 ibmewhat to repay. Again, in their Superiors, it quench- 
 cth jcaloufie towards them, as ?erfons that they think 
 they may at pleafure defpifc :, and it layeth their Com- 
 petitors and Emulators afleep, as never believing they 
 ihould be in polfibiiity of Advancement, till they fee 
 ihem in PofleiTion ^ fo that upon the matter in a great 
 Wit, Deformity is an advantage to Rifing. Kings in an- 
 cient times (and at this prefcnt in fome Countries) were 
 vvont to put great Trult in Eunuchs ^ 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 
 Reafon of Deformed Pcrfons. Still the ground is, they 
 v/iil if they be of Spirit, feek to fret themfelvcs from 
 Scorn, which mufh'be either by Vertue or Malice^ and 
 therefore let it not be marvelled if fometimes they 
 prove excellent Perfons*, as was j4gefilaus^ Zanger the 
 Son of Solyman^ <^'-fop^ Gafca Prclident of Pem^ and So- 
 €:'jHs may v.o likewifeann.ongfl: them, with others. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 i 
 
l!9 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Of ^uUmg. 
 
 HOZ^SES are built to live in, and not to look on: 
 Therefore let life be preferred before Uniform!' 
 ty, except where both nnay be had. Leave the goodly 
 f abricks of Houfes^ for Beauty only, to the Enchanted 
 PdLiccs of the Pocts^who build them with fmall coft. He 
 that builds a fair Houfe upon an jllSejt^ committethhim- 
 fclf to Prifon. Neither do 1 reckon it an ill Seat only 
 where the Air is unwholfom, but likewife where the Air 
 is unequal ^ as you fhall fee many fine Seats 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 Ibail have, 
 and that fuddenly, as great Diverfity of Heat and Cold, 
 as if you dwelt in feveral Places. Neither is it ill ylir 
 only that maketh an ill Seat^ but ill ways, ill Markets^ 
 and if you will confult with Aiomus^ ill Neighbours. I 
 fpcak not of any more. Want of Water, want of 
 VV^ood, Shade and Shelter, want of Fruitful nefs, and 
 mixture of Grounds of feveral Natures, want of Pro- 
 fpecl, want of level Grounds, want of Places at Tome 
 near Diftance for Sports of Hunting, Hawking, and Ra- 
 ces-, Too near the Sea or too remote, having the Com- 
 modity of Navigable Rivers, or the Difcommodity ot 
 their Overflowing : Too far off from great Cities, which 
 may hinder Bulinefs, or too near them which lurcheth 
 all Provifions, and maketh every thing dear : Where a 
 Man hath a great Living laid together, and where he is 
 fcanted. All which, 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 he 
 have feveral Dwellings, that he fort them f^, that what 
 li^ wantcth in the one, he may find in the other. Liu 
 
 I 4 Qiilb/$ 
 
1 1 Sir Francis Bacon ; EJJays. || 
 
 ^ullus anfwered Fompey well, who when he favv his Stately 
 Galleries and Rooms fo large and lighcfome in one of 
 his Houfes^ faid. Surely an excellent Place for Summer^ but 
 horv do you in Winter 't LucuUus aafwered, Why do you not 
 think me 06 wife 06 fome Fowl are^ that ever change their 
 abode toward* 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 
 P^ Oratore^ and a Book he Entitles Orator ; whereof 
 the former delivers the Precepts of the ^rt^ and the lat- 
 ter the Perfeclion. We will therefore defcribe a Princely 
 Palace^ making a brief model thereof. For it is Itrange 
 to fee now in Europe fuch hnge Buildings^ as the Vatican^ 
 and Efcurial^ and fome others be, and yet fcarce a very 
 fair Room in them. 
 
 Firit therefore, I fay, you cannot have a perfe<^ Pa- 
 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 F/cufJjold-^ the one forFeafts and Triumphs, 
 and the other for Dwelling. I undcrftand both thefe 
 Sides to be not only Returns, but Parts of the Front^ 
 and to be uniform without, though feverally Partiti-r 
 oned within, and to be on both lides of a great and 
 Stately Tower in the midft of the Front^ that as it w^ere 
 joyneth them together on either hand. I would have 
 on the fide of the Banquet in Front one only goodly Room 
 above Stairs, of fome forty foot high, and under it a 
 Room for a Drcffing or Preparing Place at times of Tri- 
 umphs. On the other fide, which is t\\tHoufljold\\^Q^ 
 I wiPn it divided at the firil: into a HaU^n6. a Chappel^ 
 (with a Partition between ) both of good ftate and big- 
 nefs, and thofe not to go all the length, but to have at 
 the further end a Winter and a Summer Parlor^ both fair -^ 
 and under thefe Pvooms, a fair and large Cellar funk under 
 Ground • and like wife fome Privy Kitchins^ with Bute- 
 ries and Pantries^ and the like. As for the Tower^ I 
 would have it tv;o Stories, of eighteen foot high apiece 
 ^bQve the cwo W'mgs,^ and goodly L^ads upon the Top^ 
 
 railed 
 
Of building. Ill 
 
 railed with Statu.{s interpofcd, and the fame Tovper to 
 be divided into Rooms as Ihall be thought fit •, the Stairs 
 iikewife to the upper Rooms, let them be upon a fair 
 open Newel^ and finely railed in with Images of H'ood^ 
 cafl into a Brafs colour, and a very fair Landing Place 
 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 (hall have the Servants Dinner after your 
 own •, for the fteam of it will come up as in a Tunncf. 
 And fo much for the Front ^ only I underftand the 
 Heighth of the firfb Stairs to be fixteen Foot which is the 
 Heighth of the lower Room. 
 
 Beyond this Front is there to be a foir Court ^ but three 
 fides of it of a far lower Building than the Front, And 
 in all the four Corners of that Court fair Stair-Cafes, 
 call: into Turrets on the out fide, and not within the Row 
 oi Buildings themfelvcs. But thofe Towers are not to be 
 of the height of the Froyit^ but rather proportionable to 
 the lower Building. Let the Court not be Paved, for 
 that itrikcth up a great Heai 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 of Return on the Banquet Side let 
 it be all Stately Galleries ^ in which Galleries let there be 
 three or five fine Cupola's in the length of it, placed at c- 
 qnal difl:ance,and [mc Coloured IVindows of fcvcral Works. 
 On the Houlhold fide. Chambers of Prefence and ordi- 
 nary Entertainment, with fome Bed-Chambers^ and let 
 all three Sides be a double Houfe, without thorow Lights 
 on the Sides, that you may have Rooms from the Sun, 
 both for Fore-noon and After-noon. Caft it alfo, that 
 you may have Rooms both for Summer and Winter, 
 Shady for Summer, and Warm for Winter. You Ihali 
 have ibmetimesfair Houfes fo full of Glafs, that one can- 
 not tell where to become to be out of the Sun, or Cold ; 
 for Inborvedirindowi I hold them of good ufe:, (inCiiics 
 indeed Vpright do better, in refpe(^ of the Uniformity 
 fowards the Street) for they be pretty Retiring Places 
 
 for 
 
lit/ Sir Francis Bacon'x EJfays: 
 
 for Conference • and befidcs, they keep both the Wind 
 and the Sun off.* For that which would flrike ahnoft 
 through the Room, doth fcarce pafs the Window. But let 
 them be but few, four in the Court on the Sides only. 
 
 Beyond this Court let there be an Inward Court of the 
 fame Square and Heighth, which is to be environed 
 with the Garden on all fides-, and in the inlide Cloi- 
 ftcrcd upon all fides •, upon decent and beautiful Arches, 
 as high as the firll Story. On the Vnder Story towards 
 the Garden^ let it be turned to a 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 Fountain^ or fome fair Work of Statues in 
 the mid ft of this Court^ and to be Paved as the other 
 Court was. Thefe BuMwgs to be for Trivy Lodgings on 
 both Sides, and the end for Privy Galleries: whereof you 
 vnuft fore-fee that one of them be for an Infirmary^ If the 
 Prince or any fpecial perfon Ihould be Sick, with Cham- 
 bers^ Bed-Chambers^ Anticamera^ and Recamera^ joyning 
 to it.- This upon the fecond Story. Upon the Ground 
 >,toyy a fair Gallery^ open upon Pillars ^ and upon the third 
 Story likew^ife, an open Gallery upon Pillars^ to take the 
 Profpecl and Freilmcfs of the Garden. At both Cor- 
 ners of tlie furtheft Side, by way of Return, let there 
 be two delicate or rich Cabinets^ daintily Paved, Rich- 
 ly Hanged, Glazed with Cryfialline Glafs^ and a Rich 
 CupoU in the mid ft, and all other Elegancy that may be 
 thought upon. In the Upper Gallery too I wifh that there 
 may be, if the Place will yield it, fome Fountains run- 
 rjiiio; in divers Places from the Wall, with fome fine A- 
 voidances. And thus much for the model of the Pa- 
 lace -^ fave that you mull have, before you come to the 
 Frout^ three Courts: and a Green Court Plain^ with a 
 Wall about it; a Second Court of the fame, but more 
 Garniilied with little Turrets, or rather Embelliihments 
 upon the Wall -^ and a third Court^ to make a Square 
 ^^iththe Fronts but not to be guilt, nor yet Enclofcd 
 
 with 
 
of (gardens. 12^ 
 
 Wuth a Naked Wall, but EnclofGd with Terraps leaded 
 aloft,and fairly Garnifhed on the three Tides -^ and Cluy- 
 ftered on the in-lide with Pillars, and not with Arches 
 below. As for Offices^ let them Hand at diHancc with 
 fome LoiT'GaUtrks^to pafs from them to the PjLicc it felf. 
 
 G 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Of gardens. 
 
 O D JUmghty firft Planted a G.irden-^ and indeed 
 it is the pnrcit of Humane plcafures. It is the grca- 
 tcft refreflmient to the 5;'/n>i of Man ^ without which. 
 Buildings and Palates are but grofs Handy-works. And 
 a Man (hall ever lee, that when Ages grow to Civility 
 and Elegancy, Men conic to Build Stately^ fooncr than 
 to Garden Finely : as if Gardening were the greater Per- 
 fcction. I do hold it in the Royal Ordering of Gardens^ 
 there ought to be Gardt^ns for all the Months in the Year, 
 in which, icverally, things of Beauty may be then in 
 leafon. For Bcctmher and January and the latter part 
 oi November^ you mulltakc fiich things as are green all 
 Winter :, Holly, IvV, Bays, Juniper, Cyprefs Trees, 
 Yews, Pine- Apple Trees, Fir Trees, Rofemary, Laven- 
 der, Periwinckle the White, the Purple, and the Blue, 
 Germander Flags, Orange-Trees, Limon-Trces, and 
 Myrtle, if they be floved, and fwcct Marjoram warnx 
 lets. There folio weth for the latter part o\ January and 
 February^ the Mczerion Tree, which then blollbms. 
 Crocus Vernus, both the Yellow and the Grey Piim- 
 Rofes, Anemones, the Early Tulippa, Hyacinthus Ori- 
 entalis, Chamairis, Frettellaria. For Afarch there comes 
 Violets, fpecially the Single Blue, which arc Earliell, 
 the Yellow Daffadil, the Daizy, the Almoiid-Trce in 
 Bloflbm, thePeach-Tree iiiBloifom, the Cornelian-Tree 
 in Bloflbm, fweet Briar. In ^prtl follow the double 
 White Violet, the WalLflovver, the Stock Gilly-Flower, 
 
 the 
 
1 1 4 ^^^ Francis BaconV Ejjays. 
 
 th« 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 
 Cherry-Tree in Bloflbin , the Daraafcen and Plumb- 
 Trees in BlolTom, the White Thorn in Leaf, the Lelack- 
 Tree. In May and June come Pinks of all Sorts, fpeci- 
 ally the Blufli-Pink, rofcs of all kinds, except the Musk, 
 which comes later, Hony Suckles, Strawberries,Buglors, 
 Columbine, the French Marygold, Flos Africanus, Cher- 
 ry-Tree in Fruit, Ribes, Figs in Fruit, Rarps,Vinc-FloW' 
 crs. Lavender in Flowers, the Sweet Satyrion with the 
 White Flower, Herba Mufcaria, Lilium Convallium, the 
 Apple-Trce in Boflbm. In July comeGilly-flowers of 
 all Varieties,Musk-Rores,and the Lime-Tree in BlofTom. 
 Early Pears and Plumbs in Fruit, Gcnnitings, Qiiod- 
 1 ings. Ill j4iigu(l come Plumbs of all forts in Fruit, Pears, 
 Apricocks, Barberries, Filbeards, Musk-Melons, Monks- 
 hoodie of all Colours. In September come. Grapes, Ap- 
 ples, Poppies of all Colours, Peaches, Melo-Cotoncs, 
 Nectarines, Cornelians, Wardens, Quinces. In O^ober 
 and thcbcginning o{ November^ come Servifes, Medlars, 
 Bullaces-, Rofcs Cut or Removed to come late. Holly- 
 oaks, and fnch like. Thefe particulars are for the Cli- 
 mate oi London : But my meaning is perceived, that you 
 may have Ver Perpetuum^ 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 Muikk) than in the Hand, therefore nothing is more 
 lit for that Delight, than to know what be the Flowers 
 and rUnts that do bell 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^ 
 rhingof their Sweetnefs •, yea, though it be in a Morn- 
 ing bcvv. Bays likevvife yield no Smell as they grow, 
 Rofcmary little, nor Sweet-Marjoram. That which 
 above all others yields the Swceteft Synell in the Air^ is 
 the Violet, fpecially the White double Violet, which 
 comes twice a year, about the middle of April , and 
 
 aljout 
 
of gardens. x 1 5 
 
 about BartholomerV'tide. Next to that is the Musk 
 
 Rofe, then the Strawberry Leaves dying with a mofb 
 
 excellent Cordial Smell. Then the Flower of the 
 
 Vines-, it is a little Dull, like the Duft of a Bent, which 
 
 grows upon the Clufter in the lirll coming forth. Then 
 
 i Sweet-Briar, then Wall- Flowers, which are very de- 
 
 j lightful to be fet under a Parlour, or lower Chamber 
 
 ■ Window. Then Pinks and Gilly-Flowers, efpecially 
 
 : the matted Pink, and Clove Gilly-Flower. Then the 
 
 Flowers of the Lime-Tree. Then the Honey-Suckles, 
 
 1 fo they be fomewhat afar off. Of Bean-Flowers I fpeak 
 
 not, bccaufe they are Field-Flowers. But thofe which 
 
 perfume the ^ir moll delightftilly, not paljcd by as the 
 
 reft, but being Trodden upon and Crujhed^ arc three, that 
 
 is, Burnet, Wild-Time, and Water-Mints. Therefore 
 
 you are to fet whole Alleys of them, to have the Plca- 
 
 fure when you walk or tread. 
 
 For 6\rf' j(';^j,( fpeak ing of thofe which are indeed Pririce- 
 like^ as we have done oi Buildings) The Contents ought 
 not well to be under Thirty Acres ofoyound^ and to be 
 divided into three parts ^ a Green in the entrance, a He,ith 
 or Defjrt in the going forth, and the Atiin Garden 
 in the midft, bcfidcs Meys on both fides. And I like 
 wtII, that four Acres of Ground be Afligned to the Green^ 
 fix to the Heath, four and four to either 5/We, and twelve 
 to the MainGarden. Th^Green hath two pleafurcs^ the 
 one becaufe nothing is more pleafant to the Eye than 
 Green Grafs kept finely fhorn^ the other, becaufe it will 
 give you a fair Alley in the midft, by which you may 
 go in front upon a Stately 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 (hade in the Garden^ by going in the Sun through 
 the Green ^ therefore you arc of either Side the Green to 
 plant a Coifcrt Mey upon Carpenters Work, about twelve 
 foot in Fkighth, by which you may go in (hade into the 
 Garden. As for the making oi Knots oi Figures^ with 
 Viinn Coloured Earths^ that they may lie under the Win- 
 dows 
 
I 2 6 Sir Francis Bacon 5 E/Jays. 
 
 dows of the Hoiife, on that Side which the Garden ftand<:, 
 they be but toys, you may fee as good lights many ti- 
 mes in Tarts. The Garden is belt to be fquarc, encom- 
 pailcd on all the four Sides with a St.itdy Arched Hedge: 
 the Arches to be upon Pillars of Carpenters Work, qf 
 Ibme ten foot high, and fix foot broad, and the f^acts 
 between of the fame Dimenfion with the Breadth oi the 
 Arch^ Over tlic Arches let there be an entire Hedge^ of 
 fome four foot high, framed alfo upon Carpenters Work, 
 and upon the V^\>er Hedge^ over every Arch a little Tur- 
 ret^ \\\\.\\ ^ Belly ^ enough to receive a C^^'e of ^/V^i^ and 
 over every S\>ace between the Arches fome other little 
 y'igure^\\\l\\ broad Plates ofRGundColourcdCJlafs gilt,for the 
 Suyi to play upon. But this Hedge^l intend to be raifcd up- 
 on a Banh]^ not lleep,but gently liope,of fome fix foot,fet 
 all with Flovrcrs. Alfo I underftand, that this Square of 
 the Garden^ llionld not be the whole breath of the 
 Ground, but to leave on either fide Ground enough for 
 divcrlity of Side Alleys unco which the two Covert Alleys 
 of the Green may deliver you, but there mull be no 
 Alleys with Hedges at cither end of this great Inclofure : 
 not at the Higher End^ for letting your profpecl upon 
 this fair Hedge from the Green-^ not at x\\c further End^iox 
 letting your profpecl: from the /-W^-e through the Arches 
 upon the Heath, For the ordering of the Ground with- 
 in the Great Hedgc^ I leave it to Variety of Device. Ad^ 
 vifing ncverthelefs, that whatfoevcr form yon caft it 
 into I firfb it be not too bn[ic,or full of Work ♦, wherein I, 
 for my part, do not like Images cut out in Jtmtper^ or 
 other Garden-ftuf\t\\e'j are for Children. Little low Hedges 
 Round like Welts, with fome pretty Pyramids^ I like 
 well : and in fome places Fair Culwmis upon Frames of 
 Carpenters Work. I v/ould alfo have the Alkys fpacious 
 and fair. 7ou may have clofer Alleys upon the Side 
 Grounds^ but none in the Main Garden. I wifh alfo in the 
 very miudica/i///'yl/c;/m^, with three Afccnts and Alleys,. 
 enough for four to walk a bieaft, which I woald have 
 to be perfect Circles, v.'ithout any Bulwarks or Imbolf- 
 
 ments^ 
 
of Gardens. 127 
 
 ments, and the whole Mount to be thirty foot high, and 
 fonie fine Banquetting Ihufe^ with fome Chtmneyi neatly 
 caft, and without too much Glafs, 
 
 For Fountiiim^ they are a great Beauty and Refrcfh- 
 mcnt, but Poo/; mar r all, and make the G'^rc/e « unvvhol-* 
 fome, and full of Flies and Froggs. FountMUs I intend 
 to be of two Natures, the one that fprinklctb or fioiitcth 
 Water^ the other ^.falr Receipt of U'ater^ of fome thirty 
 or forty foot fquare, but without Fifh, or Slime, or 
 Mud. For the firft, the Ornaments of Images Gtlt^ or 
 of Marble^ which are in ufe, do well ; but the main 
 matter is, foto convey the Water, as it never Itay, ei- 
 ther in the Bowls, or in the Ciftern, that the Water be 
 never by reft DifcoloKred^ Crcm or Red^ or the like ; oi 
 gather any Afojjwefs or Putrcfadion. Bolides that, it is 
 to be cleanfcd every day by the hand^ alfo fome llcps 
 up to it, and fome Fhic Pavement about it doth well. 
 As for the other kind oi Fountain^ which wc may call a 
 Bathing-Tool^ it may admit much Curiofity and Beauty, 
 wherewith we will not trouble our felves, as that the 
 bottom be finely paved, and v;ith Images, the fides 
 iikewifc:, and withal Embellifhed with coloured 
 Glafs, and fuch things of Luftre ^ Encompafled alfo 
 with fine Rails of low Statues. But the main point is 
 the fame, which we mentioned in the former kind of 
 Fountain^ which is, that the IVater be in perpetual motio7if 
 fed by a Water higher than the Poolj and delivered into 
 it by fair Spouts^ and then difcharged away under 
 Ground by fome equality of Bores, that it Ifay lirtle. 
 And for fine Devices of Arching Water without fpiDing 
 and making it rife in feveral forms (of Feathers, Drin- 
 king GlalTcs, Canopies, and the like) they be pretty 
 things to look on, but nothing to FIcakh and Sweet- 
 ncfs. 
 
 }^ov thQ Heathy wasthc third part of our Plot, I wifli 
 it to be framed, as much as may be, to a Natural Wild- 
 ncfs. Trees I would have none in it, but fome Thrclets^ 
 made only of Sweet-Briar^ and } ly^ icy ^Suckle ^ and fome 
 
 Wild 
 
1 2 8 Sir Francis Bacon'i Ejfays. 
 
 WM-rine amongft^ and the Ground fet with Vtolets^ 
 Strawberries and Primrofes : for thefe are Sweet, and 
 profper in the Shade. And thefe to be in the Heathy 
 here and there, not in any Order. I like alfo little 
 Heaps ^ in the Nature of Mole- Hills (fuch as arc in Wild^ 
 Heaths) to be fet, fome with Wild-Thyme, fome with 
 Fhiks, fome with Germander, that gives a good flower 
 to the eye ^ fome with Periwinkle, fome with Violets^ 
 fome with Strawberries, fome with Cowflips, fome 
 with Daizies, fome with Red-Rofes, fome with Lilium 
 Convalliunr, fome with Svveet-Williams Red, fome 
 with Bears-Foot , and the like Low Flowers , being 
 withall Sweet and Sightly. Part of which //t.zpx, to be 
 with Stafidards^ of little Bujlics^ prickt upon their top^ 
 and part without ^ the Standards to be Rofes, Juniper, 
 Holly, Bear-berries, (but here and there, becaufe of 
 thefmell of their bloflbmj Red Currans, Goofeberries, 
 Rofcrnary, Bays, Sweet-Briar, and fuch like. But 
 thefe Standards to be kept with Cutting, that they grow 
 not out of Courfe. 
 
 For the Side Grounds^ you are to lit them with varie- 
 ty of yilkys^ private, to give a full fhade, fome of 
 them, whcrefoever the Sun be. You are to frame fome 
 of them, likevvife for (helter, that when the wind blows 
 Ibarp, you may walk as in a Gallery. And thofe Al- 
 Teys mufl: be likevvife hedged at both ends, to keep out 
 the Wind, and thefe clofcr Alleys mull: be ever finely 
 Gravelled, and no grafs, becaufe of going wet. In 
 many of thefe Alleys likevvife, you are to fet Fruit Trees 
 of all forts '^ as well upon the Walls, as in Ranges. And 
 this would be generally obferved, that the Borders 
 wherein you plant yoiir Fruit Treis^ be fiur and large,- 
 and low, and not itcep, and fet with fine Flowers^ but 
 thin and fparingly, kit they deceive the Trees, At the 
 end of both the jide Grounds^ I would have a Afount of 
 fpme pretty Height, leaving the Wall of the Enclofure 
 brcait-high, to look abroad into the Fields. 
 
 For 
 
Of Negotiating. 1 1 p 
 
 For the Main Garden^ I do not deny, but there ftionld 
 be fome fair u4lleys ranged on both fides with ^ruit-Trcc^t 
 and fome pretty Tufts of Fruit-Trees and y^rbors with 
 Seats^ fet in fome decent Order •, but thefe to be by no 
 means {ct too thick ^ but to leave the Main Garden fo, 
 as it be not clofe, but the Air open and free^ for as 
 for Shade I would have you reft upon the y^llcys of 
 the Side Cminds^ there to walk, if you be difpofed^ 
 in the Heat of the Year or Day: but to make account, 
 that the Alain Garden is for the more temperate parts of 
 the year ^ and in the Heat of Summer, for the Morn^ 
 ing and the Evening, or Over»caft Days. 
 
 For Aviaries^ I like them not, except they be of that 
 largenefs, as they may be turfed^ and have Livwg 
 Plants and Uu/hes fet in them, that the Birds may have 
 more fcope, and natural Nefting, and that no foidncfs 
 appear in the floor of the Aviary. So I have made jl 
 Plat-form of a Princely Garden^ partly by Precept, part- 
 ly by Drawing, not a Model, but fome general Lines 
 of it, and in this I have fpared for no coft. But it is 
 nothing, for Great Princes^ that for the moil: part taking 
 advice with Work-men, with no lefs Coft, fet their 
 things together, and fometimes add Statuas and fuch 
 things, for State and Magnificence, but nothing to th« 
 true pleafuic oi ^Garden. 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 Of Negotiating. 
 
 IT ifc generally better to deal by Speech, than by Let^ 
 ter^ and by the mediation of a Third, than by a 
 man's felf. Letters are good, when a Man would draw 
 an Anfwer by Letter back again- or when it may 
 ferve for a Man's Juftlfication afterwards to produce 
 Ms own Letter, or v;herc it may be danger to be in- 
 
 K terrr.ptsd 
 
1 }0 Sir Francis Bacon s Bjfap. 
 
 tcrrupted or beard by pieces. To deal in Perfon is good, 
 when a Man's face breedeth Regard, as commonly 
 with Inferiors- or in tender Cafes, where a Man's 
 Eye upon the Countenance of him with whom he 
 fpeaketh, may give him a Diredion how far to go: 
 And generally where a man will referve to himfelf li- 
 berty either to Difavow^ or to Expound, In choice of 
 JnftrumcYits^ it is better to chufe men of a plainer fort 
 that are like to do that is committed to them, and to 
 report back again faithfully the fuceefs, than thofc that 
 are cunning to contrive out of other Mens Bufmefs 
 fomcwhat to grace themfelves, and will help the mat- 
 ter in Report for fatisfaftion fake, life all fuch Pre- 
 fons as affed the bufmefs wherein they are imployed, 
 for that quickneth much^ and fuch as are fit for the 
 matter : As bold Men for Expoftulation, fair fpoken 
 Men for Perfwafion, crafty Men for Enquiry and Ob- 
 fcrvaticn, fioward and abfurd Men for bufmefs that 
 doth not well bear out it felf. life alfo fuch as have 
 been lucky, and prevailed before in things wherein you 
 have imployed them, for that breeds confidence, and 
 they will ftrive to maintain their Prefcription. It is 
 better to found a Perfon with whom one Deals afar 
 off, than to fall upon the point at firfl ^ except you mean 
 to furprife him by fome fhort Qiieftion. It is better 
 Dealing with Men in Appetite, than with thofe that 
 are where they would be. If a Man Deal with ano- 
 ther upon Conditions, the ftart of the firft Perfor- 
 mance is all, which a Man cannot reafonably De- 
 mand, except either the nature of the thing be fuch 
 which mud go before ^ or elfc a Man can perfwade 
 the other Party that he fhall ftill need him in fome o- 
 ther thing •, or elfc that he be counted the honefler 
 Man. All Pradice is to Difcovcr^ or to Work : Men 
 Difcover themfelves in Truft , in Paflion at unawares, 
 and of necefTity , when they would have fomewhat 
 done, and cannot find an apt Pretext. If you would 
 Work any Man, you mull either know his nature and 
 
 falhion?. 
 
0/ Followers and Trieniu i j i 
 
 faftiioris, and fo lead him^ or his ends ^ and To per- 
 fwade him ^ or his weaknefs and difadvantages, and 
 fo awe him •, or tliofe that have Intereil in him, and 
 fo govern him. In Dealhig with cunnins Pcvfons we 
 muS ever confider their ends to int;r.rprei their Speech- 
 es; and it is f'.ooel to fay llrtlc to tliem, and thaC 
 which they leail look for. In ail Ke^otiations of diffi- 
 culty a Tvla:: may not look to fow and reap at once,- 
 but mufc prepare biilinefs, and fo ripen it b^ de« 
 grees* 
 
 XLViii. 
 
 Of FoUol^ers and Friends. 
 
 C'lOSTLY Fo//oim'i are not to be likcd^ left v/hiloa 
 4 Man maketh his Train longer, he makes his 
 Wings Ihorter. I reckon to be coftly, not tliem alone 
 which charge the Purfe, but which are ivearifome aiid 
 importunate in Suits. Ordinary Followers ough.t to chal- 
 lenge no higher Conditions than Countenance , PvC- 
 commendation, and Protedion from v/rongs. Factious 
 Followers are worfe to be liked, which follow not upon 
 Afte(flion to him with whom they range tbcmfelvc>:, 
 but upon Difcontentment conceived againlc fome o- 
 ther •, whereupon commonly enfueth thai: ill intelli- 
 gence that we many times fee between great Pai fo- 
 liages. Ljkewife glorious Followers v/ho make them- 
 fclves as Trumpets of Commendation of thofe that 
 follow, aie full of Inconvenience-, for they taint bu- 
 h'nefs through want of Secrecy^ and they ex'port Ho- 
 nour from a Man, and make him a return in Envy. 
 There is a kiiul. of F^ lowers li'vewife which are dan- 
 gerous, being indeed Efpials; which enquire the fc- 
 erets of the Houfe, and bear Tajes of tlrem to other 5 
 y^-^ fueh Men, many times, arc iu great fivour; for 
 
 }4 2; ikty 
 
1 ^x Sir Francis Bacons Bjfap] 
 
 they are officious, and commonly exchange Tales, the 
 FoIloKwg by certain Eftates of Men, anfvverable to that 
 which a great Perion lumfelf profefTeth, (as of Soldi- 
 ers to him that hath been employed in the Wars, and 
 the like) hath ever been a thing Civil, and well taken 
 even in iMonarchies ^ fo it be without too much pomp 
 of popularity. But the moil; honourable kind oi Fol- 
 lowing^ is to be followed, as one that apprehendeth to 
 advance Vertue and Defert in all forts of Perfons. 
 And yet where there is no eminent odds in fufliciency, 
 it is better to take with the more paflable, than with 
 the more able. And beiides, to fpeak truth, in bafe 
 times Aftive Men are of moreufe than Vertuous. It 
 ks true, that in Government it is good to ufe Men of 
 one Rank equally; for to countenance fome extraor- 
 dinarily, is to make them infolent, and the reft dif- 
 content, becaufe they may claim a due. But contra- 
 riwife, in favour to ufe Men with much difference 
 and election is good ^ for it maketh the Perfons pre- 
 ferred more thankful, and the reft more officious, be- 
 caufe all is of favour. It is good difcretion not to 
 make too much of any Man at the firft; becaufe one 
 cannot hold out that proportion. To be governed 
 (as we call it) by one, is not fafe ; for it fhews Soft- 
 nefs, and gives a freedom to Scandal and Difreputati- 
 on; for thofe that would not cenfure or fpeak ill of 
 a Man immediately, will talk more boldly of thofe 
 that are fo great with them, and thereby wound their 
 honour, yet to be diftra^ted with many is worfei^ for 
 it makes Men to be of the laft Impreffion, and full of 
 Change. To take advice of fome few Friends is ever 
 honourable ; for Lookers on , many times^ fee more than 
 Cameflcrs^ and the rale beft difcovereth the Hill. There 
 h little Friendfhip in the World, and leali of all be- 
 tween equals , which was wont to be magnified. That 
 that is, is between Superior and inferior, whofe For- 
 tunes may comprehend one the other. 
 
 Of 
 
HI 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Of Suitors. 
 
 MANY ill matters and projefts are undertaken, 
 and private Suits do putrelie the publick Good, 
 Many good matters are undertaken with bad minds, I 
 mean, not only corrupt minds, but crafty minds that 
 intend not Performance. Some embrace Suits which 
 never mean to deal effectually in them ^ but if they fee 
 there may be life in the matter by forae other mean, 
 they will be content to win a Thank, or take a fccond 
 Reward, or at leaft to make ufe in the mean time of 
 the Suitor's hopes. Some take hold of Suits only for 
 an occafion to crofs fome other ^ or to make an in- 
 formation , whereof they could not otherwife have 
 apt Pretext, without care what become of the Suit 
 when that turn is ferv'd ^ or generally, to make other 
 Mens biifmefs a kind of Entertainment to bring in 
 their own. Nay, fome undertake Suits with a full 
 purpofc to let them fall, to the end, to gratifie the ad- 
 verfe Party or Competitor. Surely there is in fom§; 
 fort a Right in every Suit-^ either a Right of Equity, 
 if it be a Suit ofControverfie- or a Right of Defert, it 
 it be a Suit of Petition. If AfFeftions lead a Man to 
 favour the wrong fide in Juftice, let him rather ufe his 
 Coimtenance to compound the matter, than to carry 
 it. If Affedionlead a Man to favour the lefs worthy 
 in Defert, let him do it without depraving or dif- 
 abling the better Deferver. In Suits which a Man dottx 
 not well underftand, it is good to refer them to fome 
 Friend of Truft and Judgment, that may report, whe- 
 ther he may deal in them with Honour^ but let hi in 
 chufe well his Referendaries , for elfe he may be 
 led by the Nofe. Suitors are To diHafted with Delays 
 mi Abufes^ tbac plaia dealing in denying to deal ia 
 
154 S^^ Francis BaconV Ejjays. 
 
 Suits ai firfl, and reporting the fuccefs barely, and in 
 f:halkaping no more thanks than one hath deferved, 
 is grown not only Honourable, but alfo Gracious. In 
 ;.-;.7>x of Favour, the firft coming ought to take little 
 place ^ lo far forth Confideration may be had of his 
 Truft, that if intelligence of the matter could not o- 
 thcrwife have been had , but by him , advantage be 
 not taken of the Note, but the Party left to his other 
 means, and in fome fort recompcnccd for his Difco- 
 very. To be ignorant of the v^iluc of a Suit is fun- 
 plicity •, as well as to be ignorant of the Right thereof 
 |s vv:uit of Confcience. Secrecy in Suits is a great 
 mean of obtaining -^ for voicing them to be in for- 
 wardnefs , may difcourage fome kind of Suitors ^ but 
 doth quicken and awaken others- but Timing of the 
 Suit is the principal. Timing, I fay, not only in re- 
 fped of the perfon that fliould grant it, but in re- 
 fpect of thofe which arc like to crofs it. Let a Man 
 in the choice of his mean, rather chufe the fitteft 
 mean, than the greatcll mean-, and rather them that 
 deal in certain Things , than thofe that are General 
 The Reparation of a Denial, is fome tiaies equal to the 
 fir ft Granr;^ if a Man flievv himfelf, neither dejedted, 
 nor d ifcon tented : Inuimnn fetas^ ut <t/dlquum ferci5\ is 
 a good rule, where a Man hath llrength of Favour: 
 But orlierwife a Man were better rife in his Suit -^ for 
 he that v/ould have ventured at firft to have loll the 
 Suitor^ will not in the Concluiion lofe both the Suitor^ 
 and his own former favour. Nothing is thought fo 
 eafie a 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 Initrumcnts than 
 thefe general Contrivers of Suits^ for they are but d^ 
 kind of poyfon and infection to pubiick proceedings. 
 
 m 
 
L. 
 
 Of Studies. 
 
 STUDIES ferve for Delight, for Ornament, and 
 for Ability. Their chief ufe for Delight is in Pri^ 
 vatenefs and Retiring ^ for Ornament is in Difcourfe ^ 
 and for Ability, is in the Judgment and Difpofitioa 
 of Bufinefs. For expert Men can execute, and per- 
 haps judge of particulars one by one-, but the general 
 Counfels and the Plots, and iMarfhalling of Affairs, 
 come beft from thofe that are Learmd. To fpend too 
 much time in Studies is lloth ^ to ufe them too much 
 for Ornament is atfedation ^ to make Judgment whol- 
 ly by their Rules is the humour of a Scholar. They 
 perfed Nature, and are perte£ted by experience : for 
 Natural Abilities are like Natural Plants, that need 
 Proyning by Study , and Studies themfelves do give 
 forth Directions too much at large, except they b^ 
 bounded in by experience. Crafty Men contemn Stu^ 
 dies , Simple Men admire them , and Wife Men ufe 
 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. %om^ Book$ 
 are to be tailed , others to be fwallowed, and fome 
 few to be chewed and digelled ; that is, fome Books 
 are to be read only in parts -^ others to be read, but 
 not curioufly ^ and fome few to be read, whoUy, and 
 with diligence and attention. Some Books alfo may be 
 read by Deputy , and Extracts made of them by o- 
 thers : But that would be only ia the lefs important 
 Arguments, and the meaner fort of Books ^ elfe dillH- 
 led Booh are like common diftiUed Waters, flalhy 
 thingSp Reading maketh a full IMan ^ Conference a 
 
 K 4 ready 
 
1^6 Sit Francis Bacon'y EJJays. 
 
 ready Maa ^ and Writing an exad iMan. And there- 
 fore if a Man Write little, he had need have a great 
 memory-, if he Confer little, he had need have a 
 prefentWit^ and if he Read little, he liad need have 
 much cunning to feern to know that he doth not. ///• 
 ftories make I\Ien Wife, Poets Witty, the A^fatheinattcks 
 Subtil, Natural Pbilofophy Deep, 'Moral Grave , Logick 
 and Rhetorick able to Contend. Abtunt Studia in Mo* 
 res\ Nay, there is no Stand or Impediment in the 
 Wit, but may be wrought out by fit Studki \ Like as 
 Difeafes ot the Body may have appropriate Exercifes. 
 Bowling is good for the Stone and Reins, Shooting for 
 the Lunas and Breaft, Gentle Walking for the Sto- 
 mach, Riding for the Head , and the like. So if a 
 Man's Wit be wandering, let hini Study the Afathewa- 
 ticks'j for in Demonifrations, if his Wit be called a- 
 way never fo little, he muft begin again : If his Wit 
 be not apt to diftinguilh or find differences, let him 
 Study the School-A^en-^ for they are Cumini feOores, If 
 he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one 
 thing to prove and iUuflrate another, let him 5^^^ the 
 Lawyers Cafes ; fo every Defeft of the mind may have 
 a fpecial Receipt. 
 
 LI. 
 
 OfVaBlon. 
 
 ]\ /T A N Y have an Opinion not Wife ^ that for a 
 iVJ^ Pi'irice to govern his Ellate, or for a great Per- 
 fon to govern his Proceedings, according to the re- 
 fpecl oi' Fa^ions^ is a principal part of Policy^ where- 
 as concrariwife, the chiefeft Wifdom is, either in or- 
 dering thole things which are General, and wherein Men 
 of fevcral Fa^ions do neverthelefs agree- or in dealing 
 with correfpondcnc? to particular perfons one by one. 
 
 But 
 
OfFafllon. 1^7 
 
 But I fay not, that the confideration of Fadions is to 
 be negleded. Mean Men in their riling mufl adhere, 
 but great Men that have ftrength in themfelves, were 
 better to maintain themfelves indilferent and Neutral: 
 Yet even in beginners to adhere fo moderately, as he 
 be a Man of the one Fa&ion^ which is moft pallable 
 with the other, commonly giveth bed way. The lo- 
 wer and weaker FaCnon is the firmer in Conjundion : 
 and it is often feen, that a few that arc lliff^ do tire 
 out a great number that are more moderate. When 
 one of the Fadions is extinguifhed, the remaining Tub- 
 divideth : As the FaChon between Luciillus ^ and the 
 reft of the Nobles of the Senate (which they called 
 Optimates') held out a while againft the FaBion of Po;?;- 
 pcy and Cafar-^ but when the Senates Authority was 
 pulled down, Cafar and Pompey foon after brake. The 
 Faction or Party of j^ntonius^ and O^avianns Ccefar a- 
 gainft Brutus and CaJJiiis^ held out likewife for a time : 
 JHut when Brutus and CaJJius were overthrown , then 
 foon s.fter ^utonm and O^favianus brake and fubdivi^ 
 ded. Thefc examples are of Wars, but the fame hol- 
 deth in \)nvatQ Fa^imis : And therefore thofe that are 
 Seconds in FaB'wns^ do many times, when the Fadion 
 fubdivideth, prove Principals^ but many times alio 
 they prove Cyphers and cafhierM. For many a Man's 
 Itrength is in oppofition, and when that faileth, he 
 groweth out of ufe. It is commonly fecn, that Men 
 once placed, take in with the contrary i-W/?V;?i 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 FaBion lightly gocth away 
 with it ', for when matters have ftuck long in Bal- 
 lancing, the winning of fome one Man cafteth them 
 and he getteth all the thanks. The even carriage be' 
 tween two Factions^ 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 fufpeft in Fo^qs^ when they have often in their 
 
 mouth 
 
I J 8 Sir Francis Bacon^r BJfays: 
 
 mouth padre commune^ and take it to be a Sign of one 
 that mcaneth to refer all to the greatnefs of his own 
 Houfe. Kings had need beware, how rhey fide them- 
 felves, and make themtelves ^s of a Fdciton or Party; j 
 for Leagues within the State are ever pernicious to < 
 Monarchies ♦, for they raife an Obligation, Paramount ; 
 to Obligation of Soveraignty , and make the King , , 
 Tanquam urns ex nobis -^ as was to be i^QQn in the League 
 of France. When Fadions 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- 
 fmefs. The motions oi F anions under Kings, ought to 
 be like the motions (as the Jljlronomers fpeak) of the 
 Inferior Orbs, which may have their proper motions, 
 bnt yet ftill are quietly carried by the higher motion of 
 Trimum Alobik, 
 
 LII. 
 
 Of Ceremonies and ^efpeFls. 
 
 HE that 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 
 light gains 7nake heavy purfes-^ 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 cometh but on 
 Fellivals. Therefore it doth much add to a Man's Re- 
 putation, and is, (as Queen Ifabella faith) Like perpetual 
 Letto's Commendatory^ to have good forms. To attain 
 them, it almoft fufficeth not to defpife them ; for fo 
 (ball 4 Man obferve them in others; And let him truft 
 
 himfelf 
 
Of Ceremonies and (^efpcSls. i ^ 9 
 
 iiimfelf with the reih For if he labour too much to 
 exprefs them, he fhall lofe their Grace, which is to be 
 Natural and Unaffeded. Some Mens behaviour is 
 like a Verfe, wherein every Syllable is meafured. How 
 cm a iMan comprehend great matters, that breaketh 
 his mind too much to fmall obfervarions? Not to ufe 
 Ceremonies at all, is to teach others not to ufe them a- 
 gain-, and fo diminifn refpe^I to himfelf; efpecially^ 
 they are not to be omitted to ilrangers, and formal 
 Natures: But the dwelling upon them, and exalting 
 them above the Moon, is not only tedious, but doth 
 diminifh the faich and credit of him that fpeaks. And 
 certainly, there is a kind of conveying of effedtual 
 and imprinting PafTions amongft Complements, which 
 isoffmgular ufe, if a Man can hit upon it. Amongft 
 a Man's Peers, a Man fhall be fure of familiarity ; 
 and therefore it is good a little to keep State. Amongll 
 a Man's Inferiors , one fhall be fure of Reverence - 
 and therefore it is good a little to be familiar. He 
 that is too much in any thing, fo that he giveth ano- 
 ther occaiion of Society, maketh himfelf cheap. To 
 apply ones fclf 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 feconding 
 another, yet to add fomewhat of ones own ^ as if yoa 
 would grant his opinion, let it be with fomediflincti- 
 on- if you vail follow his Motion, let it be with 
 Condition ^ if you allow his Counfel, let it be with 
 alledging further Reafon. Men had need beware, hov/ 
 they be too perfeft in Complements: For be they 
 never fo fufficient otherwife, their enviers will be fure 
 to give them that Attribute, to the dlfad vantage of 
 their greater Vertues. It is lofs alfo in bufmefs, to be 
 too full oirefpelfs^ or to be too curious in obferving 
 Times and Opportunities. Solomon faith. He that confix 
 dereth the Wmdjhall not Eow^ and he that lookcth to the 
 Clouds Jhall not Reap, A wife Man will make more op- 
 portuqities than he finds. Mens Behaviour fhould be 
 
 m 
 
1 40 Sir Francis Bicons Effays] 
 
 like their Apparel, not too Strait, or point device, but 
 free for Exercife or Motion. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 Of(praife. 
 
 T)R AISE is the Refleftion of Vertue, but it is as 
 JL the Glafs or Body which giveth the Refledion. 
 If it be from the common People , it is commonly 
 falfe and naught, and rather followeih vain Perfons 
 than vertuous. For the common People underftand 
 not many excellent vertues : the lowefl: vertues draw 
 fraife from them, the middle vertues work in them A- 
 Honilhment or Admiration, but of the higheft Virtues 
 they have no fence or perceiving at all, but (hews and 
 Species virtuUhm fvniles ferve bed 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 
 it is, (as the Scripture faithj Nomen honum injlar un- 
 guenti fragrantys. It filleth all round about, and will 
 not eafily away : Fov the Odours of Oyntments are 
 more durable than thofe of Flowers. There be fo 
 many falfe Points of Praije that a Man may juftly 
 bold it a fufped. Some Praifes 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- 
 iov; the Arch Flarierer, which is a Man's felf : And 
 wherein a Man thinketh befl of himfelf , therein the 
 Flatterer will uphold him mod:-, but if he be an im- 
 pudent Flatterer, look wherein a Man is confcious to 
 himfelf that he is mofb defedtive, and is moll out of 
 Countenance in himfelf, that will the Flatterer Enti- 
 ^1q him to per force, S^nta Conjckntla, Some Praifes 
 
 comq 
 
Offralfe. 141 
 
 come of good wifhesand refpedts, which is a form due 
 in Civility to Kings and great Perfons, Laudando pr^-- 
 cipere^ when by telling Men what they are, they re- 
 prefent to them what they fhould be. Some Men are 
 praifed malicioufly to their hurt, thereby to ftir envy 
 and jealoufie towards them, Peffimum genus inimicorum 
 laudantium , infomuch as it was a Proverb amonglt 
 the Grecians ; that he that was praifed to his hurt flmdd 
 have a puflj rife upon his Nofe -^ as we fay, That a blijler 
 will rife upon ones Tongue that tells a Lye. Certainly mo- 
 derate praife^ ufed with opportunity, and not vulgar, 
 is that which doth the good. Solomon faith. He that 
 praifeth his friend aloudy rifmg early ^ it Jhall be to him no 
 better than a Curfe. Too much magnifying of a Man 
 or matter, doth irritate contradicfrion, and procure en- 
 vy and fcorn. To praife a Man's felf cannot be de- 
 cent, except it be in rare cafes ; but to praife a Man's 
 Office or profcffion , he may do it with good Grace, 
 and with a kind of Magnanimity. The Cardinals of 
 Rome^ which are Theologues, and Fryars, and School- 
 men, have a Phrafe of notable contempt and fcorn to- 
 wards civil bufinefs: For they call all Temporal bufi- 
 nefs, of Wars, Embalfages, Judicature and other em- 
 ployments, Shirreri^ which is under Sheriffries^ as if 
 they were but matters for Under-SherifFs and Catch- 
 poles: though many times thofe Vnder^Shcriffries do 
 more good than their high {peculations. Saint Paul^ 
 when he boafts of himfelf,he doth oft interlace^ Jfpeak 
 like a Fool • but fpeakiug of his Calling, he faith, Mag- 
 nifico Apofolatum meunh 
 
 Of 
 
1 4 1 Sir Francis Bacon x EJJap^ 
 LIV. 
 
 Of Vain Glory. 
 
 IT was prettily devifcd of <iy£fop^ The Fly fate upon tk 
 Axktree of the Chariot-Wheel^ andfaid^ What a Dufl do 
 JraJfc? So arc there feme vam PtYfons^ that whatfoe- 
 ver goetli 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^ mult needs 
 hz faUious'^ for all bravery Hands upon comparifons. 
 They mult needs be violent, to make good their own 
 vaunts. Neither can they be fecret, and therefore not 
 effectual; but according to the French Proverb, Beau^ 
 coup de Bruit ^ peu de Fruit -^ Much Bruit ^ little Fruity 
 Yet certainly there is ufe of this Quality in C\n\ AU 
 fairs. Where there is an Opinion and Fame to b^ 
 created, either of Virtue or Greatnefs, thefe Men ard 
 good Trumpeters. Again, as THm IJvius noteth ia 
 the cafe of j^ntiochus^ and the zy€toltans^ There are fome^ 
 times great effeds of crofs Lyes : As if a Man that Ne- 
 gotiates between two Princes, to draw them to joyri 
 in a War againft 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 fomeivhat is pro- 
 duced of nothmg\ For l.yes are fufficicnt to breed O- 
 pinion, and Opinion brings on Subftance. ^ In Milira- 
 ry Commanders and Soldicvs, l^ain Clory is an elfen- 
 tial Point : For as Iron (harpens Iron, fo by Clory one 
 Courage (harpneth another. In cafes of great En- 
 tcrprife, upon Charge and Adventure, a Compofitioit 
 of CloriiHs Natures doth put Life into Bulinefs ^ and 
 thofc that are of folid and fobcv Natures ha-ve more 
 
of P^ain Glory. 143 
 
 ©f the Ballad than of the Sail. In Fame of Learn- 
 ing the Flight will flow, without feme Feathers of 
 Ofientation. Qui de contemnend^ Gloria Vhyos fvnh^yyit 
 Nomen fuum infcribunt, Socratts^ /vijhtlr. Gdi}i^ v,ci<; 
 Men full of Oftentation. Certainly Fain 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^ Plinius Secundus^ born her Age fo well, 
 if it had not been joyned with fome Fanity in them- 
 felves-, like wwto Far nifo^ that maketh Cielings not on- 
 ly (hine, but laft. But all this while, when I fpeak 
 of Fain Glory ^ I mean not of that property that Tacitus 
 doth attribute to Mud anus ^ Omnium qu^ dixerat^ fece- 
 ratque ^ Arte quadam Oftentator : For that proceeds not 
 of Fanity ^ but of Natural Magnanimity and Difcrcti- 
 on: And in fome Perfons, is not only Comely, but 
 Gracious. For Excufations, Cefhons, Modefty it felf 
 well governed, are but Arts of Ojicntatwn. And a- 
 mongft thofe Arts there is none better than that which 
 Plinius Secundum fpeaketh of, which is to be liberal of 
 Praife and Commendation to others, in that wherein 
 a Man's felf hath any Perfection. For, faith Pliny 
 very wittily. In commending anotho\ you do your felf 
 right: For he that you commend^ vs cither Superior to you, 
 in that you commend^ or Inferior. If hi be Inferior if he 
 be to be commended^ yeu much mors: If he be Superior 
 if he be not to be commended^ you much lefs Glorious. 
 Men are the fcorn of wife Men , the admiration of 
 Fools, the Idols of Parafites, and the Slaves of thciE 
 own Vaunts. 
 
 Of 
 
1 44 Sir Francis Bacon'i Ejfays. 
 
 LV. 
 
 Of Hjnour and Reputation. 
 
 THE Winning of Honour is but the revealing of 
 Man's V^irtne and Worth without Difadvantag© 
 For fome in their Actions do wooe and affed Honour 
 and Reputation'^ which fort of Men are commonly 
 much talked of, but inwardly little admired. And 
 fome, contrarivvife, darken their Virtue in the fhew of 
 it, fo as they be undervalued in Opinion. If a Man 
 perform that which hath not been attempted before, 
 or attempted and given over, or hath been atchieved, 
 but not with fo good circumftance, he Ihall purchafe 
 more Honour^ than by efFeding a matter of greater 
 difficulty or virtue, wherein he is but a follower. If 
 a Man fo temper his Actions, as in fome cne of them 
 he doth content every Faction or Combination of 
 People, the Muuck will be the fuller. A Man is an 
 ill Husband of his Honour tliat 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 
 quickelt reftecVion , like Diamonds cut with Fafcets. 
 And therefore let a Man contend to excel any Com- 
 petitors of his in Honour^ in out-lhooting them, if he 
 can in their own Bow. Difcreet Followers and Ser- 
 vants help much to Reputation: Omnis fama k Dorm* 
 pici/s emanat. Envy, which is the Canker of Honour is 
 belt extinguilhedby declaring a Mans felf in his ends, 
 rather to feek Merit than Fame • and by attributing 
 a Man's fucceiles , rather to Divine Providence and 
 Felicity than to his own Virtue or Policy. The true 
 marlhalling of the Degrees of Sovcraign Honour^ are 
 thefe. In the fir It place arc, Conditorcs Imperiorum^ 
 J'oundcrs of States^ and Commomvulths'^ fuch as were 
 
 RomuluSj 
 
Of HoJiour and ^pntatiom i 4 ^ 
 
 Romulus^ Cyri^^ C^far^ Ottoman^ Jfmael. In the fecond 
 place are, Legiflatores^ Law-givers -^ which are alfo cal- 
 led Second Founders^ or Perpetui Princtpcs^ becaufe they 
 govern by their Ordinances after they are gone ^ fuch 
 Vvere Lycurgiis^ Solon ^ Jufiinian^ ^^g^^-, y^ipbonfus of* 
 Caftile the wife, that inade the Siete Patridas. In the 
 third place are, Liheratorcs or Salvatcres-^ fiieh as com- 
 pound the long miferies of Civil Wars, or deliver their 
 Countreys from Servitude of Strangers or Tyrants^ 
 as Augu[lus Cdtfa)\ f^efpafuniis^ Aureltanus^ Thtodoricus^ 
 king Benry the Seventh of England^ King Henry the 
 Fourth of frame. In the fourth place are Propagatorcs^ 
 or Propugnatores Imperit'^ fuch as in Honourable Wars 
 enlarge their territories, or make noble defence againfl 
 Invaders. And in the lall place are Patrcs Patria^ 
 which Reign juHly, and make the times good wherein 
 they live. Both which lafl kinds need no Examples, 
 they are in fuch number. Degrees of Honour in Sub- 
 jedts are : Firft, Partkipcs Curarum^ thofe upon whom 
 Princes do difcharge the greatell \\' eight of their Af- 
 fairs, their Right Hands^ as we call them. The next 
 aie, Duces Belli^ Great Leaders^ fuch as are Princes 
 Lieutenants, and do them notable fcr vices in the Wars.- 
 The third are Gratioft^ Favourites^ fuch as need not this 
 fcantling, to be Solace to the Soveraign, and harmlefs 
 to the People. And the fourth NegotiU Pares^ fuch as 
 have great places under Princes, and execute their pla- 
 ces with fufficiency. There is an Honour likewife which 
 may be ranked amongll the greateft, which hapneth 
 rarely, that is, of fuch as Sacrifice themftlvcs to Death or 
 Danger iox theG'Wof their Cc^m/fr^^ as was .1/, Regu^ 
 ?^t/, and the tv/o Dtciii 
 
 Of 
 
1 4^ Sir Francis Bacon's Bjfa)s» 
 
 LVL 
 
 Of Judicature. 
 
 JVDG ES ought to remember, that their Office is. 
 Jus diccre^ and not Jus dare : To interpret Law^ and 
 not to make Law^ or give Law : Elfe will it be like the 
 Authority claimed by the C/;:^rc/:> o{ Rome^ which under 
 pretext of expoHtion of Scripture, doth not flick to add 
 arid alter, and to pronounce that which they do not 
 iind ^ and by fl:cxv of Antiqtiity to introduce Novelty, 
 Judges ouG^ht to be more learned than Witty, more Re- 
 verend than Plaiifible, and more advifed than Confi- 
 dent. Above all things Integrity is their Portion and 
 proper Virtue: Curfed (faith the Law) is he that remo-- 
 'Veth the Land Mark, The mi (layer of a ^neer-Stone is to 
 blame ^ but it is the unjuft Judge that is the Capital Re- 
 mover of Land-Marks, when he defineth amifs of Lands 
 and Property. One foul Sentence doth more hurt than 
 many foul Exam pies-, forthefedo bat corrupt the Stream, 
 the other corrupteth the fountain. So faith Solomon^ 
 Fans turbatus^ & l^ena corrupta^ efi Jufliis cadens in caufa 
 fua co:'j?n y^dverfario. The Office of Judges may have 
 reft- rencc unto the Parties that fue^ unto the Advocates 
 that plead^ unto the Clerks and Afiniflers oijuftice un- 
 derneath tiicm, and to the Soveraign or State above 
 I hem. 
 
 F 1 r 11, For th c CaMfes or Parties that fue. There be (faith 
 tiie Scripture) that turn Judgment into Wormwood-^ and 
 fjrcly there be alfo that turn it into Fincgar-^ for In- 
 j-afticc maketh it bitter, and Delays make it four. The 
 principal Duty of a Judge is to fupprefs force and fraud, 
 Vr'hercof force is the more pernicions when it is open, 
 i{^(^, fraud when it is clofe and difguifed. Add thereto 
 Gontcntious Suits, which ought to be fpcwed out as the 
 Surfeit ot Courts. A Judge ought to prepare his way 
 
 to 
 
of Judicature. i 4:? 
 
 to a Jufl Sentence, as God ufeth to prepare his way by 
 raffing rdkys, and taking down Hills: So when ther6 
 appeareth on either fide an higli Hand, violent Piofe- 
 cution , cunning Advantages taken , Combination , 
 Power, Great Counfel, then is the \ irtue of a Jndge 
 feen, to make Inequality Equal, that he may plant his 
 Judgment as npon an even Ground. Qui for titer cmun- 
 git^ dicit fanguinem-^ and where the Wine-Prefs is hard 
 wrought , it yields a harih Wine that tafles of the: 
 ^Grape-Stone, ji^dges mufl beware of hard Conflru- 
 ftions, and fcrained 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 
 Shovv'er whereof the Scripture fpeaketh, Plmt fupcr cos 
 Laqueos : for penal Laws pvefTed are a Shower of Snares 
 upon the People. Therefore let Penal Laws^ if they 
 have been Sleepers of long, or if they be grown unf.c 
 for the prefcnt Time, be by wife Judges confined in 
 the Execution, Judicvs Offcium efi^ ut Res it a Te;npora 
 Rcrum^ &c. In Caufes of Life and Death^ Judges ought 
 (as far as the Law perm.itteth) in Juflice to remember 
 Mercy •, and to caft a fevere Eye upon the Example, 
 but a merciful Eye upon the Perfon. 
 
 Secondly, For the Advocates and Council that plead ; 
 Patience and Gravity of hearing is an eflential part of 
 Juftice, and an ovcr-fpeaking Judge is no ixell-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 fhew quickncfs of conceit in cutting off Evi- 
 dence or Counfel too (liort, or to prevent Informations 
 by Qiieltions tho-agh pertinent. The raits of a Ji.dge 
 in hearing are four^ To direft the Evidence; to nio- 
 derate length, repetition, or impertinency of Speech. 
 To Recapitulate, Seled , and Collate the material 
 Points of that which hath been faid ; And to give thsf 
 llule or Sei^t<;n<?e. VVhatfoever is above Ihefe, is too? 
 
 L 2- mi^ehy 
 
148 Sir Francis Bacons Bjfays. 
 
 much-, and proceedeth either of Glory and willing- 
 nefs to fpeak, or of Impatience to hear, or of fhort- 
 nefs of Memory, or of want of a ftayed and equal 
 Attention. It isa flrange thing to fee, that the bold- 
 nefs of Advocates (hould prevail with Judges ^ where- 
 as they fhould imitate God in whofe feat they fit, who 
 reprejfeth the Prefumpturjm^ and ghctb Grace to the Modefi, 
 But it is more ftrange, that judges (hould have noted 
 Favourites-, which cannot but caufe multiplication of 
 Fees, and fufpicion 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 
 Counfcl ^ and beats down in him the conceit of his 
 Caufe. There is likewife due to the Fuhlkk a civil Re- 
 pvehcnfon of Advocates^ where there appeareth cun- 
 ning Counfel, grofs Negledt, flight Information, in- 
 difcreet Preffing, or an overbold Defence. And let 
 not the Counfd at the Bar chop with the Judge ^ nor 
 wind himfelf into the handling of the Cauje 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- 
 eel (rr Proofs were not heard. 
 
 Thirdly, For that that concerns Clerks and Afinijle^s. 
 The Place of J.iftice is an hallov;ed Place ^ and there- 
 fore not only the Bench, but the Foot-pace, and Pre- 
 cincts, and Parprife thereof ought to be preferved 
 withoat Scandal a.ad Corruption. For certainly Grapes 
 fas the Scripture faith; ir/// not be gathered of Thorns or 
 Thifilcs'^ neither can yi^y?/a^ yield her Fruit with Sweet- 
 nefs amongll; the Briars and Brambles of Catching and 
 Poling C/e>';^i and Afimjiers. The Attendance of Courts 
 is fubjedt to four bad Inilruments: Firll, Certain 
 Perfons that are fowcrs of Suits w^hich make the Court 
 fwell, and the Country pine. The fccond fort is, 
 Of thofe that engage Courts in Quarrels of Jurifdidi- 
 
 on. 
 
of Judicature. 149 
 
 on, and are not truly j^mici Curia^ but Paraftti Cur'ue^ 
 in puffing a Court up beyond her bounds, for their 
 own Scraps and Advantage. The third fort is, Of 
 thofe that may be accounted the Left hands of Courts -^ 
 Perfons that are full of nimble and fmifter tricks and 
 fhifts, whereby they pervert the plain and direct Cour- 
 fes oi Courts^ and bring Jufticc into oblique Lines and 
 Labyrinths. And the fourth is, the Poller and Ex- 
 a(^er of Fees, which juflifies the common refemblance 
 of the Courts of Jufttce to the Bujh^ whereunto whil« 
 the Iheep flies for Defence in Weather, he is flue to 
 iofe part of his Fleece. On the other lide, an Ancisnt 
 Clerk^ skilful in Precedents, wary in proceeding, and 
 underftanding in the Bufviefs of the Court ^ is an excel- 
 lent Finger of a Court ^ and doth many times point 
 the way to the Jud^e himfelf. 
 
 Fourthly, For that which may concern the Sove* 
 Yaign and Eftate. Judges ought above all to remember 
 the conclulion of the Roman Trvche Tables^ Salus Po^u^ 
 It Suprema 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- 
 thing in a State^ when Kuigs and States do often con- 
 fult with Judges-^ and again, when Judges do often 
 confult with the Kii^g and State : The one, when there 
 is a matter of Law intervenient in bufmefs of State ^ 
 The other, when there is fome coniideration of State 
 intervenient in matter of Law. For many times the 
 things deduced to Judgment may be Mewn and Tuum^ 
 when the reafon and confequerxe thereof may Trench 
 to point of Eftate. I call matter of Eftate not only 
 the parts of Soveraignty ^ but whatfoever introduceth 
 any great Alteration, or dangerous Precedent, or con- 
 cerneth manifcftly any great portion of People. And 
 let no Man weakly conceive, that Juft Laws and true 
 Policy have any Jnti^athy : For they are like Spirits 
 and Sinews, that one moves with the other. L^t Judges 
 alfo remember, That Solomon's Throne Vi-sis fupportedl'y 
 
 L 3 Lioiii 
 
1 JO Sir Francis Bacon'i Effays. 
 
 Lions on both fides : Let them be Lions, but yet Li- 
 ons under the Throne-^ being circumfpedt, that they 
 do not check or oppofe any points of Sovcra'tgnty. 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 life and Application of Laws ^ 
 for they may remember what the Jpoflle faith of a 
 greater Law than theirs, Nos fcimus quia Lex bona efi, 
 fnodo quk €i^ utatur legitime* 
 
 LVII. 
 
 Of An^cr. 
 
 lr~r^O feek to cxtinguifh Anger utterly, is bnt a brave- 
 X IT of the Stoicks. We have better Oracles ; Be 
 
 angry ^ hut fin not. Let not the Sun go ^nwn upon your an- 
 ger, Jnger muft be limited and confined, both in Race 
 and Time. We will full fpeak, how the Natural In- 
 clination and Habit to be angry ^ may be attempered and 
 calmed. Secondly, How the particular motions of 
 anger may be reprclled, or at kail refrained from do- 
 ing m.ifchief. Thirdly, How to X2^\^^ anger ^ or appeafe 
 ayigcr in another. 
 
 For the firfr : There is no other wav bi't to Medi- 
 tate and :Ruminace w^ell upon the effedrs of Anger^ how 
 it troubles Man's Life. And the belt time to do this is, 
 to look back upon Anger ^ wlien the fit is throughly 
 over. Seneca faith well ; That Anger is like Ruine^ rvhich 
 breaks it: fdfupon that it falls. The Scripture exhorteth 
 us. To pojjefs our Souls in patience. Whofoever is out of 
 patience^ is out .of PoITeffion oi h\s Soul Men nuiR not 
 turn Bees , . 
 
 • Awmafiiue m vulnerc fonunt.. 
 
 Anger 
 
Of Anger. 1 5 1 
 
 ^nger is certainly a kind of Bafenefs; as it appears 
 well in the Weaknefs of thofe Subjeds in whom it 
 reigns, Children, Women, Old Folks, Sick Folks. On- 
 ly Men mull beware, that they carry xMtiv u4rrT^cr ra< 
 ther with Scorn, than with Fear: >o that they may 
 feem rather to be above the injury than below it, whicii 
 is a thing eaiily done, if a Man will give Law to hini- 
 felf in it. 
 
 For the fecond Point. The Caufcs and Motives of 
 j^nger are chiefly three: Fir ft, to be too fenfMe oihurt: 
 For no Man is Jngry that feels not himfelf hurt;; andi 
 therefore tender and delicate Perfons muft needs be of- 
 ten ^>igry : They have fo many things to trouble them, 
 which more robuft Natures have little fence of. The 
 next is, the Apprehenfion and Conftrutflionof the In- 
 jury offered, to be in the circumflaaccs thereof, full 
 oicontcmpt. ¥ov contempt [^ th^it which puttech an edge 
 upon Arige}\ as much or more than the hurt it felf: 
 And therefore when men are ingenious in picking 
 out circumffances of contempt^ they do kindle their ^/;* 
 gcr much. Laflly, Opinion of the touch of a Man's 
 Rcputjtion doth multiply and fliarpen Anger: Where^ 
 in the remedy is, that a Man Ihould have, as Confalvo 
 was wont to fay, Telam Honoris Craljiorem. But in all 
 refrainings of Anger ^ it is the befb remedy to win Time, 
 and to make a Man's felf believe that the Opportuni- 
 ty of his revenge is not yet come^ but that he fore* 
 fees a time for it, and fo to flill himiclfin the mcaa 
 time, andreferve it. 
 
 To contain ^«^er iVom yI///c/?/>/', though it take hold 
 of a Man , there be two things, whereof you muft 
 have fpecial Caution: The one, of excream bittemefs 
 of Words ^ efpecially if they be Aculeate and Proper^ 
 for Communia A<faledicJa are nothing fo much. And a- 
 gain. That in Anger a Man reveal no Secrets:, for thic 
 makes him not fit for Society. The, other, That you 
 do not ^ersmptorily ke.ih off in any bufmefs in a fit of 
 
 L4 ,y^^'^crt, 
 
1 5 i S/V Francis Bacon ^ PJJ^y^- 
 
 j^ngei-'^ but howfoever you /Tjeip bitternefs, dp not aii 
 any thing that is not revocable. 
 
 YoxYa'ifmg and appeafj^ig Aiigcr in another: It is done 
 chiefly by chufnig ot Times •, when Men are frowardeft 
 and worit difpofed, to incenfe them. Agaii), by ga- 
 thering (as was touched beforej all that you can find 
 out to aggravate the contempt :, and the tv/o remedies are 
 by the contraries: The former^ to take good Times, 
 when firft to relate to a Man an angry bufinefs: For 
 the firft ImprefTion is much ^ and the other is, to fevcv 
 ^s much as maybe the Conftru^lion of the Injury from 
 the Point of ro;7few]?^^ imputing it to Mifunderftanding, 
 Fear, PafTion, or what you will. 
 
 LVin. 
 
 of Vici(^itude of Things. 
 
 So LO MO N faith, There is' no new thing^ upon the 
 Earth. So that as TUto had an imagination, That 
 all knowledge xvcus but a remembrance : So Solomon giveth 
 his fentence, That all Novelty is hut Oblivion : Whereby 
 you may fee, That the River of Lethe runneth as well 
 above ground as below. There is an abftrufe Aftro- 
 loger that faith, If it where not for two things that are 
 con ft ant ^ (The one is ^ That the fixed Stars ever Jl and at like 
 diftance one from another.^ and never come nearer together^ 
 nor go further afunder -^ the other ^ That the Diurnal Aioti- 
 on perpetually keepeth lime) no Individual would Idjl one 
 moment. Certain it is. That the matter is in a perpetu- 
 al Flux, and never at a Hay. The great Winding- 
 Sheets that bury all things in Oblivion are two ^ De- 
 \Hges and Earthquakes, As for Conflagrations and great 
 Lirov.ghts,^ they do not mecrly difpeople, but deltroy. 
 fhaet'jn's Om wect but a Day: And the Three years 
 Prcugl:^ in the time of £/m5, w^s but particular,' and 
 
 left 
 
of Vki(siiude of Things. \ 5 5 
 
 left People alive. As for the great burnhigs by Light- 
 nings^ which are often in the Weft Indies^ they are but 
 narrow. But in the other two Deflrudions, by De- 
 fuge and Earthquake^ it is further to be noted. That 
 the remnant of People which hap to be referved, are 
 commonly ignorant and mountainous People, that can 
 give no account of the time paft- fo that the Obli- 
 vion is all one, as if none had been left. Ifyoucon- 
 fider well of the People of the Weft-Indks^ it is very 
 probable, that they are a newer or younger People, 
 than the People of the Old World. And it is much 
 more likely, that the deftrudtion that hath heretofore 
 been there, was not by Earthquakes^ (as the Egyptim 
 Priefl told Solon ^ concerning the liland of Atlantis^ 
 That it wiu fw allowed by an Earthquake ) but rather , 
 it was Defolatcd by a particular Deluge: For Earth- 
 quahs are feldom in thofe parts. But on the other lide, 
 they have fuch pouring Rivers^ as the Rivers of y^/ia^ 
 and Afrid^ and Euro^e^ are but Brooks to them. Their 
 Jndes likewife, or Mountains, are far higher tlian 
 thofe with us^ whereby it feems, that the Remnants 
 of Generations of Men were in fuch a particular Dc^ 
 luge faved. As for the obfervation that A4achia7jel hath, 
 1 hat the Jealoufie of Seds doth much extinguifh the 
 memory of things ^ traducing Gregory the Great, that 
 he did what in him lay to extinguilh all Heathen An^ 
 tiquities. I do not find that thofe Zeals do any great 
 ElTefts, nor laft long ;, as it appeared in the Succefli- 
 on of Sahinian ^ who did revive the former Antiqui- 
 ties. 
 
 The ViciJJitude or Mutations in the Superior Globe^ are 
 no fit matter for this prefent Argument. It may be 
 Plato^s Great year , if the World fliould laft fo long, 
 would have fome effed^ not in renewing the State of 
 like Individuals, (for that in the Fume of thofe, that 
 conceive the Coeleilial Bodies have more accurate In- 
 fluences upon thefe things below, than indeed they 
 have) but inGrofs. Cojnets o\)^t ofcjueftioa have likcr 
 
 wife 
 
I 5 4 Sir Francis Bacon'^ ^Jf^y^- 
 
 wife Power and Effect over the Grofs and Mafs of 
 thing,s: But they arc rather* gazed upon, and waited 
 npon in their Journey, than wifely obfcrved in their 
 Eftcct% efpecially in their refpeiftive Elfeds^ that is, 
 What kind of Comet for Magnitude, C^olour, Verfioa 
 of the Dcams, phcing in the Region of Heaven, or 
 lading, prodnceth what kind of effcds. 
 
 Tiiere is a Toy which I have heard , and I would 
 not have it given over, but waited upon a little. They 
 fay it is obferved in the Low-Counttcys^ (\ know not in 
 what part) That every five and thirty Years, the fame 
 kind and fait of Years and Weathers come about a- 
 gain, as great Frofts, great Wet, great Droughts, warm 
 Wmtcrs, Summers with little Heat, and the like ^ and 
 they call it the Prime, It is a thing I do rather mention, 
 becaufe computing backwards, I have found fome con- 
 currence. 
 
 But to leave thefe points oi Nature^ and come to men. 
 The ^rQatc9: ricijjhudc of things aniongfl ;«('??, is. The 
 Vtcifjlhick of Se&s and Religions : For thofe Orbs rule in 
 mens minds mofl. The true Rehgion is built upon the 
 Rock^ the reft are toft upon the Waves of Time. To 
 fpeak therefore of the Caufes of new Se^is^ and to give 
 fome Counfel concerning them, as far as the weaknefs 
 of Humane Judgment can give ftay to fo great Revo- 
 lutions. 
 
 When the Religion formerly received, is rent by Dif- 
 cords^ and when the Ilollnef^ of the Profelfors of 
 Religion is decayed, and full of Scandal, and withal 
 the Times be Stupid, Ignorant, and Barbarous, you 
 may doubt the fpringing up of a new Se^^ if then alfo 
 there fhould arife any extravagant and ftrange Spirit 
 to make himfelf Author thereof: All which points 
 held, when Mahomet publifhed his Law, If a new ScCi: 
 have not two properties, fear it not •, for it will not 
 rprcad. The one is, The Supplanting or the Oppo- 
 ung of Authority eftablifhed.' For nothing is more 
 popular than that, I'he other 1% The giving Licence 
 
 to 
 
of Vicif^ttude of Things. 155 
 
 to plearnres and Voluptuous Life. For as for Specula- 
 tiv€ Herefies^ ffuch ns were in Ancient Times the Ar- 
 rians , and now the ji^yninums ) tliough they work 
 mightily upon Mens Vv^its , yet tbey do not pvodnce 
 any great alteration in States, except it be by the help 
 of Civil Occafions. There be three manner of Plan- 
 tations of mw Sdls^ By the Power of Signs and ^^'t- 
 racles^ by the Eloqucyice and Wifdom of Speech and Fer- 
 fwafton^ and by the Scvord-^ for AJartydmis^ I reckon 
 them amongll Miraiks^ becaure they fecm to exceed 
 the flrength of Humane Nature: And \ may do the 
 like of Superlitivc and Admirahk Holi^'cfs of Life. Sure- 
 ly there is no better way to Hop the riluig of new 
 Sc^s and Schifms^ than to reform abufcs, to compound 
 the fmaller differences, to proceed mildly, and not 
 with Sanguinary perfecutions; and rather to take off 
 the principal Authors by, winning and advancing 
 them , than to enrage them by violence and bitter- 
 nefs. 
 
 The Changes and Fklfjltude in Wars are many, but 
 chiefly in three things: in the Seats or Stages of the 
 War-^ in the IVcapons^ and in the manner of the Con- 
 du&. Wars in Ancient Time, Teemed more to move 
 from Eajl to Wefi : For the FerfLms^ ^j^7'''^^'^r ^^'^^^ans^ 
 F^artars ■; which are the Invaders j were all Eaftern 
 People. It is true, the Gauls were Wellern, but we 
 read but of two Incuriions of theirs, the one to Galh- 
 Gracia., the other to Rome. But Eajl and IVefl have no 
 certain Points of Heaven, and no more have thQlFan 
 cither from the Eafi or IVeft any certainty of Obfer- 
 vaiion. But North and South are fixed, and it hath 
 feldom or never been fecn, that the far Southern Peo- 
 ple have invaded the Northern , but contrariwife. 
 Whereby it is manifefr, that the Nolhcrn T'ra^i of the 
 World is in nature the more Martial Pveligion •, be it 
 in refpedt of the Stars of that Hemifphere, or of the 
 great Continents that are upon the Xnrth^ whereas 
 .■ the South Part^ for ought that is knovv-n, is almofl: all 
 
 Sea -5 
 
156 Sir Francis Bacon*5 E/Jays. 
 
 Sea j or (which is mofl: apparent^ of the Cold of the 
 Northern Parts^ which is that, which without Aid of 
 Difcipline doth make the bodies hardcft, and the Cou- 
 rages warmefl. 
 
 Upon the Breahng and Shivering of a great State and 
 Empire^ you may be fure to have IVars, For great 
 Empires, while they fland, do enervate and deilroy 
 the forces of the Natives which they have fubdued, ' 
 refting upon their own Proteding forces ^ and then 
 when they fail alfo, all goes to ruinc, and they be- 
 come a Prey. So was it in the decay of the Roman 
 Empire ^ and likewife in the Empire of Ahnain , after 
 Charles the Great , every Bird taking a Feather, and 
 were not unlike to befall to Spain, if it Ihould break. 
 The great Acceffiom and Vnions of Kingdoms do likewife 
 ftir up Wars, For when a State grows to an Over- 
 power, it is like a great flood that will be fure to over- 
 flow. As it hath been feen in the States oiRorne^ Tur- 
 tfe, Sfain^ and others. Look when the World hath 
 tevvell Barbarous People^ but fuch as commonly will not 
 marry or generate, except they know means to live^ 
 (as it is almoft every where at this day, except Tar- 
 tary ) there is no danger of Inundations of People ; 
 but when there be great Shoals of People^ which go on 
 to populate without forefeeing means of Life and Su- 
 Itentation, it is of necefTity that once in an Age or 
 tw^o, they difcharge a Portion of their People upon 0- 
 ther Nations , which the ancient Northern People were 
 wont to do by Lot, calling Lot what part fhould Hay 
 at home, and what (honld feek their Fortunes, When a 
 Warlike State grows foft and effeminate^ they may be fure 
 of a War ^ for commonly fuch States are grown rich 
 in the time of their Degenerating, and fo the Prey 
 inviteth, and their decay in valour encourageth a 
 War. 
 
 As for the Weapons^ it hardly falleth under Rule and 
 Obfervation :, yet we fee even they have Returns and 
 Ficijjitudcs, For certaii) it is, that Ordnance w^s known 
 
 ia 
 
of Viclf^itiide of Things] 157 
 
 in the City of the Oxydrakes in India ^ and was that 
 which the Alacedonians called Thunder and Lightning, 
 and Magick. And it was well know^n, that the nfc 
 of Ordnance hath been in China above 2000 Years. The 
 conditions of IVeafons ^ and their improvement ave^ 
 Firll, The fetching afar off 5 for that out-runs the 
 danger, as it is feen in Ordn.mce and Muskets. Second- 
 ly, The ftrength of the PercufTion, wherein likevvifc 
 Ordnance do exceed all Arietations, and ancient Inven- 
 tions. The Third is. The commodious ufe of them ^ 
 as that they may ferve in all Weathers, that the Carriage 
 may be light and manageable, and the like. 
 
 For the Conduct of the War-^ at the firft Men reftcd 
 extreamly upon Numhtr^ they did put the Wars likewife 
 upon 7nain torce and Kilour^ pointing days foi pitched 
 Fields, and fo trying it out upon an even match, and 
 they were more ignorant in Ranging zxidi Arraying their 
 Battels. After they grew to relt upon Numht^^ rather 
 Competent than Va'ft, they giew to advantages oi Floic^ 
 Cunning Divtrficns^ and the like ^ and they grew more 
 skilful in the ordering of their Battels. 
 
 In the Touth of a State .^ Arms do flouriih-, m the 
 fniddle Age of a State Learnings and then both of them 
 together for a time: In the declining Age of a Statc^ 
 Aiechanical Arts and Merchandize. Le.trning ^ hath his 
 Infancy when it is hut beginning, and almolt Chil- 
 difh ♦, then his Youth when it is Luxuriant and juve- 
 nile*, then his ftrength of Years, when it is iblid and 
 reduced- and laflly, his 0/a Age :^ when it waxed dry 
 and exhauft . But it is not good to look too long up- 
 on thefe turning Wheels oCrtcijJitude^ leil we become 
 giddy. As for the FhMogy ct them, that is but a Cir- 
 cle of Tales, and therefore not tit lor this Wi iting. 
 
 A frjg^ 
 
158 Sir Francis BaconV EJJays. 
 
 L!X. 
 
 J Fragment of an Effay of Fame, 
 
 THE Pnets make Fame a Monficr. They defcribe 
 her in part finely and elegantly^ and in part 
 gravely and fententioiifly. They fay, look how ma- 
 ny Feathers fhe hath, fo many Fyes fiie hath underneath : 
 fo many Toyj^ucs ^ fo many f^oices ^ (he pricks np fo ma- 
 ny Ears, 
 
 This bafi'juri/h: There follow excellent Parables-^ 
 as that (he gathcreth flrcngth in goings that fiie goeth 
 upon the ground , and yet hideth her head in the 
 Clouds. That in the day-time ilic llttCLh in a Watch- 
 Towtr^ and fieth moll: by Night; That "i^w^ mingleth 
 things done with things not done: And that fhe is 
 a terror to great Citiei : But that which pafleth all 
 the reft is: they do recount tliat the Earthy Alother of 
 the Gya)its^ that made War againft Ju^itcr^ and were 
 by him deltroyed, thereupon, in anger, brought forth 
 Fa^'Ve: For certain it is, that Rebels figured by the Cy- 
 ctnts and Seditious Fames ^ and Libels ^ are but Brothers 
 and Sifiers ^ Mafculine and Feminine. But now if a Man 
 c;:m tame this A^onller^ and bring her to feed at the 
 hand, and govern her, and with her fiie other raven- 
 ing Fowl, and kill them, it is fomewhat worth. But 
 we are infected with the ftile of the Poets. To fj-jeak- 
 now in a fid and fcrious manner: There is not in all 
 the Politicks, a Place lefs handled, and more worthy 
 to be handled, than this of Fame. We will therefore 
 fpeak of thefc points. WhaT* are falfe Fames :, and what 
 are true Fames: and how they may be belt difcern- 
 ed^ how Fames may be fowii and rjifed^ how they 
 may be fpread and multiplied, and how they may be 
 checked and laid dead: And other things concerning 
 ih^Natiirs of Fame. Fame is of that force, as there is 
 
 icarcelv^ 
 
Of Fame. 159 
 
 fcarcely any great Adion wherein it hath not a greac 
 part, efpecially in the War. Muciamis undid Fttdlms 
 by a Fame that he fcattered ^ that Vitdlhis had in pur- 
 pofe to remove the Legions of Syria into Gtrmany : 
 and the Legions of Germany into Syria: whereupon 
 the Legions of Syria were infinitely inflamed. yuln<s 
 C^far took Pompey unprovided, and laid a/lcep his 
 induflry and preparations, by a Fame that he cunning- 
 ly gave out, how Cafafs own Soldiers lored him not ^ 
 and being wearied with the Wars, and laden with 
 the fpoils of Gaul^ would forfake him as foon as he 
 came into Italy. Livia fetled all things for the Succef- 
 fion of her Son Tiberius^ by continual giving out, that 
 her Husband Augujlm was upon recovery and amend- 
 ment. And it is an ufuai thing with Ba/Jjarvs ^ to 
 conceal the Death of the great Turk from the Janiz^^ 
 ries and Men of War, to fave the Sacking of Conftan- 
 tinople , and other Towns^ as their manner is. Thcmi- 
 flocks made Xerxes King of Perjli po(t apace out of 
 Cracia^ by giving out that the Oracians had a purpofe 
 to break his Bridge of Ships, which he had made athwart 
 Hellefpont. There be a thoufand fuch like Examples- 
 and the more they are, the lefs they need to be re- 
 peated 'y becaufe a Man meeteth with them every 
 where: Therefore, let all wife Governours have as 
 great a watch and care over Fame^ as they have of the 
 ^^fions and defignsthemfelves. 
 
 The red r?.^ notfinifhed. 
 
 AChn 
 
1 6o Sir Francis Bacon'i Ejfays4 
 
 LX. 
 
 J CiVil CbaraFler of Julius Cacfar. 
 
 JVLIVS Czy£S AR was partaker at firll of an 
 ex'crcifed Fortune ;, which turned to his benefit : 
 For it abated tlie haughtincfs of his fpirit, and whet* 
 ted his Induftry. He had a Mind, turbulent in his De- 
 fires and Affedtions^ but in his judgment and under- 
 ftanding very fcreyic and plicid: And this appears by 
 his ealie deliverances of himfelf, both in his Tranfadi- 
 ens and in his Speech. For no Man ever refolved 
 more fwiftly, or fpake more perfpicuouily and plainly. 
 There v:as nothing forced or difficult in his exprefTions. 
 But in his will and appetite, he was of that Conditi- . 
 on, that he never refted in thofe things he had got- 
 ten ^ but Hill thiriled and purfued after new ^ yet fo, 
 that he would not rodi into new Affairs ralhly, but 
 fettle and make an end of the former, before he at- 
 tempted frefh Anions. So that he would put a fea- 
 fonable period to all his Undertakings. And there- 
 fore, though he won many Battels in Spain ^ and 
 weakned their Forces by degrees- yet he would not 
 give over, nor defpife the Relicks of the Civtl War 
 there, till he had feea all things compofed : But then' 
 afToon as that was done, and the State fetkd, inflant- 
 ly he advanced in bis Expedition againil: tlie Farthi-^ 
 ayis. 
 
 He was, no doubt, of a very nobie Mind; but 
 yet ilich as aimed more at his particular Advancmicnt^ 
 than at many Adertts for the Common Good. For he re- 
 ferred all things to Himfelf-^ and v;as the true and per- 
 fcdi Centre of all his Actions. By which means, be- 
 ing fo faft tied to his Ends, he was ftiil profperous^ 
 and prevailed in hisPurpOfes, Infomuch, that neither 
 Country^ nor Religion^ nor good 'Turns done him, not 
 
 Kindred^ 
 
 
Of Julius C4^ir. \6t 
 
 Kindred^ nor FrlendJJjip diverted his Appetite, nor brid- 
 led him from purfuing his own Ends. Neither was he 
 much inclined to rvorks of Perpetuity : For he eftablilh- 
 ed nothing for the future ; He founded no fumptuous 
 iuiidlngs'^ He procured to be enacted no wbolfoni 
 Lam^ but ftill minded himfelf : Anil fo his thoughts 
 were confined within the Circle of his own Life.^ He 
 fought indeed after Fame and Reputation^ becaufe lie 
 thought they might be profitable to his Ucfigns : Other- 
 wife, in his inward thoughts be propounded to himfelf 
 rather Jbfolutcnefs of Power ^ than Honour and Ftme. 
 Yov^shv Honour mid Fame ^ he purfued not after them 
 for themfelves^ but becaufe they were the Inftruments 
 of Power and Grcatnep. And therefore he was carri- 
 ed on through a Natural Inclination , not by any 
 Rules that heliad learned, to effect the fole Regiment-^ 
 and rather to eyjjoy the fame than to feem vportby of it. 
 And by this means he won much Reputation amongit 
 the People, who are no valuers of true Worth : Bur a- 
 mongft the Nobility and great Men, who were tender 
 of their own Honours, it procured him no more than 
 this, that he incurred the Brand of an ylmhitious and 
 Daring Alan. 
 
 Neither did they much err from the Truth who 
 thought him fo^ for he was by Nature exceeding hold-^ 
 and never did put on any (hew of Modefly^ except it 
 were for fome purpofes. Yet notwithftanding, hefo 
 attempered his Boldnefs^ that it neither impeached him 
 " of Raihnefs ^ nor was burthenfome to Men ^ nor 
 rcndred his Nature fufpsded, but was conceived to 
 flow out of an Innate Sincerity and freenefs of Beha- 
 viour, and t\\Q Nobility of his Birth: And in all other 
 things he paifed, not for a Crafty and Deceitful Perfon, 
 .but tor an open hearted and flain-dealifjg Man. And 
 whereas he was indeed an ^rch-Politician^ that could 
 counterfeit and diflemble fufficiently well ^ and was 
 wholly Compounded of Frauds Si^d Deceits^ fo that there 
 • was nothing yJ^cf re in him, but all artificial j yet he 
 
 M covered 
 
1 6 2 Sir Francis Bacon 5 Ejjk^s. 
 
 Covered and difguifed himfelf fo, that no fuch Vices, 
 appeared to the Eyes of the World j but he was gene- 
 rally reputed to proceed plainly and uprightly with 
 all Men. How belt, he did not ftoop to any petty 
 and mean jinifices^ as they do, which are ignorant in 
 State Employments-, and depend not fo much upon 
 the ftrength of their own Wit^, as upon the Counfels 
 and Brains of others, to fupport their Authority; for 
 he was skilled in the Turnings of all Humane Affairs j 
 arid tranfaded all Matters, cfpecially thofe of high 
 Confequence by himfelf, and not by others. 
 
 He was fmgularly skilful to avoid Envy ; 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 Power ^ he was content to pafs by all 
 vain Pomp and outward fhews of Power throughout 
 his whole Life; Till at the laft, whether high-flown 
 with the continual Exercife of Power^ or corrupted with 
 Flatteries^ he affeded the Enfigns of Poirer, ('the Stile and 
 Diadem of a King J which was the Bait that wrought 
 his Over throw. 
 
 This is true, that he harboured the thoughts of a 
 Kingdom from his very youth : And hereunto the Ex- 
 ample of SylU^ and the Kindred of Mariiis^ and his £- 
 9milation of Pompey^ and the Corruption and Ambition of 
 the Times^ did prick him forward .• But then he paved 
 Ills way to a Kingdom^ after a wonderful and ftrange 
 manner. As firft, by a Popular and Seditious Power; 
 afterwards by a Military Power^ and that of a General 
 in War. For there was required to effedl his Ends; 
 Firll, That he fhould break the Pov\-^cr and Authority of 
 the Senate ; which, as long as it ftood firm, was ad- 
 verfe, and an hindrance, that no Man could climb 
 to Soveraignty and Imperial Command, Then the Power 
 ofCrafm and Pompcy was to be fubdued and quelled, 
 which could not be done otherwifc, than by Arms, 
 And therefore (as the moll Cunning Contriver of his 
 own Fortune) he laid liis firft Foundation by Bribes-^ 
 
 By 
 
Of Julius Cdfar. t^J 
 
 By corrupting the Courts of JuJHce^ by renewing the 
 meynory of Cuius Mar ins ^ and his party; For moil of 
 the Senators <i\\^ Nobility were of SyMs Fadton: by 
 the Law of dtfiributing the Fields anionglT: the Commoii 
 Peopk: by the Sedition of the Tribunes^ where he was 
 the Author : by the madntfs and fury of Catili}^^ and 
 the Confpirators^ unto which Adion he fceietiy blew the 
 Co.7/i/ By the Banifhimt of Cicero^ which was the 
 grcatefl: Blow, to the Authority of the Senate^ a% might 
 be 5 and fcveral other the like Arts: But moH of all 
 by t\\Q Conjunction oi Craffus andPompey^ both betwixt 
 themfeives, and with him -^ which was the thing that fi- 
 nifhed the work. 
 
 Having accomplifht this part, he betook himfelf to 
 the other ^ which was to make nfe of, and to tn^oy 
 hisporrcr. For being made Froconful of France for five 
 years ^ and afterwards continuing it for five years 
 more; he furnilhed himfelf with A'nn and Legions^ 
 and the power of a Warlike and Opulent P;*ow;r^ ; as 
 was formidable to Italy. 
 
 Neither w^as he ignorant, that after he had itrcngth- 
 ned himfelf with Arms and a Afilitary Fo\vc>\ neither 
 Crajjus nor Pompey could ever be able to bear up againft 
 him ; whereof the one trufled 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 
 la (line; Foundations. And the rather, for that he had 
 obliged all the Senators and Magiftrates : And in a word, 
 all thofe that had any power in the Convnon-wcalth^ 
 fo firmly to himfelf^ with private benefits, that he was 
 fearlefs of any Combination or Oppoiition againlb 
 his Dcligns, till he had openly invaded the Prnperial 
 Power. 
 
 Which things, though he always bare in his Mlnd^ 
 and at the la ft acted it, yet he did not lay down his 
 former perfon ; but coloured things fo^ that what 
 Vvith the rcafonablenefs of his Demands, what with 
 
 M ?, his 
 
1^4 ^^^ Francis Bacon i EJfays. 
 
 his pretences of Peace , and what with the moderate 
 tife of his SuccelTes, he turned all the Envy of the M- 
 verfe Party^ and feemed to take up Jirms upon neceffity 
 for his own prefervation and fafety. But the falfenefs 
 of this pretence manifeflly appeared j inafmuch as 
 foon after having obtained th^ Regal Power^ all Civil War 
 being appeafed, and all his Rivals and Oppofites^ which 
 might put him to any fear, being removed out of the 
 way by the ftroke of Death -^ notwithftanding he ne- 
 ver thought of refigning the Republick'^ no, nor ever 
 made any fhew or offer of reftgning the fame. Which 
 fhev/ed plainly, that his ambition of being a King was 
 fetled in him, and remained with him unto his laft 
 breath. For he did not lay hold upon occafions, as they 
 happen'd, but moulded and formed the occafioas,a$ him- 
 felf pleafed. 
 
 His chief Ahilitks confifled in Martial Knowledge-^ 
 in which he fo excelled, that he could not only lead 
 an Army, but mould an Army to his own liking. For 
 he was not more skilful in managing Affairs, than in 
 winning of Hearts. Neither did he effed this by any 
 ordinary Difcipline, as by inuring them to fulfil all 
 his commands :i or by ftriking a fliame into thecn 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 
 afTnre him of the Viftory aforehand, and which did 
 oblige the Soldier to him, more than was fit for a Fres 
 Efiate, Now whereas he was verfed in all kinds of 
 Martial Knowledge^ and joyned Civil Arts with the 
 Arts of War '^ nothing came fo fuddenly, or fo un- 
 lookt for upon him, for which he had not a remedy 
 at hand : And nothing was fo averfe, but that he could 
 pick fomethingfor his Turn and Benefit out of it. 
 
 He ftood fufiicicntly upon his State and Creatnefs, 
 For in great Battels, he v.'^ould fit at home in the Head 
 Quarter^ and manage all Things by Meffages , which 
 wrought him a double benefit. Firll, that it fecured 
 
 his 
 
of Julius Cjtfarl \ 6j 
 
 Vis Perfon more, and expofed him the lefs to Denier- 
 Secondly, that if at any time his Army was \y6rfled» 
 he could put new fpirit into them with his own pre- 
 fence, and the Addition of frejfj Forces^ and turn the 
 Fortune oixh^Day, In the conducting ofhisJF^r^, he 
 would not only follow former Trccedcnts^ but he was 
 able to devife and purfue new Stratagems^ according as 
 the accidents and occafions required. 
 
 He was conflant, and fmgularly kind, and indul- 
 gent in his Friendfhip contrafted. Notwithitanding, 
 he made choice of fuch Friends, as a Man might eafi- 
 ly fee, that he chofe them rather to be Injlruments to 
 his Ends^ than for any Good will towards them. And 
 whereas, by Nature, and out of a firm Refolution, he 
 adhered to this Principle^ not to be eminent amongll 
 Great and deserving Men^ but to be chief amongft 
 Jnfcriows and rajjals: he chofe only mean and active 
 Men , and fuch as to whom himfelf might be all ia 
 all. And hereupon grew that faying^ So let Ca^far 
 live^ though I die: and other Speeches of that kind. 
 As for the Nobility^ and thofe that were his Peers^ he 
 , contracted Friendfhip, with fuch of them as might be 
 ufeful to him ^ and admitted none to hh Cabinet Council^ 
 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 Policy. For he was well read in Hijlo^ 
 ry: and was expert in Rhetorick^ i^nd the j^rt of fpeak-^ 
 ing. And becaufe he attributed much to his good 
 Stars^ he would pretend more than an ordinary Know- 
 ledge in Aftronomy, As for Eloquence^ and a prompt Elo-? 
 CHtion^ that was Natural to him, and pure. 
 
 He was diflblute^ and propenfe to yoUqtuoufnefs and 
 Pleafures ^ which feryed well at firft for a Cover to hi^ 
 Ambition. For no Man would imagine, that a Mar^ 
 fo loofely given could harbour any Ambitious and Val^ 
 Jhoughts in his Heart. Notwithitanding^ he fo gp^ 
 
 M 3 ' verrjed 
 
I 66 Sir Francis Bacon*5 Ejjays. 
 
 verned his Pleafures^ 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 Tew - 
 fcfat^ 3t his Meals ^ fnc from Nicencfs and Curiofity in 
 his Lufts'^ pleafantand ALignificpit at ^uhlick Interludes. 
 Thus being accornpliihed , the fame thing was the 
 Means of his doicn-fall at iafl-, which in his Beginnings 
 was a Itep to his Rife^ I mean his Jjfeclat'wn of Popula- 
 rity : For nothing is more popular^ than to forgive our 
 Enemies. Through which, tiXh^vFcrtue ox Cunning^ he 
 loft his Life. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 A QVd QharaBer of Augustus Cxfar. 
 
 AVGVSrvS Ccl/£SAR^ rif ever any Mortal 
 Mayi) was endued with a grcatnefs oi Adlnd^ im- 
 (fijlurhed with PaJJioyis^ clear and well ordered-^ which is 
 evidenced by the High Atchievemcnts which he perfor- 
 med in his early youth. For thofe 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 fhew forth 
 their Perfo(lions •, but thofe that are of a fedate and 
 caUn Nature, may be ripe for great and glorious Adfi- 
 pns in their youth. And whereas the Faculties of the 
 Mind^ no lefs than the Parts and Members of the Body^ 
 do confiil and flourifli in a good temper of Healthy and 
 "^emty^ and Strength-^ So he was in t\\Q ftrcngth of the 
 Mind^ inferior to his llnkle Julius -^ but in the Health 
 and Beauty o{t\\Q Mind ^ fuperior. For Julius being 
 of an unquiet and uncompofed Spirit, fas thofe, who 
 are troubled with the F ailing' Sichnefs for the moft part 
 are J notwithHanding he carried on his own ends with 
 aiuch Moderation and Difcrgtion ^ but he did not orr. 
 
 dcr 
 
 A 
 
Of Augujlus Q4^r] 1 67 
 
 der bis ends well, propounding to himfelf, vaft and 
 high Deligns, above the Reach oi a Mortal Man. Bvii 
 Auguftm^ as a Man fober, and mindful of his Aiortali^ 
 ty^ feemed to propound no other ends to himfelf, than 
 fuch as were orderly and well weighed, and governed 
 by Reafon, For firft he was defirous indeed to have 
 the Rule and Principality in his hands ^ then he fought 
 to appear worthy of that Power which he fhould ac- 
 quire : Next, to enjoy an Ht^h Place^ he accounted but 
 a Tranfitory Thing: Laftly, He endeavoured to do fuch 
 jiCtions^ as might continue his memory^ and leave an /m«- 
 preffion of his good Government to j^ftcr y^ges. And there- 
 fore, in the beginning of his ^ge^ he affe^ed Power -^ ia 
 the middle of his Jge^ Honour^ and Dignity ^ in the de* 
 dine of his years^ Eafe and Pleafure ^ and in the end of his 
 Lifcy he vvas wholly bent to Memory and Pojlcrtty, 
 
 ii 
 
 M 4 THE 
 
THE 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 OF Adijerfity. Page ii 
 
 Of ylmbttion. roi. 
 
 Of Jnger. / 150 
 
 Of Athetfyn. 41 
 
 Of Beauty. ^^6 
 
 OfBoldnefs, 29 
 
 Gf Building. 1 1 9 
 
 Of Ceremonies and Ref^clis:^ 1 3 3 
 
 OfCounfel. ' 53 
 
 Of Cunning, 58 
 
 OfCuJfom and Education. 107 
 
 Of Death. • • ^^ 
 
 Of Deformity. lij 
 
 Of Delays. 57 
 
 0/ Difcourfe. 89 
 
 ■'Of Difpntch. 6% 
 
 Of Fmptre, 48 
 
 Of Envy, :(8 
 
 C/ Expellee, ^6 
 
 Of Eacli'^n, 13^ 
 
 0/ foUotvers and Frn-nds. 1 3 1 
 
 Of Fortune. 109 
 
 Of Eriendfhip, 69 
 
 Of<Jarde?is. 1 23 
 
 (tfGoodnefs^ and Goodnefs of Nature 30 
 
 Of Great Place. ' I5 
 
 r>/r/96' rrwf Greatnefs of Kingdoms and EflaU$, . 77 
 
 Of Regiment of EJealth. i^v gtf 
 
 p/ Honour and Reputation. ' 1 44 
 
 Of Inyiovations.. • (54 
 
of Judicature. i/^6 
 
 Of Love. ^ ' ^ 23 
 
 Of Marriage and Single Life, ^ 7 
 
 Of Mash and Triumphs. 1 0^ 
 
 Of Nature in Men. - 1 o^ 
 
 Of Negotiating, 1 29 
 
 Of Nobility, 33 
 
 Of Parents and Children, i ^ 
 
 Of Plantations. p2 
 OfPraife. : • 14O 
 OfPropkeci^s, ' ] ^8 
 Of Revenge. ., . . .• 9 
 
 Of Riches. p^ 
 
 Of Seditions and Troubles. ^^ 
 
 Of Seeming Wife, <J7 
 
 Of Simulation and Dijfmulation, . ^2 
 Of Skidies, > -'135 
 OfSuperjfition, ' ' ^4 
 
 dfSufpicion. gg 
 
 pf Suitors, \ . < J 33 
 
 Of Travel .(S 
 
 Of Truth. \ 
 
 Of Fain Glory. j^y^ 
 
 Of rtcijfitude of Things. i - ^ 
 0/ Z/^wi^)' / fi ^ eligion, 
 OfVfury, 
 
 OfWifdomfor a Mans Self. 
 
 Of Touth and y^ge, j j ^ 
 
 j4 Fragment of an Ejfay of Fame, i ^3 
 
 ^ Ciz/// Character o/julius C^far. j (^(^ 
 
 ^ Civil Charader of Anguftus Cxfar. t^^f 
 
 5 
 
 no 
 
 6i 
 
 FINIS 
 
O F T H E 
 
 COLOURS 
 
 OF 
 
 G O O D and E V I L; 
 
 A Fragment. 
 
 • m t ■» II 
 
IN DeliberativeSjthe Point is, what is Good and 
 wl]at is Evil; and of Good what is greater; 
 and of Evil what is lefs. 
 
 So thatthcPerfwader'sLaboiirjs to make things 
 appear Good or Evil, and tliat in a higher or lo- 
 wer Degree; which as it may be performed by 
 true and Iblid Realbns, lb it may be reprefented 
 alio by Colours, Popularities, and Circumftances, 
 \\'hich are ot inch force, as tliey fway the ordina- 
 ry Judgment either of a weak Man, or of a wile 
 Man, not fully and confiderately attending and 
 pondering the matter. Refides their power to al- 
 ter the nature of the S ibjeft in appearance, and 
 fo to lead to Error they are of no lefs uie to 
 quicken and ftrengthen the Opinions and Perfua- 
 fions whicharetrue: for Rcafons plainly delivered^ 
 ^nd always after one manner, efpecially with Fino 
 and I-alhdious Minds,enter but heavily and dully ; 
 whercns if they be varied, and have more Life and 
 Vigour put into them by thefe Formsand Inlinua- 
 tions, they caufe a ftronger Apprehenfion, and 
 manytimesfuddenly win themindtoaRefolution. 
 Laftly, To make a true and fafe Judgment, no- 
 thing can be of greater Ufe and Defence to the 
 Mind.than the Difcovering and Reprehenfion of 
 thefeColourSjfliewingin whatCafes they hold,and 
 in what they deceive ; which, as it cannot be done, 
 but out of a very univerfal knowledge of the Na- 
 . ture of things ; (o being performed, it fo cleareth 
 Man's Judgmxnt and Eleftion^ as it is the lefs apt 
 to flide into any Error, 
 
 Capita 
 
Capita Se<^ionum, qux In Bof^l Ma/z^ue Colorunk 
 Tabula continentur. 
 
 i^^Vi cater as Partes^ vel Secia^fecundas unanimi^ 
 \^ ter defer ant , cum fmguLc frincifntum [ihi 
 'ue'/idicent^ Melior reliquls ^j'tdetur. Nxm frimxs 
 qui^que ex z>elo vtdeturfumere^ fecundas autem ex ve^ 
 TO d^ mertto tribuere, 
 
 2. C////^ excellent i a ^ vet exuperantia. Melior j id 
 totogenere Melius, 
 
 5* Q^iod adVeritatem refertur^ Majm ejl^ qtum 
 auod a.d Ofinionem. Modm dntem & frobatio ejus^ 
 quod dd Opnionem fertinet^ hac ejl : Quod quis, fi 
 clam putaret forte, iafturus non elTet. 
 
 4. Quod rem integrum jerv At ^ Bonum : Quod fine 
 receptu e(l^ Mdum\ Na?n fe red fere non pojfe^ im^ 
 potent ice genm efi \ potentia autem Bonum. 
 
 5. Quod ex fluribm confiat^ & diviftbilibm^ efi 
 Mdjus qudm quod ex pducioribm^ & Magis Vnum : 
 Nurn omnia ^ per partes confiderata^ ?najora uidentur ; 
 quare & pluralitas partium Magnitudinem pra/efertf 
 Fortiiis autem operatur pluralttas partium^ fi Ordo 
 abjit : Nam inducit fimilitudinem Infniti^ & impe^ 
 dit comprehenfwnem, 
 
 6. Cu]t44 pnvatio kona^ Malum : Cujus privatio 
 fnaUy Bonum, 
 
 7. Quod Bono njicinnmy Bpnum: Quod ^^ Bono re^ 
 motum^ Malum. 
 
 8. Quod quis culpa fua co'atraxit^ Majm Malum i 
 Quod ab exteraii imponitur^ 2>linHs Malmn* 
 
 - 9. Quad 
 
9- Quod, Of era & virtute nofirapartum eft^ Majus 
 Bonum : Quod ah aliem henejicio^ ^el ah indulgenttA 
 ForttmiSj deUtum efiy Minm Bonum, 
 
 I o» Gradm Privatipnis major videtur^ quamgra- 
 dus Diminutionps\ & rurfii-s gradf^ Incept torn s major 
 videtur^ quam gradm Incrementi, 
 
 11. Quod laudant homines & celebrant y bonutn\ 
 quod vituper ant & reprehendunt^ malu?n. 
 
 1 2. Quod etiam ah inimicis laudatur^ magnum Bo* 
 num\ quod vero ab amicis reprehenditur^ magnum- 
 Malunu 
 
 I 
 
 n 
 
 >je 
 
The Heads of tlje Sections of the Table of the Co- 
 lours ofGoodia^id'EvW^ rendredhto Englifh, are 
 as folio jV' 
 
 I ^ hice all Parttts^ or Secis^ challenge the prehe^ 
 ^^ minence of the Fir ft Place to themfelves\ that^ 
 to -ixhich all the reji with one confent give the Second 
 Place^ feems to be better than the others. Tor every 
 one feems to take the Fir ft Place out ofZ^al to itfelf-^ 
 but to give the Second where it is really due. 
 
 2. That kind is dXlo^txhQvhz^j whofe Excellence^ 
 or Preheminence is hefl, 
 
 5. That^ t^hich hath a relation to Tvuth^ //Grea- 
 ter than that which refers to Opinion. But the Mea- 
 furey and Tryal of that ^ which belongs to Opinion, 
 is this : It is that which a Man would not do, if 
 he thought it would not be known. 
 
 4 That^ ivhich keeps a matteer fafe and entire^ is 
 Good, but what IS defiitute and unprovided of Re- 
 treat is Bad. For whereas all Ability of Acimg is 
 Good^ not to be able to withdraw onesjelf is a kind of 
 Impotency* 
 
 5. That which con fifls of more Part s^ andthofeDu 
 vifible, //Greater, andmovQOnCj thanwhatismade 
 up ^Fewer ; For all things when they are looked up- 
 on piece-meal, /^'^'^^ Greater; when alfo a Plurality 
 of Parts make a fhew of a Bulk con fider able : Which 
 a Plurality of Parts effects more jlronglj^ if they be in 
 no certain Order ; /(?r it then refembles an Infinity, 
 and hinders the comprehending of them, 
 
 6, That, 
 
6. TfjAt^ rvhofe Privation (or, the Want ofwhicfj) 
 is Good/> in it Je/f Evil : thaty rvhofe Privation (^or 
 the Want whereof) is anEvi\ is in it fe If Good. 
 
 7. What is near to Good^ is Good ; what is at di* 
 Jlance from Good^ is Evil. 
 
 8. That which a Man hath procured by his own 
 Default J is a Greater Mifchief {or Evil;; that 
 which is laid on him by others^ is a LefTer Evil, 
 
 9. Thaty which is gotten hj our Own Pains and In- 
 duftrj^ is a greater Good : that^ which comes by a- 
 nother Man^s Court e fie ^ or the Indulgence of Fortune^ 
 is a lefler Good. 
 
 10. The Degree of ?nV2ition feems Greater than 
 the Degree of Diminution, And again^ the Degree of 
 Inception {or Beginning) feems greater than the De- 
 gree ^Increafe. 
 
 11. That^ which Men commend and celebrate is 
 good; that^ which they difpraife and reprehend^ is eviL 
 
 1 2. That^ which draws commendation even from 
 Enemies^ is a great Good \ but that^ which J s repre^ 
 hended even by Friends ^ is a great Evil- 
 
 \ 
 
I 
 
A Table of the Colours (or Appear ^Mces) o^ GooJi- 
 aiid £^'/7; and their Degrees^ as Places of P^'- 
 fvafion^ and D/j(//r.t/7^;?, and their feveral Kt/Z^^AVJ, 
 and the Elenchs of them* 
 
 i.f^VI extern Varies ^ vel Secfa^ fecundas unanlmiicY 
 V^ deferunt^ rum fmguL^ princi^atum fibi vendtcent^ 
 MelioY rdiquvs videtur. Nam primas qa^que ex zelo vi- 
 dctuy fiumre ^ fecundas autem ex vero & merito trihueret 
 That is, 
 
 Since all Parties^ or Secis, challenge the Preheminerice 
 of the firjl Place to themfelves ^ that, to which all 
 the reft with one confent give thQfccond Place, feems 
 to be better than the others. For every one feems to 
 take th^ firft Place out of zeal to it felf, but to give 
 ihQftcond where it is really due. 
 
 SO Cicero went about to prove the Se^.^ of JcadcmichSj 
 which fufpended all Jjfcveration^ for to be the heft, 
 For^ faith he^ a/sk a Stoick, which Philofophy is true^ b§ 
 rviil prefer his own : then ask him^ which approacheth (next} 
 the Truth^ he will confefs the Academicks. So deal with 
 r'^e Epicure, that will fc ant endure t/.Y Stoick to he in ftght 
 of him '^ fo fooH as he hath placed hinnfclf, he will place the 
 Academicks next him. 
 
 So if a Prince took divers Competitors to a place^ 
 and examined thtm feverally,^ v;hom next tliemfelves 
 they would chiefiy commend; it were like the ahkft 
 man fhould have the moil fecond Voices. 
 
 The Fallax of this Cohur happeneth oft in refpcft of 
 Envy^ for men are; accullomed, after thrnfLlves^ and 
 their own faPjlon^ to incline unto then which ars fof- 
 
i A Table of the Colours 
 
 teO:, and are kajl in their way, in defpight and deroga- 
 tion of them, that hold them hji^fi to it. So that this 
 Colour ofMeliority and Fnhemineme is a fign of Enerva- 
 tion and Weaknefs. 
 
 1. Cu\m exccUcntia^ vd e'xuferantia Melior-^ id toto gsnere 
 Melius. That is. 
 
 That kind is altogether irJJ, whofe Excellence, or Pre- 
 hcmincnce is beft. 
 
 Appertaining to this arc the Forms : Let us not wan-> 
 dcY in generalities. Let us compare f articular with 
 f articular^ 5^c. This appearance^ though it feem of 
 ftrength^rather Logical than Rhetorical^ yet is very oft a 
 fallax. 
 
 Sometimes ; becaufe fome things are in kind very ca^ 
 fual'^ which if they efcape, prove excellent: fo that the 
 kind is inferior, becaufe it is fo fubjeft to peril ^ but 
 that which is excellent , being proved , is fuperior. 
 As the Bloifom of Marcb^ and the Bloifoni of May^ 
 whereof the French Verfe goeth : 
 
 Burgeon de Mars^ enfans de Paris^ 
 Si un efcbape^ hien vaut dix. 
 
 So that the BloITcm of May is generally better than the 
 Blofibm of Afarch •, and yet the beft BloITom of March 
 is better than the beft BloiTom of May. 
 
 Sometimes^ becaufe the nature of fome kinds is to be 
 "more eqtial^ and more indifferent^ and not to have very 
 diilant Degrees-, as hath been noted in the warmer 
 ClimateSy the people are generally more wife, but in the 
 Northern Climate^ the Wits of chitf are greater. So in 
 many Armies, if the matter fhould be tryed by Duel 
 hQt\NCQn two Champions^ the Victory fhould go on the 
 6nc fide- and yet, if it were tryed by the grofs ^ it 
 would go on the other fide. For Excellencies go as it 
 
 were 
 
of Good and Evil. ^ 
 
 vYcre by chance^ but ^/;^^f go by a more cr^t^/n Isfatufi 
 
 as by Difciplifie in War. 
 I ^^fl^y-i Many ^/;?Jj have much rf/w/e^ which conn- 
 I tervail that which they have excellent'^ and therefore 
 
 generally i^<?t<^/ is more precious i\\z\\Stone^ arid yet at 
 
 Diamond is more precious than Gold. 
 
 3. jQmo^ ^^ VeritaUm referiur ^ Majus tjl quam qitod ad 
 \ Opinionew. ModUs auttm & probatio ejus^ quod ad Opt- 
 nioneni pertinet^ hxc tft: Quod on is, fi clam putaret 
 fore, fadurus non elTet. That is,- 
 
 That which hath relation to Truth^ Is grtjtcr than that 
 which refers to Opinion. But the Meafure, and Try- 
 al of that, which belongs to Opm/ow, is this: It is thai 
 
 fphicb a A fan vrould ?tot do^ if he thQU^ht it vrould not 
 he knorvn, 
 
 SO the Epicures fay to the Stoich Felicity placed m 
 Fertuc ^ that it is like the felicity of a Playtr^ who, 
 if he were left of his Auditors^ and their Jpplaufe^ 
 would ftreight be out of Heart and Countenance 5, 
 and therefore they call Fcrtue^ bonum theatrale-^ that is^- 
 a Stage good. But of Riches the Poet faith, 
 
 • Popului me fibulaf^ 
 jit mihi plaudo : i. €,- 
 
 Afe People hifs abroad^ 
 But /my/d/applaiid.- 
 
 AndoiPlc4ure^ 
 
 ' — — " — Gr'^iafuh hnd 
 
 Gaiidia corde premens^ miltu fimulato Tudorein : t. e. 
 
 . " Your welcome Joys mthin let luified lie, 
 ^ B-u^ counterfeit abroad a Modefty, 
 
4 A Tdhk of the Cdlours 
 
 The Fallax of this Colour is fomewhat fubtil, though 
 the Anfwer to the Example be ready: For rertuc is 
 not chofen propter auram popularcm^ for the applaufe of 
 Teopk :, but contrariwife, Maxime omnium teipfum revere- 
 re^ a Man ought to ftand moll in awe of himfelf^ fo 
 as a Ftriuous !\lan will be Vertuous in folitudine^ in a 
 Defart^ and not only in theatro^ upon the Scage : though 
 pcrcafe it will be more ftrong by Glory and Fame^ as an 
 Hcat^ which is doubled by Reflexion. But that denieth 
 the Suppofttton^ it doth reprehend the Fallax^ where- 
 of the Reprehcnfton is a ] aw, that Fertue f fuch as is 
 joyncd with Labour and Conflict) would not be cho- 
 fen, but for Fa-HC and Opinion-^ yet it foUoweth not, 
 that the c^;>/yt/of/'z/c of the Election fhould not be real^ 
 and iovitfelf'^ iov Fame may be only caufa impulfiva^ 
 the impelling or urging Caufe, and not Cdufa conftituens^ 
 or eficims^ thQ conjlituting^ or efficient Caufe. As if 
 there were two Horj'es^ and the one would do better 
 without the Spur than the other: but again, the other 
 with the Spur would far exceed the doing of the former, 
 giving him the Sfr^ralfo^ yet the latter will be judg- 
 ed to be the better Horfe : and the Form , as to fay , 
 Ti^JJj^ the Life of this Horfe is but in the Spur^ will not 
 fcrve as to a wife Judgment.* for, fmce the ordinary/ 
 Infirument of Horfmanfiiap is the Spur , and that it is 
 no matter of Impediment or Burthen^ the Horfe is not to 
 be accounted the lefs of, which will not do well with- 
 cut the Spur^ but the other is to be reckoned rather a 
 Delicacy^ than a Fertue. So Glory and Honour are the 
 Spurs to rertue: and, although Fertue would larguifh 
 without them , yet hnce they be always at hand to 
 attend Fertue^ Vertue is not fiid to be the lefs chofen 
 for it felf^ becaufe it needed the Spur of Fame and Re- 
 putation. And therefore that Pofition, Nota ejus rei^ 
 quod propter Opinionem^ & non propter veritatcm eligitur^ 
 bac eft ^ Ouodquvs^ ft clam putaret fore^ fa^urus non ejfet-^ 
 (That vs^ That the Mark of a Thing chofen for Opi- 
 nion, and not for Truth-fake j is this, Thatone would 
 
 not 
 
of Good and Evil; j 
 
 not do it if he thought it would not be known,) is re- 
 prehended. 
 
 4. Quod rem integram fcrvat^ Bonmn : quod fine receptu ejl^ 
 Malum. jNamfc red fere non pojfe^ impotentid genus tjl : 
 potentia autem Bonum : That is, 
 
 That, which keeps a matter fafc and entire, is Good: 
 but what is deftitute, and unprovidedof a retreat, is 
 had. For, whereas all Ability of Adting is Good, 
 not to be able to witlidraw ones felf, is a kind of Im- 
 potency. 
 
 HEreof tyfjop framed the Fahlc of the two Frogs ^ 
 that confulted together in the time of drought.^ 
 fwhea many Flajhcs that they had repaired to were 
 t/ry,) what was to be done: and the one propounded to 
 go down into a deep IVell^ becaufc it was like the IVj- 
 ter would not fail there ^ but the other anfwered, Tea.^ 
 but if it do fail., horv (liall we get up again'^ And the 
 Reafon is, that Humane A[fions are fo uncertain., and fub- 
 jcd to perils.^ as that feemeth the hejl conrfe , which 
 had mo^ pa ff ages out of it. Appertaining to this Per- 
 fwafion, the Porwz; are, Tou /hall engage your felf : on the 
 other llde, Tantum.^ quantum voles^ fufnes ex fortuna^ i.e. 
 Take what Lot you will^ or, you fl:all keep the matttr 
 in your orvn Hand. The reprehenfton of it is, that pre-^ 
 ceeding and refolving in all aCfions vs neccjjary. For as he 
 Taith well, Not to refolve^ is torefolve:^ and many times 
 it breeds as many necejfities.^ and engageth as far in 
 fome other fort, as to refolve. So it is but the covets 
 ous Man's Difeafe tr an dated in power -.^ for the couetous 
 Man will enjoy nothing.^ bccaufe he will have his fi^H 
 pore^ Siud po/fibflity to enjoy the more;, io, by this Raa- 
 fon, a Man fhould execute mthing.^ becaufe he fhould 
 be ft ill indifferent^ and at liberty to execute any thing. 
 Befides Nccejftty and this flmie Ja^a eft alea^ or, once 
 having cafi the Dicc^ hath many times an advaiVLare : 
 
 N 5 be -- 
 
6 A Talk of the (jhurs 
 
 becaufe it a waketh the powers of the mind, and ftreijgthr 
 neth endeavour, (C ceteris pares ^ necejjitate ctrtc fuperiores 
 iftisi) which are able to deal with any others, but ma- 
 (liir thefe upon neseffity. 
 
 ^. Quodexplurih'isconflat^ & divijtbilihus^ rfimajus^ quam 
 quod ex paucioribus^ & magis Vmim: nam omnia^ per 
 partes confiderata^ major a indcntur ^ quare & pluralitas 
 partium jldagnitudiimyi pra fe fert. Fortius autem ope- 
 ratur Fluralitas parfium^ ft Ordo ah/it : nam inductt ft- 
 militudinem Lifiniti^ & impcdit comprehenjlonem ^ That 
 
 is 
 
 That, which conf^lts of more parts, and thofe Divifible 
 is greater^ and more One^ than what is made up or 
 fewer '^ for all things, when they are looked upon 
 piece-meal^ fcem greater-^ whence alfo a purality of 
 parts make Ihew of a Bulk confiderable , which a 
 Plurality of Parts efi-eds more ftrcngly, if they be in 
 no certain Order -^ for it then refem-bles an /^^j^mfy^ 
 and hinders the comprehending qf them. 
 
 THIS ColouY. feemeth palpable, for it is not TluYa- 
 llty of Parts^ without Afajority of Parts^ that fna^ 
 keth the to/:^/ greater 3 yet neverthelefs, it often carrier 
 the 7nind2iVJaYj yea,' it deceiveth thejf^;/;/^^ as it feem- 
 eth to the Eye a iliorter diftance of way^ if it be all dead 
 indi continued^ than if it haveTreej, or Bmldings^ or any 
 other rnurks^ v/hereby the Eye may divide }t. So when a 
 great-monied man hath divided his Chtfts^ and Coyns^ and 
 Bags^ he feemeth to himfelf richer then he was. And 
 therefore the way to amplifle any thing is to break it, and 
 10 make Anatomy of it m fever al parts^ and to examine 
 it according to feveral circurnjiances. And this maketh 
 the greater Jhcw, if it be done without Order^ for confu- 
 fion maketh things muficr more. And befides, what is 
 fbt down by Qr^crand Divifion^ doth demonftrate, that 
 ppthin.gis left out or omitted-^ but all is there: whereas, 
 "'"' ' ■" *- ■ '• ■ if 
 
I ^'GooJ ar}d Evil. 7 
 
 \ if it be without Ord&^ both the mind comprehendcth lefs 
 I that which is fet down, and befides it leaveth a fufpi- 
 ; cion, ^% if mm mighlhc faid th^^i is exprejfed. 
 
 This Colour deceiveth, if the mind of him that is to 
 be perfwaded, do of it felf overconcctvt or prejudge of 
 the greatnefs of any thing ^ for then the breaking of it 
 will make it feem /f/x, bccaufe it makes it to appear 
 moi-e according to the Truth, And therefore if a Mam 
 be in Skknefs or Pain, the time will feem longer wth^ 
 cut a Clock^ %€ Hourglafs^ than with it: for the mind 
 doth value every moment ^ and then the Hour doth ra- 
 ther /wm tip the moments than divide ihQ D:iy, So ig a 
 dead Plain the ir.iy fcemcth the longer^ bccaufe the Eye 
 hath prc-conceived ity7;o?t^r, than the truth ;^nd the/hf# 
 ftrating of that maketh it feem loyiger than the truth. 
 Therefore, if any Man have an over-great Opinion of any 
 thing, then if another think, by breaking it into Z^- 
 "veral confederations^ he (hall make ic feem greater to him, 
 he will be deceived. And therefore, in fuch Cafcs^ it is 
 not fafe to divide^ but to extol the Entire ftill in general. 
 
 Another C^/f, wherein this Co/owdeceiveth, is, when 
 
 the matter broken^ or divided, is not comprehended by tlie 
 
 fence, or made at once in rerpe(^ of the dijlrading or 
 
 fcattering of it; and being entire^ and not divided^ is 
 
 comprehended. As an Hundred Pounds in Heaps of yfz/^ 
 
 Pounds will fhew inore than in one grofs Heap: fo as the 
 
 , Heaps be all upon one Table to be fccn at once, other- 
 
 I wife not. As Elowcrs.^ growing fcattered in ^/z/^rj Bcds^ 
 
 i will fliew more^ than if they did grow in one Bed : fo 
 
 as all thofe Beds be within a P/of, that they be objcQ;; 
 
 I' to view rtt once-^ otherwife not. And therefore ?77en^ 
 
 whofe Living lyeth together in one Shire^ are commonly 
 
 counted greater landed^ than thofe, whofe Livings are 
 
 I difperfed^ though it be morCj becaufe of the notice and 
 
 comprehenfeon. 
 
 A third C.-?fe^ wherein this Colour deceiveth, which is 
 
 i]ot fo properly a Cafe'ov Reprehenfwn^ as it is a counter 
 
 I Colour^ being iji cffe^ as large as the Cohtpr it fclf h^ 
 
 I* N 4 Ofurns 
 
8 A TahU of the Coiom 1 
 
 Omnis compofttio indigentia cujufdam viddur ejje ^articeps. 
 That every Conipolltion feeins to partake of a certain 
 want^ becaufe^ if one thing would fervc the turn, it 
 were ever hejl-^ but it is the Defi3 and ImperfeCiion of 
 things that hath brought in that help to piece them up: 
 
 asitisfaid, ^ Martha^ Martha^ attendis 
 ^'Luk 10.41, 42. adplH-nma^ imwn fuffcit ; that is^ Alar- 
 
 tha, Martha, thou art troubled about 
 many things^ one thing is fiifficient. So likewife 
 hereupon ry£fop framed the Fable of the Fox and the 
 Cat : wherein the Fox bragged, what a nmriber of fhifts 
 a:i(\^deukcs he had, to get from thQ J^Jonnds-^ and the 
 Crt^faid, He had but one^ which was to climb a T^ee :^ 
 which in proof was better worth than all the veil j whq:(?- 
 cf the rrovcrl grew, 
 
 MuUanovit Fulpes^ fed Felts mum magmm, 
 
 ' ^fv;z^^ the Hounds to Tcape had fhifts notfniall, 
 Cmialhn only one, as good as all. 
 
 And in the Moral of this Fable^ it comes likewife to 
 pafs Th^t- a good fur e Friend is a better help at a pinch^ 
 than all the Stratagems and Policies of Mart's own wit. So 
 k falleth out to be a common Error in Negotiating ^ where- 
 as Men have many Reafous to induce or perfwade^ they 
 flrive commonly to .utter, and ufe them all at. once^ 
 which xrcakneth them. For it argueth, as was faid, a 
 ncedinefs in every of the Reafons by it felf, as if one did 
 not trull to any of t:hem, but fled from one to another^ 
 helpinghimfelf only with that, 
 
 Et quic non profunt ftngv.la^ mdta juvant^ 
 
 And what help'd not ^/i?^zt? before, 
 
 Doth help full w^U, when joyn'd with more, 
 
 Indeed, 
 
of Good and Evil. p 
 
 Indeed, in si fit Speech in an u^jTembly^ it is expelled 
 a Man fhould ufe ^/^ his Rtafons in the o/c he hand- 
 leth : but in private perj'wafions it is always a great 
 Error. 
 
 A fourth C:z/t', wherein this Colour may be repreherJcd 
 is in refpect of that fame vis unita fortwr^ the acknow- 
 ledged //rcw^f/; of an U7iitcd Toxccr-j according to the 
 Tale of ihc FRENC H King^ who, when the Enipe^ 
 Yofs Emhajfjdor had recited his A^ajier'^s Style at large 
 which confifteth of many Countries.^ ai]d Dominions the 
 FRENCH KING willed his C/:;^^wc//V, or other /T//-' 
 nifters^ to repeat over FRANCE as muny times as the 
 other had recited the fevcral Lomin'wm j intending it 
 was equivalent with them all^ and more compaOed and 
 united. 
 
 There is alfo appertaining to this Colour another Foint^ 
 why breaking of a thing doth help it- not by way of 
 adding a fhew oiAfagnttp.de unto it, but a note of £ a:- 
 cellency and Rarity: whereof the Forms arc, llljere you 
 jj-jall find fuch a Concurrence'^ Great^ but not com pie at: for 
 it fcems a lefs work of Nature or Fortune^ to make any 
 thing in his kind^rf^ter f^^?^ ordinary^ than to make a 
 firange Con.pofition. Yet, if it be ^L^n'on/^ con fide red 
 this Colour will be reprehended^ or encountered^ by imj)u- 
 tiag to all Excellencies in Compofttions a kind of Poverty 
 or (at leaf!:) a Cafualty ^ or Jeopardy: for from that' 
 which is excellent in greatncfs^ fomewhat may be taken 
 or there may be -a decay^ and yet fufficient' kft-^ but 
 from that which hath his price in Cofnp>f:tion^ if you 
 take away any thing, or any part do fai\ all' is Dif- 
 
 ^, Cnjus 
 
lo A Table f)f tl?e Colours 
 
 6. Cujtis Privatio bona^ Malum : cujus Privatio maja^ BO' 
 num. This is. 
 
 That, whofe Privation (or,thc want of which) is Good, 
 is in it felf fw/r that whofe Privation (or, the want 
 thereof) is an Evil, is in it klfGood. 
 
 THE forwj to make it conceived, that that wis £-2///, 
 which is changed for the better^ are^ He that is in 
 Hell thinks there is no Heaven. Satis quercus ; Acorm were 
 good^ till Bread was found^ &c. And on the other fide, 
 the forms to make it conceived, that that wasgood^ which 
 was changed for the rpor/e, are^ Bona magis carendo quam 
 fnicndo fenthnus : That ts^ we underftand the Goodnefs 
 of things more by w^anting, than enjoying them. Bona 
 A tergo formofillima : i. e. Good things never appear in their 
 full Beauty^ till they turn their hack^ and be going away , 6cc. 
 
 The RcpYchehtfion of this Colour is. That the Good or 
 Evil which is removed^ may be efteemed Good or Evil 
 comparatively : and not pofitively or [imply. So that if 
 the Privation be Good^ it follows not, that the former 
 condition was £z//7, but Icfs Good: For the Flower or 
 BlojfomhapofitivcGood'.^ although the remove of it^ to 
 give place to the Fruity be a comparative Good. So in 
 the Table of ty£fop^ when the old fainting man in the heat 
 ofthedaycaft down his i?w/ti^(?^, and called for Death ^^ 
 and when Death came to know his will with him, faid. 
 It was for nothings but to help him up with his burthen again • 
 {r: doth not foiiovv, that becaiife Death^ which was the 
 privation oi the Burthen ^ was i//, therefore the Burthen 
 ■vyas good, A nd In this part the ordinary Form of Malum 
 Necejfarium^ a necellary Evil, aptly reprehended this Co^ 
 ioirf : For privatio ynali ncceffarii efl mala^ the privation 
 of a neceiTary Evil is Evil ; and yet that doth not con- 
 '/crt: the Nature of the necejfary Evif^ but it is Evil, 
 
 Again it comcth fometimes to pafs, that tnere is an 
 ifiality m the change of priv^^ionj and (as it were) a 
 
 Pilcmma 
 
of Good and Evil. 1 1 
 
 Dilemma bo'^i^ of the^oo^; or, Dilemma * Cnrruptio uni- 
 malt, of the Evil; io that the ^corrupfs' ^\ 'fl g^neratio 
 on of one Good is a Gemration of the or/;^. '»'^^'''*'^- 
 
 5or^i p<?^er ^^«j^i utric^ue eft ; 
 
 Both Chances the fame f^wa/ P*jr^«t have : 
 
 And contrarily, the remedy of the oyie Evil, is the or- _ 
 Ciar/io>^ ^nd comynencement of another ^ as in 5fy//j and Cibj- 
 
 7. ^0(^ ^0^0 vici*ium, Bonum : quod h Bono remotum^ 
 Malum, That is. 
 
 What is near to Good, is Good: What is at diHancc 
 from Good, is E'uil. 
 
 SUCH is the Nature of things, that things contrary^ 
 and diftant in nature and quality , and alfo fevered 
 and disjoyned in Place -^ and things //(e, and conjhitin? \\\ 
 quality^ are placed, and (as it were) quartered together-. 
 For partly, in regard of the iV^mr^, to J'pread^ multiply^ 
 and z?7/6 J in firailicude ^ and partly, in regard of the 
 Nature to hreak^ expel, and alter that wliich is difagrcea-r 
 hie and contrary, moft things do eichcr affnciate , and 
 draw near to themfelves the //if, or (at leaft) affimilate 
 to themfelves that which approacheth near them, and do 
 ^\fo drive arvay, chafe ^aVid exterminate ihcir contraries. And 
 that is the reafon commonly yielded, why the middle 
 J^egion of the Air Ihould be cnldeft -^ becaufe the Sim 
 and Stars are either hot by Direct Beams or by rcfiiBi^ 
 on. T\\^ dir eel Beams ht'M the upper Region-, ihQ rejkcJed 
 Beams from the Earth and Seas^ heat the /oirer Region. 
 That which is in the rnidyi , being farther diftant ia 
 place from thefe ^iro Regions of /;e.'t, is molt diftant in 
 'Nature^ that is w%'?, which is that they term cold, or 
 
 hof^ 
 
12 A Table of the Colours 
 
 * Antiperiftafjs is a P/»i- bot^fer^AntiperiJlafin^thatis^eti" 
 tofophical Term, fignify- ^ijiromyj^hY contraries: which W'd% 
 r/.:Zt;:XS Pleafantly taken hold ofbyhim, 
 or Cold is made moreftrong who laid, that ayi honeft man in 
 tn itfelf, by the refiramwg thefe days mufi needs he more honelb 
 cf the contrary. than in Jges /;ercto/bre,pr opter A n- 
 
 tiperiflafin, hecaufe the (hutting of him in the mid^fl of Con- 
 traries mufl needs make the honeller ftro}iger^ and more com* 
 fad in itfelf 
 
 The Reprehenfwn of this Colour is : 
 
 Firft, Many things of Amplitude in their kind do (as 
 it were) engrofs to themfelves all^ and leave that which 
 is next them moil dejlitnte. As the Shoots^ or Vnder- 
 Wood^ that grow near a great and ffread Tree^ is the 
 mojl pined and /Jxruhby Wood of the Field; becaufe the 
 great Tree doth deprive and deceive them of the fap and 
 muriflwient '^ {ohe^dxih v^^ell, Divitis fervi mnxime Servi^ 
 That rich mens Servants are the greatefl Slaves: And 
 the Comparifon was pleaQnt to him , that compared 
 Courtiers attendant in the Courts of Princes , without 
 great Place or Office^ to Fafting^days-^ which were next 
 th^ Holy 'days '^ butotherwife were the /e^we/ days in all 
 1^^^ Week. 
 
 Another Reprehenfwn is, that things of Greatnefs and 
 Predominancy^ thongh they do not extenuate the things 
 adjoyning in fubftances , yet they drown them^ and ob^ 
 fcure them in fijew and appearance. And therefore the 
 Aftronomers fay ^ that, whereas in all other Planets Con^ 
 jm&ion is the per fed eft amity ^ the Sun contrarivvife is^oo^^ 
 h)' Jfpect^ but evtl by Conjunction, 
 
 A third Reprehenfion is, becaufe Evil approacheth to 
 Cood^ fometimes iov concealment, rometimesfor/^roff(f//o;^: 
 And Good to Evil for converfton and reformation. So HypO" 
 crifte dra weth near to Religion for covert and hiding it feif. 
 
 5^pf latet vitium proximitate honi, 
 
 Oft^ under neigbb'^ring Good, Vice (l:rovpdcd lies. 
 
 And 
 
of Good and Evil. i 5 
 
 And SanOuaty-mQn^ which were commonly incrdt- 
 nate men, and Makfadors^ were wont to be neareft 
 to Prkfts^ and Prelates^ and Holy-men : for the Majefly of - 
 ^00^ things is fuch, as the Coat^ww of them avQ reverend. 
 On the other Tide, our Saviour charged with nearnefs 
 of Publicans and Rioters^ faid A'fatt. 9. 1 1 . Ti^c Pby/ktan 
 approacbeth the ffck rather than the whole. 
 
 8. Quod quis culpa fua contraxit^ Majus Aialum: quod ah 
 externis imponitur^ Minus A^alum, That is. 
 
 That which a Man hath procured by his own De- 
 fault, is a greater mifcbief {ov Evih^) that, which is 
 laid on by otliers, is a lejjer EviL 
 
 TH E Reafon is, becaufe the ftin^ and remorfe of the 
 mind^ accujh^ it felf, doubleth all Adverfity: Con- 
 trariwife, the confidering and recording inwardly, that a 
 man is clear and free from fault , and jull imputntion^ 
 doth attempt outward Calamities. For if the Will be in 
 t\\QScnfe^ and in the Confcience both, there is a gemina- 
 tion of it: But ii Evil be in the one^ and Co?7jfort in the 
 ctbcr^ it is a kind of Compofition : So the Poets in Trage- 
 dies^ do make the moft pajftonate Lamentation^ and thofe 
 l\\^iioxe-xwr\ final defpair^ to be accufing^ quefi:9ning^ and 
 torturing oi a man^ Jelf, 
 
 Seque unum clamat caufam^ue caputcpue mahrum. 
 
 She railing doth confefs her f elf to he 
 Thecaufe and four ce of her own mi f cry. 
 
 And contrariwifc, the extremities of voor thy ?Q\'iom have 
 been annihilated in the confidcration of thetr own good 
 dcferving, Befides, when the Evil cometh from mth^ 
 orff, there is left a kind of evaporation of griefs if it come 
 by himiaMc injury^ either by indignatio',:^ and meditating of 
 revenge from our felves,or by expeCting^ox forc-concciving^ 
 
 that 
 
14 A Table of the Colours 
 
 that Nemcfis and Retribution will take hold of the Authois 
 of our hurt ; or, if it be by fortune or accident ^ yet there 
 is left a kind of expoflulation againil the Divine Powers, 
 
 Jtque Decs atque Afira vocat crudelia Mata' : 
 
 The Cod's and cruel Stars the Alother doth charge. 
 
 But, where the Evil is derived from a man's own 
 faulty there all llrikes deadly inwards and fuffocateth. 
 
 The Keprehcyiftcn of this Colour is : 
 
 Firft in refpe^: of //ope: For Reformation of out: 
 fault is in 'n'iftra potejiate^ our own power *^ but amend- 
 ment of our fortune funply is not : Therefore Demofthe^ 
 nes in many of his Orations faith thus to the People of 
 Athens • That which h.wing regard to the time pall, is the 
 worfe Point and circnmflance of aU the refl-^ That 05 to the 
 tifne to come, t5 the beji, W)at is that'^ Even this^ that 
 by your Sloth^ Irrefolution^ and Mifgovernment^ your affairs 
 are grown to this Declination and Decay : for^ had you ufed 
 and ordered your means and forces to the bejl^ and doneyouf 
 ■pans every way to the fuU-^ and not withfianding your mat- 
 ters fhoiild have gone backward in this manner a/s they do ; 
 there had been no hope left of Recovery or Reputation, But 
 fince it hath bc'eu only by your own error ^ &c. So Epidetus 
 in his Degrees faith, The worft flate of man i/s to accufe ex- 
 tern Things^ betttr thnn that to aicuje any man's felf, and 
 bef^ of all to accufe neither. 
 
 Another Rcprehenfton of this Colour^ is in refpeft of 
 the well bearing of Evib^ wherewith a man can charge 
 no body but linnjelf^ which maketh them the lefs, 
 
 * Leve fit^ craod bene fertur onus % 
 
 The Burthens light ^ thafs en difcreetly laid. 
 
 And therefore many natures, that ate eitlicr extnaniiy 
 pYQud^ aitd will take no fauk tothemftlves^ of elfe Very 
 
 fry" 
 
©/ Good and Evil. 1 5: 
 
 true^ and cleaving to themfelves^ (when they fee the 
 blame of any thing that falls out ill^ mull light upon 
 themfelvei) have no other yZ?//r, but to bear it owr well^ 
 and to w^i^^ f/^e kaft of it : For, as we fee, when fomc- 
 times a fault is committed^ and before it be known who 
 is to W^we, much ado is made of it ; but after, if it ap- 
 pear to be done by a Son^ or by a jrT/J?, or by a mar 
 friend'^ then it is light made of: So much more, when a 
 man mufl: take it upon himfelf. And therefore it is com- 
 monly feen, that Women which marry Hmhands of their 
 own chufmg^ againft their Friends confent^ if they be ne- 
 ver fo ill'Ufed^ yet you {hall feldom fee them complain^ 
 but fet a good face on it, 
 
 ^. Quod of era iy virtute noflra partum ejl ; Afajus Bo^ 
 num : Quod ah alieno bencjjcio^ vel ah indulgentia Fortu- 
 «<f , delatum cjl ^ Mnm Bonum, That is. 
 
 That which is gotten hf our own Pains and Induflry, 
 hz greater good 'y that which comes by another man's 
 Courtefie, or the Indulgence of Fortune, is a leffcr Good. 
 
 TH E Reafons are, 
 Firit, The future Hope: Becaufe in the favour of 
 others^ or the good Winds of Fortune^ we have no ftate^ 
 or certainty^ In our endeavours^ or abilities^ we have. 
 So as when they have purchafed us o?ie good Fortune^ 
 we have them as ready ^ and better edged and environed to 
 procure another. 
 
 The Forms be : Ton have won this by play, Tou have not 
 only f/;e Water, but you have the Receipt: Toucan make it 
 again J if it be loji^ (5c c. 
 
 Next, becaufe thefc Properties^ vvliich v;e enjoy by 
 the benejit of others^ carry with them an obligation^ which 
 feemeth a kind of burthen : Whereas the other ^ which de- 
 rive from our f elves ,^ are like thcfrecft Paterits^Afqiie alt- 
 quo inde reddendo^ without making any rejhtution. And 
 if they proceed f'^om F.:)-t^'nc. or Py^vldcnce^ yet they 
 
r6 A Table of the Qlours 
 
 feem to touch us fccretly with the reverence of the Di-* 
 vine Pov^er ^ whofe Favours we tafle ^ and therefore 
 work a kind of Religious Fear and reftraint : Whereas, 
 ill the other kind, that comes to pafs, which the Pro- 
 p/;et fpeaketh, Ez,ck. Latantur^ exaltant^ immolant flagis 
 fu'vs & facrific'.int rcti fuo : Men are^W, they rejoice^ they 
 cfcr to their Toils^ and facnfice to their Nets. 
 
 Thirdly, Becauie that, vv^hich coineth unto ns without 
 our own jyertiie^ yieldeth not that Commeyidation and Repu- 
 tation: For yi& ions o{ ^rc^it Felicity nuy dvaw wonder^ but 
 fraife Icfs ^ as Cicero l^ud to Cafar^ Qua, 7niremur^ hale- 
 miiS'^ qu^Lnidemits^ expeClamus: That is ^ They /jjdf what 
 they might wonder at-, but ex^e&-cd what they might 
 fraife. 
 
 Fourthly, Becaufe the /^wrc^^^/'^i of our own tnduftry 
 are j'->yned commonly with labour and flrife-^ which 
 gives an edge and appetite^ and makes the fruition of our 
 Delires more pleafant. Suavis cibus a venatu : Venifon is 
 fweet of ones own killing. 
 
 On the other fide, there be four Counter-Colours to 
 thi.^ Colour^ rather than Rep'ehenfions ^ becaufe they be 
 as large as the Colour itfelf 
 
 FirH:, Becaufe /t/icirv feemeth to be 2iChara^er of the 
 Favour and Lo7jc of the Divine powers -^ and according- 
 ly works both of confidence m our felves^ and refpcd^ and 
 authority from others. And this felicity extendeth to ma- 
 ny cafual things ^ whereunto the care and virtue of mail 
 can no'^t extend-^ and therefore feemeth to be az large 
 Good. As when C^^far H^id to the Sailer;, C^jarcjn 
 prta6^ & fortunam ehis:^ That he carried Cdcfar and his. 
 Fortune: If he had faid, Et virtutem ejus^ and his Falour-:^ 
 it had been fmall comfort again ft a Tempeft-^ otherwife 
 than if it might feem upon Meri::^ to induce Fortune. 
 
 Next, whatfoevcr is done by Frrtue and Indufiry^^ 
 feems to be done by a kind of I^lahit and Art ; and 
 thereupon open to be imitated zndfollovpcd: Whereas" 
 Felicity is imitable. So we generally fee, that things of 
 Nature feem more excellent than things of Jn^. becaufe 
 
 they 
 
of Good ani Evil. t?^ 
 
 they be imttahk • for , Quod Jmitabilc eft^ ptentid qua^ 
 dam vulgatuyn eft : What is imitable, is by a certain pw^r 
 wade hnorrn abroad. 
 
 Thirdly, Felicity coinmendeth thofe things which come 
 Xi'ithout our own labour: For they feem Gifts^ and the 
 others feem Pemy-worths, Vv^ hereupon Plutarch faith ele- 
 gantly of the yf(?i of Tirnokon^ who was fo foftunate^ 
 compared with the ji^s oi j4geftlaus and Epafninondas ^ 
 That they were ItkeUomQv's Ferfes^ they Yanfo eaftly^ and 
 fo well. And therefore it is the Word we give unto Poefje^ 
 terming it a happy Vein-^ becaufe f^aV/if)' feemeth ever to 
 come from Happtnefs, 
 
 Fourthly, This fame prefer /pern, vel expe^i^atum^vfhQii 
 things happen befides Hope or Expectation^ it doth in- 
 creafe the Pr/ce^ and Pleafure of many things^ and this 
 cannot be incident to thofe things that proceed from our 
 own care^ and compa/Jing. 
 
 1 o. Gradus Privationis major videtur^ quam gradus Dlmi-^ 
 nutionis : Et rurfusfiradus inceptionis major videtur .fpuani 
 Gradus Jncrementi : That is. 
 
 The Degree oi Privation feems greater than the Degree 
 of Dimimtion : And again, the Degree of Incepion^ 
 (or Beginning^ ) feems greater than the Degree of 
 Increafet 
 
 IT is a Pofition in the Mdtheiriaticks^ thaf there is no Pro^ 
 portion between fomewhat and nothing : Therefore the' 
 Degree of Nullity and Quiddity^ (or u4d) feemeth lar- 
 ger than the Degrees of Increafe and Decreafe. As to a 
 Momculus^ it is more to lofe one Eye^ than to a Man that 
 hath two Eyes. So, if one have loft Divers Children^ it is 
 7nore grief to him to lofe the laft^ than aU the reftj be- 
 caufe he is Spes Gregts^ the Hope of his Stock. And there- 
 fore Sibylla J when fhe brought her Three Books and had 
 burned Two did double the whole price of both the other 5 
 becaufe the burning of that had been ^r.^J^j privat'ionis^ a 
 
 O Degref 
 
\% A Talk t>f tie Colours 
 
 Degree ofTrlvation^ and not D'tmimtmis, of Diminu* 
 
 tfon. 
 
 This Colour is reprehended : 
 
 Firft,in thofc things,the Vfe and Service whereof refteth 
 in fufficiency^ competency^ or determinate quantity : As if a 
 man be to pay one hundred Pounds upon penalty^ it is more 
 to him to want twelve Pence^ than after that twelve Pence^ 
 fuppofed to be wanting^ to want ten Shillings more. So 
 the decay of a Man's Eftate feems to be mojl touched in the 
 Degree, whenhe^r/J^roirj behind, more than afterwards, 
 when he proves nothing worth. And hereof the com- 
 mon For?ns are ^ Sera in fundo parftmonia-^ or. It is too late , 
 to pinch when the Purfe is at the bottom j and, Osgood never 
 a whit 06 never the better. 
 
 It is reprehended alfo in refpeft of that Notion, Cor^ 
 ruptio unius, generatio alter ins : That the Corruption of; 
 one thing is the Generation of another. So that Gradut 
 Privationis^ t[\Q Privative Degree is many times ItisMat^ 
 ter, becaufe it gives the caufe and motive to fome nevf 
 Courfe. As when Demofthencs reprehended the People 
 forhearkning to thtConditions o^^QtQdhy K. Philip, being 
 not honourable, nor equal, he faith, They were but Elements 
 of their floth and weaknefs-, which if they were taken away^ 
 mcejfity would teach them ftronger Refolutions, So Dodtoi^ 
 Jleclor was wont to fay to the Dames of London, when 
 they complained, they were they could not tell how^ but 
 yet: they could not endure to tale any medicine, he 
 would tell them , their way was only to be fick j fir 
 then they would be glad to take any Medicine. 
 
 Tiiirdly , this Colour may be reprehended in refpeft 
 ihatthQde.gxtQoiDecreafeismoxtfenfitive than the Dq- 
 ^XQQ of Privation-, for in the mind of Men, Gradus Dimi^ 
 mtionis, the Degree oi Decreafe may work a wavering be- 
 tween Hope and Fear, and keep the mind infufpence, from 
 fettling, and accommodating in Patience, and Refolution, 
 Hereof the common Forms are j Better cry out, than aU 
 XPays ask , mak^ or mar, &c. 
 
 For 
 
of Good and Evil. 1 9 
 
 Fof the fecond Branch of this CqIouy^ it depends upon 
 the feme General Reafon : Hence grew the Common Flact 
 of extolling the beginning of every thing 5 
 
 Dimidiumfa&fj qui bene co^fit^ hahet. 
 
 He hath his Work halfdone^ 
 Whoe'er hath well begun. 
 
 This made the Afirologer fo idle, as to jvidge of Man* i 
 Nature^ and Defliny by the ConfieUation of the moment 
 oi\m Nativity^ or Conception, 
 
 This Colour is reprehended^ becanfe many Inceptions arCt 
 but fas Epicurui termeth them J Teritamenta^ that is, ;Vz- 
 perfe^i^ Offers^ and r//^^^ which vanifh^ and come to rid 
 fubftance^ without any iteration ^ fo as, in fuch Cafes^ the 
 fecond Degree feemsthe rvorthieft •, as the Body-Horfe m the 
 Cart^ that draweth more thaii the Fore-Horfe. Here- 
 of the common forms -^ The fecond Blow makes the Fray^ 
 The fecond Word makes the Bargain, Jlter principium dedit^ 
 alter modum abJluUt^ &c. The one began, the other kept 
 no mean. 
 
 AnothQV Reprehenftonoi thi% Colour^ is in refpeft of Df- 
 fatlgation^ which makes per fever ance of greater Dignity 
 than Inception : YOx Chance or IfiflinCi oi Nature may caufe 
 Inception : hut fettled Ajfe^ion^ or Judgment^ makcth the 
 Continuance. 
 
 Thirdly ,^ This Colour is reprehended in fuch things^ 
 which have a Natural Courfe and Inclination contrary to 
 iinUnception : So that the Inception is continually ez'^cw- 
 ated and gets no jiart -^ but there behoveth perpdua In- 
 ceptio^ that there be always a beginnr,ig ^ as in the com- 
 mon Forms : Non progrcdi^ eft regredi. Not to go for- 
 ward, is to go backward. Otu non proflcit^ deficit.. He 
 who makes no Progrefs decays. Funning againfi an Hill ^ 
 Rowing again[l the Stream^ or with the hill^ then the De- 
 gree oijnception is more than all the reft, 
 
 O 2 Fourthly^ 
 
20 A Table of th Colours 
 
 Fourthly, this Colour is to be underftood of Gradus 
 Jnceptionis a potentia ad atlum comparati^ non gradus ab 
 aBu ad Jncnmentum'^ Of the Degree o/Inception, in com* 
 par if en of the Power with thi Act, not of the Degree from 
 the Ad: to the Increafe. For otherwife, Major videtur 
 gradus ah impotcntla ad potentiam^ quam a potentia adaClum^ 
 "The Degree from Impoteacy to Potency, feems greater, 
 thanfrmt the Power to the Ad. 
 
 II. Quod l.iudant homines if celebrant^ bmium', quod vitu^ 
 fcrant^ & reprcbendunt^ malum. 
 
 II. That which Men praife and celebrate, is good •, that 
 which they difgrace, and reprehend, is bad. 
 
 THis Colour deceives four ways, viz., either through 
 Ignorance, or through want of Integrity i^ or 
 through particular Refpcd and Fadtion, or through the 
 natural inclination of thofe that praife, or difpraife. 
 Firfl, Through Ignorance -^ for what fignifies the judg- 
 ment of the Rabble in diftinguifhing and determining 
 Good and Evil ? Phocion knew well enough , who , 
 when the People applauded him more than ordinary, 
 a^ked. Whether he had done any thing amifsl Secondly, 
 Through want of Integrity -^ for thofe that praife and 
 difpraife commonly carry on their own LXfigns and 
 don't fpeak what they think. 
 
 Laudat venaks qui vuU extrudere merces. 
 
 Every Man praifesthe Wares he would put off. 
 
 It is naughty it is naughty fays the Buyer •, but when he is 
 gonc^ he vauyiteth, T hirdly. Out of Partiality ♦, for eve- 
 ry one knows, that Men ufe to extol with immode- 
 rate praife thofe that are on their own fide, and to de- 
 prefs thofe of the adverfe Party below their deferc. 
 Laltly, Through a natural Inclination ^ for fome Men are 
 
 by 
 
of Good and Evil. 2 1 
 
 by nature framed and moulded for fervile Fawning and 
 Flattery, wlUft others on the contrary are fliff, captious 
 and morofe j and when thefe commend or inveigh, they 
 do but comply with their own Humours, not troubling 
 their heads overmuch about the Truth of the bufmefs, 
 
 1 2. Omd ctiam ah immk'iA laudatur^ magnum bonum ^ ^woi 
 vero etiam ab arnk'vs reprehsnditur^ ynagnum malum. 
 
 1 2. That which draws commendation even from Ene- 
 mies, is a great Good ^ but that which is reprehended 
 even by Friends, is a great Evil. 
 
 THis Colour fecms to Hand upon this Foundation, 
 That it may well be believed, that the force of 
 Truth extorts from us whatfoever we affirm to be againlt 
 our Wills, and contrary to the bent and inclination of 
 our Minds. 
 
 This Colour deceives through the fubtilty, as well of 
 Enemies as Friends : For the praifes of Enemies are not 
 always againfl their Wills, nor as forc'd by Truth, but 
 they chufe to beftow them in fuch cafes where tliey 
 may create Envy or Danger to their Adverfaries. 
 Therefore i\\q Grecians had a fupcrftitious Fancy, that 
 if a Man were commended by another out of fpiglit, 
 and with a mifchievous defign, he would have a pulh 
 rife upon hisNofe : Befides, fometimes Enemies beftow 
 Praifes, like Preambles as 'cwere,that they may the more 
 freely and malicioufly calumniate. On the other fide, 
 this Colour deceives, from the craft of Friends; for 
 they'll fometimes take notice of the faults of theirFricnds, 
 and fpeak freely of them; but they chufe fuch as may 
 do them little hurt, as if for all the reft they were the 
 beft Men in the World. Again, it deceives, becaufe 
 Friends ufc their Reprehenfions ("as we faid Enemies do 
 their Commendations) as certain little Prefaces, after 
 which they may expatiate more freely in their Praifes, 
 FINIS. 
 O 3 
 
I 
 
THE 
 
 WISDOM 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ANCIENTS. 
 
 Written in Latin by the Right Ho- 
 nourable Sir FRANCIS B A C O N^ 
 Knight, Baroa of p^erulam^ aad Lord Cten- 
 jccWov oi England, 
 
 Done into Englifh by Sir J^THU^ 
 GORGES, Knight- 
 
 Scutum inyinctbile fides. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed in the Year, 1701 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE Antiquities of the frft Jge (except thofe 
 we find in Sacred IVrit^ rvcre baried in Oblivi- 
 on and Silence: Silence was ficceeded by Poet cal Fa- 
 bles, and fables again were followed by the Rec rds jve 
 now enjoy' So that the My f 'cries and Secret s of Antiquity 
 were dijiinguifhed and fefarated from the Reeds and 
 Evidences of fucceeding Times by the Veil of iiclionj 
 which interpojed itfelf and cafne between thofe things 
 which perifloed, and thofe which are extant, I ftp- 
 pofefome are of opinion^ that my purpofe is to write 
 Toys and Trifles^ and to ufurp the fame liberty in ap- 
 plying^ that the Poets affumed in feigning , which / 
 might do (I confefs) if 1 lifted- and with more feri- 
 ous contemplation intermix theft things^ to delight ei- 
 ther ?ny jelf in Meditation^ or others in Readings 
 Neither am I ignorant how fickle and inconflant d 
 thing Fiction is^ as being f abject to he drawn and 
 wrefied any way^ and how great the commodity of Wit 
 and Difcotirfe is ^ that is able to apply things welly 
 yetfo as never meant bythefirfl Authors, But I remember 
 that this liberty hath been lately much abufed^ in that 
 many, to pur chafe the reverence of Antiquity to their 
 own Inventions and Fancies^ have for the J^me intent 
 laboured to wrefi many Poetical Fables : I\' either hath 
 this old and common Vanity been ufed only of I ate, or now 
 md then : For even Chryfippus long ago did (as an 
 
 Interpreter 
 
The Prefaced 
 
 Interfreter of Dreams) afcribe the Opinions oftheSto^. 
 icks to the Ancient Poets \ and more fat tijhly do the 
 Chymifts appropriate the fancies and Delights of 
 Poets intheTransformation of Bodies ^ to the Expert^ 
 fnents of their fornace^ All thefe things^ ^ f^J t / 
 have fufficiently confidered and weighed^ and in them 
 havefeen And noted the general Levity and Indulgence 
 of Men* s Wits above Allegories ', and yet for all this 
 I relinquish not my Opinion* 
 
 For fir fi it ma) not he^ that the Folly and Loofenefs 
 of a few fhould altogether detract from the refpeh due 
 to the Parables : For that were a conceipt which might 
 favour ofProfanenefs and Prefumption : For Religion 
 it felf doth fometimes delight in fuch Veils and Sha-^ 
 dows : So that who fo exempts the?n^ feems in a man^ 
 ner to interdict all Commerce between things Divine 
 dnd Humane, But concerning Humane Wifdom^ I 
 do indeed ingenuoufly and freely confefsy that lamin^ 
 dined to imagine^ that under fome of the Ancient Ficti- 
 ons lay couched certain Myfteries and Allegories^ even 
 from their firjl invention. Andlamperfuaded (rvhe^ 
 ther ravijhed with the Keveren(;e of Antiquity^ or be^ 
 caufe in fome Fables I find fuch fingular proportion 
 between the ftmilitude and the thing figni^ed\ and 
 fuch apt and clear coherence in the very Structure of 
 them^ and propriety of Names wherewith the Perfons 
 or A^ors.in them are infer ibed and intituled^ that 
 no man can conftantly deny^ but this Senfe was in the 
 Authors intent and meanings when they firft invented 
 them , and that they purpofely jhadowed it in this 
 fort: For who can be fo flupid and blind in the open 
 Light ^ as (jvhen he hears how Fame^ after the Qiants 
 were dejlroyed^ Jprun^ up as their ^Qtin^elf Sijler^ 
 
The Preface, 
 
 not to refer it to the murmurs and fedit sous Reports 
 of hath fides y ivhkh are wont to fly abroad for a time 
 after the fuffr effing of Infurreclwns ? Or nhen he hears 
 how the Giant Typhon, having cut out and brought 
 away Jupiter'/ NerveSj which Mercury ftole from 
 him^ and reflored again to Jupiter; doth not frefently 
 perceive how fitly it may be applied to powerful Re- 
 bellions^ which take from Princes their Sinews of Mo- 
 ney and Authority ; but fo that by affability of Speech^ 
 and wife Ediffs {the mtnds of their Subjecfs being 
 in time privily^ and as it were by ftealth reconciled') 
 they recover their fir ength again? Or when he hears 
 how {in that 7nemorable Expedition of the Gods /r- 
 gainfi the Giants) the braying of Silenus his Jfsj 
 conduced much to the profligation of the Giants, doth 
 riot confidently imagine that it was invented to ffjew 
 how the greatefi enterprises 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 
 tide Wije ofjw^ittx^doth plainly fignifie Counfel : Tyl 
 phon, Injurreclion: Pan, Vntverfality. Nemcfis, 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 ^ 
 prjomethtng transfererd from one Fable to another^ to 
 bring in a new Allegory : For tt could be no other wtfe^ 
 feeing they were the Inventions of Men, which lived 
 in divers Ages, and had alfo diverfe Ends : Some be^ 
 ing ancient, others neoteric at \ fome have an eye to 
 things Natural, others to Moral' 
 
 There is another Argument, and that no fmall one 
 neither^ fo prove that thefe Fables contain certain hid^ 
 
 den^ 
 
The Preface. 
 
 derj^ and involved memings^ feeing fome of them an 
 ohferved to be fo ahfurdj andfoolijh in the very rela- 
 tion that they /hew J and as it were proclaim a F ara- 
 ble afar off'. Forfuch Tales as are frohahle^ they may 
 feem to be 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 he fought out for other 
 ends : for what kind ofFiciion is that^ wherein Ju- 
 piter is f aid to have taken Metis toJVife; and^ per- 
 ceiving that JJje was with Child^ to have devoured 
 her\ whence himfelf conceivings broupht forth F^WsiS 
 armed J out of his Head ? Truly ^ I think there was ne- 
 ver Dream (fo different to the courfe of Cogitation^ 
 and fo full ofMon/lrofity^) ever hatch"* d in the Brain 
 of Man. Above all things , this prevails mofi with 
 7ne and is of fingular moment ; many of thefe Fables 
 Jeem not to he invented of thofe by whom they are re- 
 iated^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 be no great or high Matter expected^ orfuppo- 
 fed to proceed from them in refpeCi of thefe Originals. 
 But if with attention we confider the Matter^ it will ap- 
 pear^ thxt they were delivered^ and related as things 
 formerly believed^ and received^ and not as newly in- 
 vent ed^ and offered unto in. Befides^ feeing they are 
 diverfly related by Writers that lived near about one 
 and the felf-fame time^ we may eafily perceive that 
 they were common things ^ derived from precedent Me- 
 morials ; and that they becamevariousj by reafon of the 
 drivers Ornaments beftowed on them by particular Re-^ 
 lations : And the confider atign of this rnufi needs in^ 
 
 creafi 
 
The Preface. 
 
 creafe in m a great ofinion of them^ as not to he ac* 
 cmmted either the effects of the time^ or inventions cf 
 the Poets^ hut /ts Jkcred Re lick s^ or abjlra^fed Airs of 
 better tirnes^ yvhich by Tradition from more Ancient 
 Nat ions fell into the Trumfets and Flutes of the Groe- 
 xians. But if any do objiinatelj contend^ That Alle* 
 series are always advent it i ally ^ and as it rvere by con^ 
 jlrainty never naturally^ and proferly included tn ¥a* 
 bles^ we will not he much troublefome^ hutfuffer them to 
 enjoy that gravity of Judgment ^ which I am fur e they 
 affect^ although indeed it be but lumfiflj^ and almofl 
 leaden* And {if they be wortfjy to be taken notice of ) 
 rve will begin a frejh with them in fome other fajjj ion. 
 There is found a mong Men^ (^and it goes for current^ 
 a twofold ufe of Parables^ and thofe^ (jvh^ch is more to 
 be admired^ referred to contrary ends\ conducing as 
 well to the folding uf^ dnd keeping of things under a 
 Veil^as to the enltghtning and laying open of ohfcurities. 
 But omitting the former ^(rather than to undergo wrang- 
 ling^ and affuming ancient Fables as things vagrant^ 
 and compofed only for delight ^^ the latter rnujl c^uefli-^ 
 onlefs fill remain as not to be wrefted from m by any 
 violence of PVity neither can any Qthat is but meanly 
 learned') hinder ; but it muft abfolutely be received^ as 
 a thing grave ^ andfoher^ free from all vanity^ and f jc- 
 ceeding provable , and neceffary to all Sciences. 
 This is it ^ Ifay^ that leads the underfranding of Man 
 hy an eafie and gentle paffage through alt novel and 
 abflrufe invent ions^ which any way d?Jferfro?n common 
 received Opinions. Therefore in the fir ft Ages {ivhen 
 many humane Inventions and Conlufwns which are 
 now common^ and vulgar^ were new^ and not generally 
 known ^) all things were Full of Fables y Enig7na^s^ Pa^ 
 
 rahleSj 
 
The Preface* 
 
 rdbles^ am Similies of all forts : By which they fought 
 to teach ^ andlayopen^ not to hide and conceal Kjtow^ 
 ledge ; efpecia/Iy feeing the Vnderftandings of Men 
 rvere in thofe ti?nes. ruae andimfatienty and almofl in^ 
 capable of any Subtilties\ fuch things Only excepted^ 
 ^s mre the Object of Senfe; for a.s Hieroglyphicks 
 preceeded Letters^ fo Parables mre more ancient than 
 Arguments. Andtn thoje days alfo^ he that would iU 
 luminate Mens minds anew in any old Matter^ and that 
 not with difprofitj and h.trjjjnefs^ mujl abfolutely tah 
 the fame Courfe ^ andufethe helpofSimiltest Whre^ 
 fore after all that hath been faid^ we mufi thm con-^^ 
 elude: The Wifdom of the Ancients, it was either 
 much^ or happy : Much^ if thefe Figures and Tropes 
 rvere invented by fludy and premeditation ; Happy ^ if 
 they {intending nothing lefs^^ gave Matter ^ and Oc-^^ 
 cafion tofo many worthy Meditations. As concerning 
 my Labours^ (tf there be any thing in them which may 
 do oood^ I will on neither fart count them ill beflow^ 
 ed^ my purpofe being to iti^ufirate either Antiquity^ or 
 Thinc's them [elves. Neither am I ignorant that this 
 very Subjefi hath been attempted by others: But to 
 fpeak as I think^ and that freely without oflent at ion^ the 
 Dignity and Efficacy of the Things is almofl loft by 
 thefe Meyi's Writings^ though voluminous^ and full of 
 Pains^ whil/l not diving into the depth of Matters^ hut 
 skilful only in certain common places^ have applied the 
 fenfe of thefe Parables to certain vulgar^ and general 
 Things^ notfo much a^s glancing at their true Vertue^ 
 genuine Propriety^ and full Dipt hi I (ifl he not de- 
 ceived^ ) jball be new in common Things. Wherefore 
 leaving fuch as are plain and open ^ 1 will aim (it far ^ 
 ther and richer Matters^ 
 
 To 
 
T O T H E 
 
 BOOK. 
 
 Rich Mne of Jrt^ Mnion o/Mercury, 
 True Truch'Man of the Mind of My fiery j 
 Inventions Store-Houfe^ Nym^h 0/ Helicon ; 
 DeepMoraliflofTime^ Tradition. 
 Vnto this Paraxon of BvutVis jRace, 
 Frefent thy Service^ and rvith chearful Crace^ 
 Say^ (if Pythagoras helievd may he^ 
 HjcSohI of Ancient Wifdom lives in The?. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 WISDOM 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ANCIENTS. 
 
 CaSSA^D^J, or^ DiVmatiort. 
 
 TH E Poets Fable, That Jpollo being enamour- 
 ed of Cajjandrj^ v7as by her many fhifcs and 
 cunning flights flill deluded in his Defire ^ 
 but yet fed on with hope, until! fuch time 
 as fhc had drawn from him the Gift of Pro- 
 phefying; and having by fuch her Diflimulation, in 
 the end, attained to that which from the beginning fhe 
 fought after ^ atlail, flatly re jeifted his Suit. Who find- 
 ing himfelf fo far engaged in his Promife, as that he 
 could not by any means revoke again his rafh Gift, and 
 yet enfiamed with an earned: defire of Revenge, highly 
 difdainingto be made the fcorn of a crafty Wench, an- 
 nexed a Penalty to his Promife, viz,, that Ihe fliould e- 
 ver foretel the truth, but never be believed : So were 
 her Divinations always faithful, but at no time regarded ; 
 whereof Ihe ftill found the experience, yea, even in the 
 
 r mns 
 
The Wifdom of the Anctmts. I f 
 
 luiiie of her own Country, which fhe had often fore- 
 tvarnedtbem of^ but they neither gave credit nor car 
 to her words. This Fable ieems to intimate the unpro- 
 fitable liberty of untimely admonitions and counfcls: 
 For they that are fo oVer-weened with the fliarpnefs and 
 dexterity of their own wit and capacity^as that they dif- 
 tiain to f^abmit thcmfclvesto tlic docnme:^.ts oi Apollo ^thi 
 God of Harmony,whereby to lcarn,and obfervc the me- 
 thod and mcafnre of affair?,the p^race and gravity of Dif- 
 courfe, the difterenccs between the more judicious and 
 rnorc vulgar Ears, and the due times whentofpcak,and 
 when to be filent;, be they never fo fen lible and pregnant, 
 and their judgments never fo profound, and profitable:^ 
 yet in all their endeavours either of perHvalion, or per- • 
 force, they avail nothing, neither are they of any mo- 
 ment to advantage or manage matters ^ but do rather 
 had en on the ruin of all thofe that they adhere, or de- 
 vote themrelves unto. And thenat iait, when calami- 
 ty doth make Men fed the event of negled,. then fhall 
 they too late be reverenced as deep,forereeing,and faith- 
 fulProphets. Whereof a notable inibnce is eiliinently 
 fct forth in AfaYctis Cato Vtkcnfis^ who, as from a vv^atch- 
 tower, difcovered afar off, and, as an Oracle, long fore- 
 told the approaching mine of his Country, and the 
 plotted Tyranny hovering over the State, both in the 
 firil; Conrpiracy, and as it was profecuted in the Civil 
 Contention bctv/een Cf/l-jrand Pompcy^ and did no good 
 the while, but rather harmed the Common \vealth, and 
 hailned on his Countrey's banc:^ which AI. Crcrro wife- 
 ly obferved, and writing to a familiar Friend, doth ill 
 thsfe terms CAcellcntly defcribe, Cito optimc fvitit^ fet 
 nocet inter dum Rcipublktc : Loquitur cnim tanpiam in Rci-ut- 
 lie J Platonvs^ non tanquam infi^ceRomuli. C^.^^ (faith he, J 
 jndgeth profoundly, but in the meantime damnifies the 
 State ; for he fpeaks in the Comn:ionwealth of Pb.^o,and 
 BG/t as in the Dregs of Romtihis, 
 
 TrPHOX 
 
i8 7he iVifdom of the Jncients, 
 rr? HONy or a^hel. 
 
 JV NO being vexM (Tay the PoetsJ that Jupter had 
 begotten Tallas by himfelf without her, earneftly 
 preiTed all the other Gods and Goddefies that fhe might 
 alfo bring forth of her felf alone without him ^ and 
 having by violence, and importunity obtained a grant 
 thereof, Ihc fmote the Earth, and forthwith fprang up 
 TypboH^ a huge, and horrid Monfter : This ftrange Birth 
 ihe comraks to a Serpent, (as a FoIter-Father,J to nou- 
 riuiit^ who no fooner came to ripenefs of years, but 
 he provokes Juj^iter to Battle : In the Conflid the Gy- 
 ant gettmg the upper hand, takes Jupiter upon his 
 Shoulders, carries him into a remote, and obfcure Coun- 
 trey, and (cutting out the finews of his Hands and 
 Feet) brought them away, and fo left him miferably 
 iTiangled and maimed. But Mercury recovering thefe 
 Nerves from Typho-n by Health, reftored them again to 
 Jupiter. Jupiter being again by this means corrobo- 
 rated, afTaults the Monfler afrelh, and at the firfl flrikes 
 him v/ith a l^h under- bolt, from whofe Blood Serpents 
 were ingendred. This Monfter at length fainting, and 
 flying, Jupiter cafts on him the Mount <iy£tna^ and with 
 the weight thereof crufh'd him. 
 
 ThisFable Teems to point gt the variable fortune of 
 Princes, and the rebellious infurrcLlion of Traytors in 
 a State: For Princes may well be faid to be married 
 to their Dominions, as Jupiter was to Juno ^ but it 
 happens now and then, that being debolhcd by the 
 long cuftom. of empiring, and bending towards Ty- 
 ranny, they endeavour to draw all to thcmfelves, and 
 (contemning the Counfel of their Nobles and Sena- 
 tors j hatch Laws in their own Brainy that is, difpoie 
 of things by their own fancy, andabfolute power. The 
 people f repining at thisj ftudy how to create, and fet 
 np a Chief of their own choice. This Projed by the 
 fecrct inftigation of the Peers, and Nobles, doth for 
 
 the 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. i (^ 
 
 the mofb part take his beginning^ by whofe conni- 
 vence the Commons being fee on edge, there follows 
 a kind of murmuring^ or difcontent hi the State, fha- 
 dovv'd by the Infancy of Tyfhon^ which being nurs'd by 
 the natural pravity^and clownifn malignity of the vulgar" 
 fort, f unto Princes, as infeftuous as Serpents,) is agaiii 
 repaired by a renewed ftrength, and at lait breaks out 
 Into open Rebellion, which (becaufe it brings infinite 
 mifchiefs upon Princeand People) is reprcfented by the 
 monilrous deformity of Typhon: His hundred Heads iig- 
 nifie their divided Powers-, his fiery Mouths, their in- 
 flamed intents; his Serpentine Circles,- their peflilent 
 r.lalice in beficging;, his Iron Hands their mercilefs 
 Haughters ^ his Eagles Talons, their greedy Rapines :; hi:j 
 plumed Body, their continual Rumours, and Scciits,and 
 Fears, and fuch likc:^ and fometimes thefe Rebellion'^ 
 grew fo potent, that Princes are inforced (tranfport^d 
 as it were, by the Rebels, and forfaking the chief Seats 
 and Cities of the Kingdomi) to contrad their Power, 
 and (being deprived of the Sinews of Money and 
 Majefty,) betake themfelves to fome remote and ob- 
 fcure coi ner within their Dominions : but in procefs 
 of time, (if they bear their Misfortunes with modera- 
 tion,) they may recover their ftrength, by the virtue 
 and induffry of Mcfcury • that is, they may (by be- 
 coming affable, and by reconciling the minds and willl 
 of their Subjefts with grave Edicl-s^and gracious Speech,) 
 excite an Alacrity to grant Aids, and Subfidies, where- 
 by to ftrengthen their Authority anew. Neverthe- 
 leis, having learned to be wife and wary, they will 
 refrain to try the chance of Fortune by War, and yet 
 ftudy how to fupprefs the reputation of the Rebels by 
 fomc famous Adion, whidi if it fall out anfvvemble 
 to their expedlation , the Rebels finding themfelves 
 weakned, and fearing the fu^cefs of their broken Pro- 
 Jeds^ betake themfelves to fome (light, and vain Bra- 
 vadoes^ like the hiffing of Serpents, and at length in! 
 ^.efpair bctaka themfelves to flighty and then Vy^herf 
 
 F 2 €hey 
 
ao T/;e Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 they begin to break, it isfafe and timely for Kings to 
 purfue, and opprefs them with the Forces and Weight 
 of the Kingdom, as it were with the Mountain o^tna. 
 
 Jhe(JCLQfS, or the Um'tfters of Terror. 
 
 THey fay that the Cyclops^ for their fiercenefs^ and 
 cruelty, were by Jupiter caii into Hell, and there 
 doomed to perpetual imprifonmcnt ^ but Tellus per- 
 -fwaded Jupiter that 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 Inllrumcnts of Terror. In procefs of time 5^^.- 
 piter having conceived a Difpleafiire againft (L/Efculapi- 
 «f, the Son of yJpcllo^ for reftoring a dead Man to life 
 byPhylick- and concealing his dillike, (becaufe there 
 was no jult caufe of anger, the deed being pious and 
 famous,) fecretlyincens'd the Cyclops againlt him, who 
 without delay lievv him with a Thunder-bolt. In re- 
 venge of which aft, j^polh (Jupiter not prohibiting it) 
 fnot them to death with his Arrows. 
 • This Fable may be applied to the Projefts of Kings, 
 who having cruel, bloody, and exacting Officers, do 
 firft puniih and difplace them^ afterwards by the coun- 
 i'clof TilltiSj that is, of fomcbafe, and ignoble Perfon, 
 and by the prevailing refpect of Profit, they admit 
 them into their Places again, that they n'^ay have In- 
 ftruments in a readinefs, if at any time there fhould 
 need either feverity of execution, or acerbity of ex- 
 action. Thefe fervile Creatures being by nature cru* 
 el, and by their former fortune exafperated, and per- 
 ceiving well what is expected at their hands, do Ihew 
 themfelves wonderful officious in fnch kind of Em- 
 ployments, but being too ralb, and precipitate in 
 
 feeking 
 
Tl:^ Wifdom of the Ancunts. tT 
 
 feeking countenance, and creeping into favour, do 
 fometimes take occa lion from the fecret Reckonings, and 
 ambiguous Commands of their Prince, to perform fomc 
 hateful execv.tion. But Princes (abhorring the Fad, 
 and knowing well, that they fhail never want fuch kina 
 of Inflrui lents, 1 do utterly forfakc them, turning them 
 overtothe Friends and Allies of the wronged, to their 
 Accufations and Revenge, and to the general Hatred of 
 the People^ io that with great Applaufe, and profpe- 
 rous Wiihes and Acclamations towards the Prince, they 
 are brought, rather too lace, than undefervedly, to a 
 mifcrablc end. 
 
 KA%C1SSUS, or^ Self Love. 
 
 ^THHey fay, that Narciffus was exceeding fair and 
 JL beautiful, but wonderful proud and difdainful^ 
 wherefore defpillng all others in refpecl of himfclf, he 
 leads a folitary Life in the Woods and Chafes, with a 
 few Followers, to whom he alone was all in all ^ amongft 
 the red, there tollows him the Nymph Echo. During 
 hisCourfcof Life, it fatally lb chanced, that became to 
 a clear Fountain, upon the Bank whereof he lay down 
 to repofe himfclf in the heat of the Day. And hav- 
 ing efpied the Oiadow of his own Face in the Water, 
 w^as fo bcfottcd, and ravifhed with the contemplation 
 and admiration thereof, that he by no means pofiible 
 could be drawn from beholding his Image in this Glafs ^ 
 infomuch, that by continual gazing thercLipon, he pin* 
 ed away to nothing, and was at laft turned into a Flower 
 of his own Name, which appears in the beginning of 
 the Spring, andisfacrcd to the infernal Powers, Fluto^ 
 Froferpina^ and the Furies. 
 
 This Fable feems to fhew the Difpofition% and For- 
 tunes of thole, who in refpect either of their Beauty, or 
 Qther Gift wherewith they are adorned, and graced by 
 
 P 3 Nature, 
 
^% The Wifiom of tit Anemia. 
 
 Nature, without the help of Induftry, are fo far befot- 
 tedinthemfelves, as that they prove the canfc of thch; 
 own deilrudiion. For it is the property of I\len infe-^ 
 ded with this Humour, not to come much abroad, or to 
 be Gouverfant in Civil Affairs, efpecially feeing thofe 
 that are in publick Place, piuff of necellity encounter 
 with many Contempts, and Scorns, which may much 
 dejefl, and trouble their Minds • and therefore they 
 lead for the mofl part a folitary, private, and obfcurc 
 Life, attended on with a few Follow ers, and thofe^ 
 fuch as will adore, and admire them, like an Echo 
 flatter them in all their Sayings, and applaud them in 
 all their Words. So that being by thi> Cuftom redu- 
 ced, and puft up, and as it were, ftupified with the 
 admiration of themfelves, they are poffeiled with fo 
 ftrange a Sloth and Idlenefs, that they grow in a man- 
 ner bcnumb'd., and defective of all vigour and alacrity. 
 Elegantly doth this Flower, appearing in the beginning 
 of the Spring, reprefent the likenefs of thcfe Men's Dif- 
 pofitions, who, in their youth do flourilh, and wax fa- 
 mous ^ but being come to ripenefs of years, they de- 
 ceive and fruftrate the good hope that is conceived of 
 them. Neither is it impertinent that this Flower isfaid 
 to be confecrated to the infernal Deities, becaufe Men 
 of thisdifpofition become unprohtable to all Fiumane 
 things : FoV whatfoever produceth no Fruit of it felf^ 
 but paffeth, and vanifheth as if it had never been, Hike 
 the way of a Ship in the Sea,j that the Ancients were 
 wont to dedicate to the Gholls, and Powers below. 
 
 1 
 
 STYX^ or Leagues. 
 
 ^in H E Oath by which the Gods were v/ont to obl^gej 
 X themfelves, (vAicn they meant to ratifie any thing] 
 fo firmly as never to revoke it, J is a thing well knowi 
 to the Vulsar, as being mentioned almoil: in every Fa- 
 ble, 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. 1 1 
 
 ble, which was when they did not invoke or call to 
 witnefs any Celellial iMajclty, or Divine Power, but 
 only the River Styx^ tl-uat with crooked and Mtahd'-y 
 Turnings incircleth the Palace of the internal Dis. This 
 was held as the only manner of their Sacrament ^ and 
 bcfides it, not any otber Vcm to be accounted firm, 
 and inviolable • and therefore the punifhment to be in- 
 fli^ed, (if any did perjure themfelvesj was, that for 
 certain years they fhould be put out of Cominons, and 
 not to be admitted to the Table of the Gods. 
 
 This Fable feems to point at the Lea^^ues and Pacts 
 of Princes, of which, more truly, than opportunely^ 
 may be faid. That be they nevei' fo ftrongly confirmed 
 with the Solemnity and Religion of an Oath, yet are 
 for the moff part, of no validity ^ infomuch that they 
 are made rather with an Eye to P.eputation, and Re- 
 port, and Ceremony ^ than to Faith, Security, and Ef- 
 fect. Moreover, addtothcfc rhe Bond of Affinity, a$ 
 the Sacraments of Nature, and mutual Deferts of each 
 Part, and you fliall obferve, that with a great many, ail 
 thefe things arc placed a degree under Ambition and 
 Profit, and the licentious deiire of Domination; aud fo 
 much the rather, becaufe it is an eafie thing for Prin- 
 ces to defend and cover their unlawful Delires and un- 
 faithful Vows, with many outv/ardiy Teeming fair Pre-^ 
 texts,efpecially feeing there is no Umpire or Moderator 
 of Matters concluded upon to whom a reafon (hould be 
 tendred. Therefore there is no true and proper thing 
 made choice of, for the confirmation of Faith,and that no 
 celeflial Power neither, but is indeed NeceJJiiy^ ( a great 
 God to great Potentates,) the Peril alfo of State, and 
 the Communication of Profit. As forAVie.^fy, it is e- 
 legantly reprefented by Styx^ that fatal and irremeable 
 River- and this Godhead did Iphicr at es^ the Jthcnian^ 
 call to the Confirmation of a League •, who becaufe he 
 alone is found to fneak plainly that v;hich many hide 
 covertly in their Breads, it would not be amifs to re- 
 late his words. He obferving how the Lciced^jnoniam 
 
 P 4 had 
 
^4 Tte Wtfdom of the Ancients. 
 
 bad thoi-'gbt upon, and propounded divers Cautions, 
 Sandions, Confirmations and Bonds, pertaining to 
 Leagues, inter pofed thus : Vmnn Laced^monit^ nobis 
 Vubijcum vmculum & ftcuritatis ratio efje pojfit •, ft plane 
 ckmGnJh'c'iis^ vos ta nobis conccjjijjc^ & iriter ma/ius pojuij]}^ 
 lit ^obis facuUcw Udcndi nos^ ft maxime vdktis^ nmimie 
 fuppctcre po/Jit, There is one thing (O Laced^emo'dt.-ns) 
 that would link us unto you in the Bond of Amity, 
 3nd be the occallon of Peace and Security ^ which is, 
 if you v/ould plainly demonflrate, that you have yield- 
 ed up and put into our hands, fijch things as that, 
 would you hurt us never fo fain, you Hiould yet be 
 dibfurniinedof means to do it. if therefore tlic 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 
 icem to be ratified and efuablifhed, and as it v/ere con- 
 firmed by the Sacrament of the Stygian Lake ^ feeing 
 that it incliTdesthc fear of Prohibition and Sufpenfion 
 from the Table of the Gods, under which Name the 
 Laws and Prerogatives, the Plenty and Felicity of a 
 Kingdom were iignified by the Ancii^nts, 
 
 ■■^M^-T 
 
 F A l>i:i 0^ Nature, 
 
 ^r^HE J!?icients have e:cquiiitely defcribedZ^.zf^rd? un- 
 X der the Perfon of Fan^ whofe original they leave 
 doubtful • for fome fay that he was the Sou of Mer- 
 cury^ others attribute unto him a far diflerent beginning, 
 affirming him to be the common Off-fpring of Pent- 
 lnfe\ Suitors, upon a fufpicion, that every one of them 
 harl to do with her , which latter relation doubtkfs 
 [?3veoccaj]on to fome after Writers to entitle this an- 
 qent Fable with the Name of Penelope^ a thing very 
 frequent amonsll them, v/hcn they apply old Ficiions 
 ip ypung Perfojis ^nd Names, and that many tirnes 
 
 abfurdly 
 
Tl^e Wifdom of the Ancients. ir 
 
 abfurcily and indifcreetly, as may be fcen here: For 
 Pan being one of the Ancient God^was-long before the 
 time oi Vlyjfes^nd Penelope . Belides (for her Matronal 
 Chaf.hy) "^[he was held venerable by Antiquity. Nei- 
 ther may we pretermit tlie third conceit of his Birth : 
 For fome fay, That he was the Son of Ji^piter and 
 hybrb^ which fignifies contumely ordifdain. Bnt hovv- 
 focver begotten, the Pj'Xa (they lay) were his Sillers. 
 He is pouvtrayed by the Amknts in this guife- on 
 his Head a pair of Horns to reach to Heaven, his Bo- 
 dy rough and Hairy, his Beard long and fiiaggy his 
 Shape biformed, above like a Man, below like a Bealt 
 his Feet like GoatVhoofs, bearing thefe Enligns of his 
 Jurifdidion, to w^t, in his left-hand a Pipeoffeven 
 Reeds, and in his right a Sheep-hook, cr a Staff" 
 crooked at the upper ciid, and his Mantle made of a 
 Leopard's Skin. His Dignities and OHices were thefe : 
 He was the Go.. /: Hr-nters, of Shepherds, and of all 
 Rural Inhabi'u.i!!' •. Chief Preiidcnt alfo of Hills and 
 I\lountains, : nd next to Mercury^ the Embailador of 
 the Gods. Moreover, He was accounted the Leader 
 and Commander of the Nymphs^ which were always 
 v/ont to dance the rounds, and frisk about him • he 
 y/as scccikd by the 5ttf)/n and the old Siknt. He 'had 
 power alfo to ftrike Men with terrors, and thofe efpo 
 cially vain and fLiperftitious, which are termed Pa^ 
 nick fears. His adts were not many, for ought that 
 can be found in Records, the chieicft was, that he 
 challenged Cupid at wrcflling, in which confiid he had 
 the foil. The Talc goes too, how that he caught the 
 Gyant Typhon in a Net, and held him fail. Moreo- 
 ver, where Ccns (grumbling and chafing that ProfcY^ 
 p'ma was raviflied) had hid her fclf avvay, and that 
 all the Gods took pains (by difperfingthemfelvcs in- 
 to every corner) to find her out, it was only his good 
 hap Cas he was hunting) to light on her, and ac- 
 quaint the reH: where (he was. He prefumed alfo to 
 put it to the Tryal who was the bcfl- Minlcian, heor 
 
 Jpollo^ 
 
i6 The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 j^^ollo^ 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 Sentence. Of 
 his Love-tricks, there is nothing reported, or at leaft 
 not much, a thing to be w^ondered at, efpccially being 
 among a Troop of Gods fo profufely amorous. This 
 only is faid of him, that he loved the Nymph Echo 
 (whom he took to Wife) and one pretty Wench more 
 called Sirynx^ towards whom Cufid (in an angry and 
 revengeful humour, becaufe fo audacioufly he had chal- 
 lenged him at a Wrellling) inflamed his defire. More- 
 over, he had no Iffue f which is a marvel alfo, feeing 
 the Gods, efpecially thofe of the Male kind, were very 
 generative) only he was the reputed Father of a little 
 Girl called Jambe, that with many pretty Tales was 
 wont to make rtrangers merry ^ butfome think that he 
 did indeed beget her by his Wife Jamhe. This (if any 
 be j is a noble Tale, as being laid out and big-bellied 
 with the Secrets and Myfterics of Nature. 
 
 Pan (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- 
 verfie affirm, and fuch of the Philofophers as had any 
 llnack of Divinity aifented unto^ or elfe from the 
 confofcd Seeds of things. For they that would have 
 pn^ fimple beginning, refer it unto God -, or if a mate- 
 riatc beginning, they would have it various in powen 
 So that we m;3y end the controverfie v/ith this Diilribu- 
 tion. That the world took beginning, either from ^^r- 
 mry^ or from the Seeds of all things. 
 
 Virg. Eclog. 6. 
 
 Namcjue canebat utl magnum per inane coa^ia. 
 ^cmina ten'orumquey animcef^f^ mmfque fuljfcm^ 
 
 £P 
 
n?e Wifdom of the indents. 27 
 
 fj liquidi ftmul ignis : Et his exordia primis 
 Omnia^ cr ip/e tcner mundi comrcverit Orhis. 
 
 For rich-vein'd Orpheus fweetly did rchcarfe 
 How that the Seeds of Fire, Air, Water, Earth, 
 Were all pact in the vaft void Uaiverfe : 
 And how from thefeasFirlllings, all had birth, 
 And how the Body of thisOrbick frame. 
 From tender infancy fo big became. 
 
 Bnt, as touching the third conceit of Aw's Origirjal, 
 it feems that the 6>ca^wj f either by intercom fc^with 
 the <iAigypt'tans^ or one way or other j had heard fonie- 
 thing of the Hebrew Myfterics ^ for it points to the 
 flatcof the World, not coniidered in immediate Crea- 
 tion, but after the fall of Jdam^ €xp(?fcd and made 
 fubjecl to Death and Corrnption: For in that liate it 
 was {'and remains to this day j the Of-fpring of God 
 and Sin. And therefore all thefe Three Narrations 
 concerning the manner of Pan\ birth may feem to 
 be true, it it be rightly didinguifhed between Things 
 Slid Times. For this Pan or Nature (^whach vv^c fnTped, 
 contemplate, and reverence more than is fit) took be- 
 ginning from the Word of God by the means of ccn- 
 fnfed Matter, and the entrance of Prevarication and 
 corruption. The Deltinies may well be thought the 
 Sifters of Fan or Nature^ becaufe the beginnings and 
 continuances, and corruptions ^nd Deprcflions^ and 
 dillblutions, and eminencies, and labours, and felicities 
 of things, and all the chnnces which can happen unto 
 anything, are linktv/ith the Chain of Caufcs natural. 
 
 Horns are attributed unto him, becaufe Horns are 
 broad at the root and Hiarp at the ends, the nature of 
 ^ all things being like 2iTyyatms^ (harp at the top. For 
 individual or lingular things being infinite, are firft 
 colleded intoypa/Vi-, which are many alfo ; then from 
 fpecies into generals^ and from generals (by afcending) 
 ar.e contracted into things or notions niove general ^ Fq 
 
 that 
 
2 8 Tl^e Wi/dom of the Ancients. 
 
 that at length Nature may fcem to be contracled into an 
 unity. Neither is it to be wondred at, that P^^^touch- 
 eth Heaven with his Horns, feeing the height of Nature 
 or univerfal Ideas do, in fome fort, pertain to things 
 Divine, and there is a ready and Ihort Pailage from Me^ 
 taph)'jlcks to natural Theology. 
 
 The Body of Nature is elegantly and with deep judg- 
 ment depainted hairy, reprefenting the beams or ope- 
 rations of creatures •, for beams are as it were the Hairs 
 and Brillles of Nature^ and every creature is either 
 more or lefs beamy, which is moil apparent in the fa- 
 cility of feeing, and no lefs in every vertue and opera- 
 tion that effe(n:uates upon a diflant Objccl,for whatfoever 
 works upon any thing afar off, that may rightly be faid 
 to dart forth Rays or Beams. 
 
 Moreover, Tan\ Beard is Hiid to be exceeding long, 
 becaufe the beams or influences of Cnsleftial Bodies do 
 operate and pierce farthefi: of all ^ and the Sun, when 
 ("his higher half is fhadowed with a Cloud) his Beams 
 break out in the lower, and looks as if he were bear- 
 ded. 
 
 Nature is alfo excellently fet forth with a biformed 
 Body, withrefpedto the differences between fuperior 
 and inferior Creatures. For one part byreafon of their 
 Pulcritudc, and equability of motion, and Conflancy 
 and Dominion over the Earth and Earthly things, is 
 'worthily fet out by the ihape of Man: And the other 
 part in refpect of their perturbations and unconftant 
 motions, (and therefore needing to be moderated by 
 the Celcftial) may be well fitted with the Figure of a 
 Brute Bead:. This Defcription of his Body pertains al- 
 fo to the participation of S^ecics^ for no natural being 
 items to be fimple, but as it v;cre participated and com- 
 pounded of two. As for example, Man hath fomething 
 of a BeaO:, a beail fomething of a Plant, a Plant fome- 
 thing of inanimate Body, of that all natural things are 
 in very deed biformed, that is to fay, compounded of a 
 fuperior and inferior Swedes, 
 
 It 
 
The Wljdom of the Jments. 2 9 
 
 It is a very witty Allegory, that fiime of the Feet of 
 the Goat, by reafonof the upward tending motion of 
 Terreftrial Bodies towards the Air and Heaven, for the 
 Goat is a climbing Creature, that loves to be hangirg 
 about the Rocks and fteep Mountains ; and this is dons 
 alfo in a wonderful manner, even by thofe things which 
 are deftinated to this inferior Globe, as may manifellly 
 appear in Clouds and Meteors. 
 
 The two Enfigns which Pan bears in his hands, do 
 point, the one at Harmony, the other at Empire : For 
 the Pipe confiding of feven Reeds, doth evidently de- 
 mcnftrate the confent, and Harmony, and difcordant 
 concord of all inferioi* Creatures, which is caufed by 
 the Motion of the Seven Planets : And that of the 
 Sheep-hook may be excellently apply*d to the order of 
 nature, vvhich is partly right, partly crooked : This 
 Staff therefore or Rod is fpccially crooked in the up- 
 per end, becaufeall the works of Divine Providence ia 
 the World are done in a far fetcht and circular manner, 
 fo that one thing may feem to be affecced and yet iu- 
 deed a clean contrary brought to pafs- as the felling of 
 Jofeph into "^-^^ypt^ 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 
 eafily into the minds of the Peorle,by pretexts and ob- 
 lique courfes, than by diredt methods : So that all Scep- 
 ters and Mallesof Authority ought in very deed to be 
 crooked in the upper end. 
 
 Pan's 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 garnifhed with divers 
 colours about the fuperficies, which is as it were a Man- 
 tle unto it. 
 
 The Office of Pan can be by nothing fo lively con- 
 ceived and exprefi:, as by feigning him to be the God 
 of Hunters, for every natnral action, and fo by confe- 
 
 quence, 
 
3© 7he Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 queace, Motion and Progredion, is nothing elfe but a 
 Hiiatiiig. Arcs and Sciences have their works, and Hu- 
 mane Connfels their ends which they earneftly hunt 
 after. All natural things have either their Food as a 
 Prey, or their Plcafure <is a Recreation which they 
 feck for, and that in moil expert and fagacious man- 
 ner. 
 
 Torva Leifm Lupum fequitm'^ Lupus ipfe Capdlam, 
 Florcntem Cjtijum fequitur Ujciva CaptUa. 
 
 The hungry Lionefs, (with (harp defirej 
 Purfiies the Wolf, the Wolf the wanton Goat; 
 The Goat again doth greedily afpire 
 To have the Trifoil Juycc pafs down her Throat. 
 
 Tan is alfo {;iid to be the Gvod of the Country-Clowns^ 
 becaufe Men of this condition lead lives more agreeable 
 tinto Nature, than thofe that live in the Cities and 
 Courts of Princes, where Nature by too much Art is 
 corrupted : So as the faying of the Poet (though in th^ 
 fenfc of Love) might be here verified. 
 
 Tars minima efi ipfa pucUa fui. 
 
 The Maid fotrickt her felf with Art, 
 That of her felf fhe is leall part. 
 
 He was held to be Lord Prefident of the Mountains,-, 
 becaufe in the high Mountains and Hills, Nature lays her 
 felf nioft open, and Men mofl apt to viev? and contem- 
 plation. 
 
 W^hereas Pan is faid to be fnext unto Mtrcury) the 
 MefTengcr of the Gods, there is in that a Divine My- 
 ftcry contained,for next to the Word of Gf:^^^^ the Image 
 of the World proclaims the Power and Wifdom Divine, 
 as fmgs the Sacred Poet, Tfal. xix. i. Call man ant gh-^ 
 ruim Dei^ ato/w opera mauuum tm indkat firm.<fmentm7t 
 
7he Wijdom of the ^merits. ^ i 
 
 The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firma- 
 ment fheweth the Works of his Hands. 
 
 The Nymphs^ that is, the Souls of living things take 
 great delight in Pan, For thefe Souls are the delights 
 or minions of Nature^ and thediredion orcondudof 
 thefe Nymphs is with great reafon attributed unto Paf7 
 becaufe the Souls of all things living, do follow their 
 natural difpofitions as their guides, and with infinite va- 
 riety every one of them after his own fafhion doth leap 
 and frisk and dance with incelFant motions about her! 
 The Satyrs and Silent alfo, to wit, Youth and Old Age, are 
 fome of Panh 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, bibling, and reeling.' 
 The carriages and difpofitions of both which ages, to 
 fomefuch 2i^Democntus was, (that would obferve them 
 duly,) might peradventure fcem as ridiculous and de- 
 formed, as the gambols of the Satyrs^ or the gelhires of 
 the Sikn'h 
 
 Of thofe fears and terrors which Van is faid to be 
 the Author, there may be this wife conflrudtion made : 
 Namely, that Nature hath bred in every living thing 
 a kind of care and fear, tending to the Prefervacion of 
 its own life and being, and to the repelling and Ihun- 
 ningof all things hurtful. And yet Nature knows not 
 how to keep a mean, but ahvays 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 Pankk frights : But Men efpecially in 
 hard, fearful, and diverfe times, arc wonderfully infa- 
 tuated with faperllition, which indeed is nothing elfe 
 but a Pan'td terror. 
 
 Concerning the audacity of Pmi in cl^allenging Cu* 
 pid at wreflling: The meaning of ii Is, that Matter 
 w^ants not inclination and delire to the relapfingand dif- 
 folntion of the World into the old Chans^ if her malice 
 and violence were not reftrained and kcj)t in order, by 
 the prepotent uniiy and agreement of things lignified by 
 
 Cupidy 
 
^1 The Wtfdoni of the Ancient L 
 
 Cupid^ or the God of Love :, and therefore it was a hai> 
 py tinn for Men, and all things elfe, that in their con- 
 flict: Pan was found too weak, and overcome. 
 
 To the fame elfect may be interpreted his catching 
 of Typhon in a Net .• For howfoever there may fome- 
 times happen vafc and unwonted Tumours (as the 
 Name of Tyfjon imports) either in the Sea or in the Air, 
 or in the Earth, or elfewhere ; yet Nature doth in- 
 tangle it in an intricate toil, and curb and reitrain in, as 
 it vverc with a Chain of Adamant, the excefles and info- 
 lencies of thefe kind of Bodies. 
 
 But forasmuch as it was Van's good fortune to find 
 out Ceres as he Vvas Hunting, and thought little of it, 
 which none of the other Gods could do, though they 
 did nothing elfe but feek hcr^ and that very ferioufly^ 
 it gives us this true and grave admonition, That we 
 expccl not to receive things ncceOary for life and man- 
 ners fromPhilofophical Abltractions, as from the grea- 
 ter Gods :, alDeit they applied themfelves to no other 
 ftudy, but frolii Pari ^ that is, from the difcreet obfer- 
 vation and ej^pcrience, and the univerfal knowledge of 
 the things of this World ^ whereby (oftentimes even 
 by chance, ^u'\ as it were going a Hunting) fuch Inven^ 
 tions are lighted upon. 
 
 TheqiiaiTclhe made with JpoUo 3.hoiM Aiuftcl^ and 
 the event thereof contains a Vv'holfome inftrufticn^ 
 which may ferve to refrrain Men's Pveifons and Judg- 
 ments with Reins of Sobriety, from boailing and glo- 
 rying in their gifts. For there feems to be a twofold 
 Harmonv, or Muiick^ 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 harfh; 
 which toily, albeit it be well fet out with AfTes Ears ; 
 yet notwithfcanding thefe Ears are fecret, and do not 
 openly appear, neither is it perceived or noted as a de- 
 formity by the vulgar. 
 
 Laltly^. 
 
Voe Wtfddni of the Mctents. 5 j 
 
 Lailly, k is not to be wondred at, that there is ho- 
 thing attributed unto Pan concerning Loves, but only 
 ' of ins marriage with Echo : For the World or Nature 
 doth enjoy it felf, and in it felf all things elfe. Now 
 he that loves would enjoy fomething, but where there 
 is enough, there is noplace left to defire. Therefore 
 there can be no wanting love lil Fu^^ or the World,- 
 nor defire to obtain any thing (feeing he lb Lontented 
 Vvith hinjfelf ) but only Speeches, which ('if plains 
 maybe intimated by the Nymph Echo ^ or if more quaint 
 by Syrinx. It is an excellent invention that Pan.^ or 
 the World is Qid to make choice of Echo only (above 
 all other Speeches or Voices) for his Wife: For that 
 alone is true Philofophy, which doth faithfully render 
 the very words of the World ^ and it is written no 
 otherwife than the World doth di(^:ate, it being no- 
 thing elfe but the Image or Refledion of it, not add- 
 ing any thing of its own, but only iterates and re- 
 founds It belongs alfo to the fufiicienc/ or perfefliorl 
 of the World, that he begets no IlTue : For the World 
 doth generate in refpedt of its parts, but in refpect of 
 the whole, how can it generate, feeing without it 
 there is no Body? Notwithftanding all this, the Tale 
 of that ratling Girl fathered upon Pan^ may in very 
 deed, with great Reafon, be added to this Fable: For 
 by her are reprefented thofe: vain and idle Paradoxes 
 concerning the Nature of things which have been fre- 
 qnenc in all Ages, and have filled the World with 
 Novelties -, Frniclefs, if you refpecc the Matter •, Chang- 
 lings if yon refped the Kind ^ fometimes creating Plea- 
 fure, fometimes tcdioufnefs with their overmuch prat- 
 5?r>g. 
 
 <g. TERSEVS^ 
 
^4 Tfce W'tfdom of the /indents. 
 
 (PE^IISEUS, or War. 
 
 PE RS EVS IS faid to have been employed by Pal^ 
 las^ for the deftroying of Meduj\ who was very 
 infeftuous to the Weftern Parts of the World, and 
 efpecially about the utmoft Coafts of Hiberia. A Mon- 
 iirerfo dire and horrid, that by her only Afped Ihe 
 turned Men into Stones. This Medufa alone of all the 
 Cordons was mortal, the reft not fubjed to Death. Per- 
 fem therefore preparing himfelf for this noble enter- 
 prife, had A rms and Gifts bellowed on him by three 
 of the Gods: Mercury gave him Wings annexed to 
 his Heels, Pluto a Helmet, Pallas a Shield and a Look- 
 ing-Glafs, Notwithftanding (although he were thus 
 fuinifhed) he went not directly to Medufa^ but firlt 
 to the Gvedd^ which by the [Vlothers fide were Sifters 
 to the Gorgo-rfs. Thefc Grca; from their Birth were 
 Hoar-headed, refembling old Women. They had but 
 one only Eye, and one Tooth among them all ^ both 
 which, fhe that had occafion to go abroad, was wont 
 to take with her, and at her return to lay them down 
 again. This Eye and Tooth they lent to Per/t m^ ^ and 
 fo finding himfelf throughly furnifhed for the effecting 
 of his dellgn, haftens towards Aledufa. Her he found 
 keeping, and yet durft not prefent himfelf with his 
 Face towards her, left (lie ftiould awake ^ but turning 
 his Head afide, beheld her in Pallash Glafs, and (by 
 this means directing his blowj cut off her Head ^ from 
 whole Blood gnlhing out, inftantly game Pegafus^ the 
 Flying-Horfe. Her Head thus fmote off. Pcrfius beftows 
 on Pallas her Shield, which yet retained tiiis Vertuc, 
 that whofoever looked upon it, fhould become as ftupid 
 as a Stone, or like one Piannet-ftruckcn. 
 
 This Fable feenis to direct the preparation and order, 
 that is to be ufed in making of War •, for the more apt 
 and confiderate undertaking whereof, three grave and 
 
 v^holefom 
 
The Wlfdom of the Ancients. Vj 
 
 wholefom Precepts (favouring of the wifdom of P^/- 
 
 livs) are to be obfecved. 
 
 Firll, That Men do not much trouble themfelves a- 
 bout theConquefl: of Neighbour Nations, feeing that 
 private polfeflions and Empires are enlarged by diffe- 
 rent 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 
 occaiion and facility of making War, and the Fruit to 
 be expecced ought to be inflead of vicinity. Certainly 
 the Romans^ 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 the coiupafs of their Arms and Command ^ and 
 therefore Perfeus^ although he were bred and borrl in 
 the Eaft, did not yet refufe to undertake an expedition 
 even to the utter moft bounds of the Weft. 
 
 Secondly^ There muft be a care had. that the Mo- 
 tives of War be juft and honourable, fot that Begets 
 an alacrity, as well in the Soldiers that light, as ia the 
 People that pay^ it draws on and procures Aids, and 
 brings many other Commodities befides. But there is 
 no pretence to take up Ar mi s more pious, than the fup- 
 prefling of Tyranny^ under which Yoke, the People 
 lole their Courage, and are caft down without heart 
 and vigor, as in the fight of Medufa. 
 
 Thirdly, It is vvifely added, that feeing there were 
 three Gorgons (by v; hich Wars are reprefented) Perfeus 
 '.uhdertook'her only thac'was mortal^ that is, he made 
 choice of fjch a kind of War as was likely to be effed- 
 ed and brought to a period, not purfuing vaft and end- 
 lefs hopes. 
 
 The furnifnlng of Ptrfius with ncceilaries was that 
 svhichonly advanced his attempt, and dvtw Fornwe to 
 :be of his fide:;, for lie had fpeed from Aftrcury^ conceal- 
 ing of his Counfels from Grciis^ and ProvidcKce from 
 
 Q,. 2 Neither 
 
^6 ^he IVifiiom of the Ancients, 
 
 Neither is it without an Allegory, and that full of 
 matter too, thatthofe Wings of Celerity were faftaed 
 toPerfeus's Heels, and not to his Ankles, to his Feet, 
 and not to his Shoulders :, becaufe fpeed and celerity is 
 required, not fo much in the firlt 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 Subfidiary forces do fail to anfwer the 
 alacrity of the firfl onfets. 
 
 Now for that Helmet which Phto gave him, power- 
 ful to make Men invifible, the Moral is plain ^ but that 
 twofold gift of Providence, fto wit, the Shield and 
 Looking-GlafsJ 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 
 fhrength and motions, and Counfels of the Enemy- 
 are defcry'd, as in the Looking-Glafsof Pallas. 
 
 But Pcrfc^s^ albeit he were fufficiently furnifhed with 
 aid and courage, yet was he to do one thing of fpecial 
 importance before he entred the Lifts with thisMonfter, 
 and that was to have fome intelligence with the Gredt. 
 Thefe 6'rf* are Treafons which may be termed the Si- 
 llers of War not defceaded 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 -head- 
 ed, and like old Women from their Birth; by rcafon 
 that Tray tors are continually vext with cares and tre- 
 pidations. But all their Itrength (before 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, this Eye and 
 Tooth is as it were common ; for whatsoever they eaa 
 learn and know, is delivered and carried from one to 
 anorberby the handsof Fadtion.- And as concerning 
 the Tocth, they do all bite alike, and fmg the fame 
 fong-, fo that hear one, and you hear all. -Per/fwj there- 
 fL>vj;vvas to deal v>'ith thefe Grt*: for the love of fheir 
 
 Eye' 
 
71)6 Wifdom of the Ancmts. ^ 7 
 
 Eye and Tooth. Their Eye to difcover, their Tooth to 
 fow Rumours and ftir up Envy, and to mokft and trou- 
 ble the iMinds of Men, Theie things therefore being 
 thus difpofed and prepared, he addrcfies himfelf to the 
 Adion of War, and fets upon Medufa as fhe flept ; for 
 a wife Captain will ever arfault his Enemy, when he is 
 unprepared and moft fecure ^ and then is there good 
 ufe of Pallas her Glafs : For moft Men, before it come 
 to the pufh, can acutely pry into and difcern their Encr 
 mies eflate ^ but the beft: ufe of this Glafs is in the very 
 point of danger, that the manner of it may be fo con- 
 Jidered, as that the tenor may not difcourage, which 
 is fignified by that looking into this Glafs with the face 
 turned from Afcdufj. 
 
 The Monfler's Head being cnt off, there follow two 
 effecft-s. The fiiil: was, the procreation and railing of 
 Tcgafus^ by which may be evidently underftood Fame^ 
 that (flying through the World) procbin^s Vicory, 
 Ttie fecond is the bearing of M dufai Head in his Shield- 
 to which there is no kind of defence for excellency 
 comparable :, for the one famous and memorable aft pro- 
 fpcroully ciTefted and brought to pafs, doth reilrain the 
 Motions and Infolencies of Enemies, and makes Envy 
 her feif filent and amazed. 
 
 El>lJ)r3iI0K, or a Favourite. 
 
 IT is faid, that Lima was in love with the Shepherd 
 Endymion^ and in a ftrangc and unwonted manner 
 bewrayed her Affeftion : For he lying in a Cave fra» 
 med by Nature under the M ountain Latmns^ fhc of^ 
 tentimes defcended from her Sphere to enjoy his com-* 
 pianyas hedept^ and after fhe had kilTed him, afccn* 
 dzd. up again. Yet notwithltanding this his idlcnefs, 
 |ar,d fleepy fecnrity, did not any wav impair hisEr^.':te 
 ox f i^rtpne ; for turn brouj^ht it fo to pafs^ that b ^ 
 
 Q, 9 alciVv^ 
 
^8 Tie \Vifdom of the Ancients, 
 
 alone (of all the reft of the Shepherds; had his Flock 
 in beft plight, and moft fruitful. 
 
 This Fable may have reference to the Nature and 
 pifpofitions of Princes ^ for they being full of doubts, 
 and prone to jealoulie, do not ealliy acquahu Men of 
 prying and curious Eyes, and as it were of vigilant 
 ^nd wakeful difpofitions, with the fecrer humours and 
 manners of their Llie ^ but fuch rather as are of quiet 
 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 flupid dif- 
 pofition, and pofieft with fleep, yielding unto them 
 fimple obedience, rather than flie Complements^ For 
 itpleafeth Princes now and then to defcend from their 
 Thrones orMajefty (like Luna from the fuperiorOrbJ 
 and laying afide their Pvobes of Dignity (which al- 
 ways to be cumbred with, would feem a kind of bur- 
 then) familiarly to converfe with Men of this con- 
 dition, which they think may be done without dan- 
 ger^ a quality chiefly noted in Tiherm C^tfar^ wiiQ 
 (of all o hers) was a Prince moft fevere-, yet fuch 
 only were gracious in liis favour, as being well acquain- 
 ted with his difpc^ion, did yet conRantly diilcrnble, 
 as if they knew nothing. This was the Cuitom alfo of 
 Lewis the Eleventh, King of France^ a cautious and 
 
 •wily Prince. 
 
 Neither is it without Elegancy, that the caufe of En- 
 dymioyi is mentioned in the Fable, becaufe that it is a 
 thing ufual with fuch as are the Favourites of Princes, 
 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 pafs ; for Princes, although perad- 
 venture they promote them not ever to Places of Ho- 
 nour, yet do they advance them fufficiently by their 
 favour and countenance: Neither do they affeft them 
 {bus, only to fcrve tlieir own turn , but are v;ont to 
 
 enrich 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. gp 
 
 inrich them now and then with great Dignities, and 
 Bounties. 
 
 rheSiflerof the giJliVS, or Fame. 
 
 IT is a Poetical Relation, that the Giants begotten 
 of the Earth, made War upon Jupiter^ and the 
 other Gods- and by the force of Lightning, they 
 were reGfted and overthrown. Whereat the Earth 
 being excitated to wrath, in revenge of her Chil- 
 dren brought forth Fame^ the youngefl filler of the 
 Giants. 
 
 Ill am terra parens ira irritata Deorum^ 
 Extremam (ut probibc/it') C^o Encelado([ue for or em 
 Frogenuit . 
 
 Provok'd by wrathful Gods, the Mothrr Earth 
 Gives Fame^ the Giants youngcft Siller, Birth. 
 
 The meaning of the Fable fecms to be thus : By the 
 Earth, is fignified the Nature of the Vulgar, always 
 fwoln and malignant, and ftill broaching new fcandals 
 againft Superiors, and having gotten fit opportunity, 
 flirs up Rebels and Seditious Perfons, that with impious 
 outrage do molell Princes, and endeavour to fubverc 
 their Eftates^ but being fuppreft-, the fame natural dif- 
 pofition of the People Itill leaning to the viler fort, 
 (being impatient of Peace and Tranquility,) fprcad 
 Rum.ours, raife malicious Slanders, repining Whiincv- 
 ings, infamous Libels, and others of that kind, to the 
 detraction of them that are in Authority : So as Re- 
 bellious Anions, and Seditious Pveports, differ nothing 
 in Kind and Blood, but as it were in Sex only ^ the 
 one fort being Mafculine, and the other Feminine. 
 
 0^4 ACt^SON^ 
 
40 The Wi/dom of the ^rtcmts, 
 
 ^CIjEOK and TENTHEUS, or a Cu^ 
 
 rlous Mail. 
 
 THe cnriofity of Men, in prying into fecret?, and 
 coveting with an nndifciect defiie to att^iin the 
 knowledge of things forbidden, is fet forth by the Anr 
 dents in two other Examples : The one of J(Utn^ the 
 other of Tentheuf, 
 
 Alteon having unawares, and as it were by chance, 
 beheld Duma naked, was turned into a Stag, and de- 
 voured by his owa Dogs. 
 
 And Pf;^f/?e«5 climbing up into a Tree, with a (iefire 
 to be a fpe(^ator of the hidden Sacrifices of Bacchus^ was 
 ftruckcn with fiich a kind of frcnfie, as that whatfoe- 
 ver he Ipokt upon, he thought it always double, fup- 
 pofing ( among other things ) he faw two S««j, ancj 
 two T'hthes'^ infomuch that running towards Thehcs^ 
 fpying another Thebes^ inftantly turned back again, and 
 fo kept ftill running forward and backward with per} e- 
 tual unrefr. 
 
 J^ume-iidum veluti demens vidit a^mtna Fentheus^ 
 £t Solem gemmum^ duplicesfeojttndercThtbas, 
 
 Fcntheus 2in\az'd^ doth troops of Furies f{nej 
 And ^w«, a^d l^heks fce^n double to his Eye. 
 
 The firlt of the Fables pertains to the fecietsof Prin- 
 ces, the fecond to Divine Myfteries. For thofe that 
 are near about Princes, and come to the knowledge of 
 more fecrets than they woul^ have them, do certainly 
 incur gr^at hatred. And therefore, (fufpedting that 
 they are (hot at, and oppprtunities watcht for their o- 
 yer;hrovv,; do lead their lives like Stags, fearful and 
 ^ull of fufpicipn. And it happens pften times that there 
 Servants, and thofe of their Houlhold, (to infmuate 
 
 ■' ■ ■ - ■ intc? 
 
7he Wifdcm of the Ancients. ^I 
 
 into the Prince's favour) do accufe them to their de- 
 ftrudtion^ for againft whomfoever the Princes difpka- 
 fure is known, lock how many Servants that Man hath 
 and you fhall find them for the mofi: part fo manv 
 Traytorsunto him, that his end may prove to be like 
 
 The other is the Mifery of Pcntheus : For that by the 
 height of Knowledge and Nature in Philofophy, ha- 
 ving climbed, as it were into a Tree, do with'rafh 
 attempts (unmindful of their frailtyj pry into the fe- 
 crets of Divine Myllerics, and are juitly plagued with 
 perpetual inconllancy, and with waveiing and per- 
 plexed conceits : For feeing the li^ht of Nature is one 
 thing, and of Grace another ; it happens fo to them 
 as if they faw two Suns. And feeing the Adions of 
 Life, and degrees of the Will to depend on the Un- 
 derilanding, it follows that they doubr, arc inconllanc 
 no lefs in Will than in Opinion- andTo in like man- 
 ner they may be faid to fee two Thebes: For by 7/j^, 
 bes f feeing there w^as the habitation and refuge of Pcyi- 
 thus) is meant the end of Actions. Hence it comes 
 to pafs that they know not whither they go, but as dir 
 ftraded and unrefoived in the fcope of their intentions 
 are in all things carried about with fuddcn Palhojis of 
 the Mind. 
 
 O^THSUS, or fhilo/ophy. 
 
 THe Tale cf Orphm-f^ though common, had never 
 the fortune to be fitly applied in every point. Ic 
 may feem to reprefent the Image of Phiiofophy : For 
 the Perfon of Orpkeus (a Man admirable and divine 
 and fo excellently skilled in all kind of harmony, that 
 vyith his f/;ect ravifhlng Mufick he did as it 'were 
 pharm and allure all things to follow him) may car« 
 ry a Ungular dcdrintiQn of Phiiofophy : for the la- 
 
 k 
 
41 The W'ifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 hours of Orpheus do fo far exceed the labours of Hercu- 
 les in dignity and efficacy, as the Works of Wifdom, 
 excel the Works of Fortitude. 
 
 Orphem for the love he bare to his Wife, fnatcht, 
 as it were, from him by untimely Death, refolved to 
 go down to Hell with his Harp, to try if he might 
 obtain her of the Infernal Powder. Neither were his 
 hopes fruftrated : For having appeafed them with the 
 melodious found of his voice and touch, prevailed at 
 length fo far, as that they granted him leave to take 
 her away with him ; but on this condition, that (he 
 fhould follow him, and he not to look back upon her, 
 till he came to the light of the upper World ^ which 
 he (^impatient of, out of love and care, and thinking 
 that he was in a manner paft all danger) nevcrthelefs 
 violated, infomuch that the Covenant is broken, and 
 flie forthwith tumbles back again headlong into Hell. 
 Orpheus falling into a deep melancholy, became a con- 
 temner of Women kind, and bequeathed himfelf, to a 
 folitary life in the Defarts^ where, by the fame me- 
 lody of his Voice and Harp, he firfb drew all manner 
 of wild Beajfls unto him, (who forgetful of their Sa- 
 vage fiercenefs, and calling off the precipitate provo- 
 cations of lull: and fury, not caiing to fatiate their 
 voracity by hunting after prey ) as at a Theatre m 
 fawning and reconciled amity one towards another, 
 Handing all at the gaze about him, and attentively 
 iemj their Ears to his Muiick. Neither is this al]^ 
 for fo great was the power and alluring force of this 
 Harmony, that he drew the Woods, and moved the 
 very Stones to come and place themfelves in an order- 
 ly and decent fafhion about him. Thefe things fuc- 
 ceeding happily, and with great admiration for a time;, 
 at length certain Thracian Women (poirell with the 
 fpirit of Bacchus^ made fuch a horrid and ftrangevnoife 
 with their Cornets, that the found of Orpheus\ Harp 
 could no more be heard, infomuch as that Harmony 
 which was the Bond of that Order and Society being 
 
 dirfolvcd. 
 
T7;e Wijdom of the Ancients. ^r 
 
 difTolved, all difordcr, 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 
 fcattered all over the Def. t. For whcfe cruel Death, 
 the River Helicon (Tacred to the Mufes) in horrible in- 
 dignation, hid his Head under groupd, and raifed it 
 again in another place. 
 
 The meaning of this Fable feems to be thus: Or- 
 phem^s Mufick is of two forts, the one appeafmg the In- 
 fernal Powers, the other attrading Bealls and Trees, 
 the firil: may be fitly applied to Natural Philofophy, 
 the fecond to Moral or Civil Difcipline. 
 
 The mod noble work of Natural Philofophy, is the 
 Reflitutioii and Renovation of Things corruptible ^ the 
 other (asalcilerdcgrecof itj the Prefervation of Bo- 
 dies in their Ellates, detaining them from Diflblution 
 and Futrcfaftion •, and if this gift may be in Mortals, 
 certainly it can be done by no other means than by 
 the due and exquifite temper of Nature, as by the me- 
 lody and delicate touch of an Inltrument. But feeing 
 it is of all things mod difficult, it is feldom or never 
 attained unto :^ and in all likelihood for no other reafon, 
 more than through curious diligence and untim^ely im- 
 patience. And therefore Philofophy hardly able to 
 produce fo excellent an effect in a penUvc humour, 
 fandthat without caufej bufies her felf about Humane 
 Objeds, and by Perfnafion and Eloquence, infinuating 
 the love of Vcrtue, Equity, and Concord in the minds 
 of Men 3 draws multitudes of People to a Society 
 makes them fnbjedls to Laws, obedient to Government^ 
 and forgetful of their unbridled Affe(ftions, whilfl 
 they give ear to Precepts, and fubmit themfelves to 
 Difcipline^ whence follows the building of Houfes, 
 ereftingof Towns, planting cf Fields and Orchards* 
 with Trees and the like, infomuch that it would not 
 beamifs tofiy, That ^ven thereby Stones and Woods 
 
 were 
 
44 7/;e Wifdom of the Jncients. 
 
 were called together and fettled in order. And after 
 ferious trial made and fruflrated about the reiloring of 
 a body mortal; this care of Civil afiairs follows in his 
 due place : becaufe by a plain dcmonflration of the une- 
 vitable neceflity of Death, Mens minds are moved to 
 feekEternity by the fame and glory of their Merits. It 
 isaifo wifely faid in the Fable, that Orpheus was averfe 
 from the love of Women and Marriage, becaufe the de- 
 lights of Wedlock and the love of Children do for the 
 moil part hinder Men from enterprifmg great and no- 
 ble defigns for the publick good, holding Poflerity a 
 fufficient flep to Immortality without Aftions. 
 
 Befides, even the very works of Wifdom (although 
 amongfl: all Humane things they do mod excelj do ne- 
 verthelefs meet with their periods. For it happens that 
 (after Kingdoms and Commonwealths have flourifhcd 
 for a time) even Tumults, and Seditions, and Wars a- 
 viCq-^ in tha midH of which hnrly-burlies, firfl Laws 
 are filent. Men return to the pravity of their Natures; 
 Fields and Towns are wafted and depopulated; and 
 then fif their ftiry continue Learning and Philofophy 
 muft needs by dif-membrcd ; fo that a few fragments 
 only, and in fome places w^ill be found like the fcatte- 
 rjid Boards of Shipwrack, fo as a barbarous Age mufl 
 follow ; and the Streams of Helicon being hid under the 
 Earth, (until the Viciflitude of things pafring,J they 
 break out again, and appear in fome other remote Na- 
 tion, though nor perhaps in the fame Climate^ 
 
 1 
 
 C E LU My or Segimingf. 
 
 WE have it from the Poets by Tradition, that Coe- 
 him w^s the Ancientell of the Gods, and that his 
 Members of Generation were cut off by his Son Saturn, 
 Saturn had many Children, but devoured them as fupu 
 as tjiey were born ^ Jupiter only efcap'd v/ho being 
 
Ihe Wifdem of the Ancients. 4j 
 
 come to Man's eftate, thrufl Satwn his Fathei into Hell, 
 and fo ufurped the Kingdom. Moreover he pared oft^ 
 his Father's Genitals with the fame Faulchion that 5^- 
 turn difmembrcd Coelum^ and call them into the Sea ; 
 from whence came Fenus, Not long after this, (^Jupiter 
 being fcarce fetled and confirmed in this Kingdom) was 
 invaded by two memorable Wars. The firfl of the 
 Titans^ in the fupprefling of which Sol f who alone of 
 all the Tttans^ Favouring Jufiterh llde) took exceeding 
 great pains. The fecond was of the Giants, whom Ju- 
 filer iiimfelf deftroyed with Thunder-bolts : And fo 
 all Wars being ended, he reigned fecure. 
 
 This Fable fcems enigmatically to (hew from whence 
 all things took their beginning, not much differing 
 from that Opinion of Philofophers, which Democritus 
 afterwards laboured to maintain, attributing Eternity 
 to the firfl Matter, and not to the World. In which 
 he comes fomewhat near the truth of Divine Writ, tel- 
 ling us of a huge deformed Mafs, before the beginning 
 of the fix' days Work. 
 
 The meaning of the Fable is this : By Ccelum may 
 be underflood that vafl concavity, or vaulted compafs 
 that comprehends all Matter : and by Saturn may be 
 meant the Matter it felf, which takes from his Parent 
 all pov;er of generating •, -for theuniverfality or whole 
 Bulk of Matter always remains the fame, neither in- 
 creafingof diminilhing in rerpe(Jt of the quality of its 
 Nature: But by the divers agitations and motions of 
 it, were firfl produced impcrfcft, and ill agreeing com- 
 pofitions of things, making as it were certain Worlds 
 for proofs or ElTays, and fo in proccfs of time a per- 
 fect Fabrick or Structure was framed, which Oiould 
 dill retain and keep his form. And therefore the Go- 
 rernment of the firll Age was fhadowed by the King- 
 dom of Saturn^ who for the frequent diffolutions and 
 fhort continuances of things was aptly feigned to de- 
 vour his Children. The fuccceding Government was 
 decyphered by the reign of J^'pitr-. who confined 
 
 thofe 
 
1 
 
 46 The Wifdom of the Ancients. j 
 
 thofc continual IMutations unto Tartarus^ a place (igni- 
 fying Perturbation. This place feems to be all that mid- * 
 die place bctv/een thelower fuprrficies of Heaven, and , 
 the Center of the Earth: in v;hich all Perturbations, 
 and Fragility, and Mortality or Corruption arc frequent. 
 During the former feneration of things in the time of 
 Satwrn^s Reign, y^ems was not born: for fo long as in' 
 the uniyerfality of Matter, Difcord was better and more 
 prevalent than Concord, it was ncceiHiry that there 
 fhould betotaldiifolutionor mutation, and that in the 
 whole Fabvick. And by this kind of Generation were 
 Creatures produced before Saturn wa^' deprived of his 
 Genitals. When this ceafed, that other which wrought 
 by Tc^m, immediately came in, confining in fetlcd and 
 prevalent Concord of things, 10 "that. Mutation Ihould 
 be only in refpeQ of the parts, the^ univerfal Fabrick 
 remaining v^^hole and inviolate. 
 
 !' S.iiturn^ they fay^'^vvas dcpofe^-knd call down into_ 
 Hell, but not deflroyed and utterly extinguiiht, be- 
 caufexherewas an Opinion that the World fhould re- 
 la pfe into the old Chao^ and interregnum again, which 1 
 X«cre^/M^ prayed might not happen in his time: 
 
 Quod'procul a ncbk ■'peel at f origin a guhernans : 
 £t ratio {otius quam res perfuadcat ipfa. 
 
 Of guiding Providence be gracious, 
 
 Tliat ' this Dooms-day be far remov'd from us. ^ 
 
 And- grant, that by us it may be expcdtcd, 
 
 ' Rathei: than on usjy in p\ir times efrcdted. ,^^^,", ., 
 
 For afterwards the VVorld fhould- fubfili by i'ts^ owii 
 quantity and power. Yet from the beginning there 
 Was no reft .* for in the Cceleilial Regions there iirft fol- 
 lowed notable Mutations, which by the power of tlic 
 Sun /.predominating over fuperiour Bodies) were fb 
 .quieted, that the ftate of the World fhould be confer- 
 ved : and afterwards (in inferior Bodies) by the Tup- 
 
 preffing 
 
The Wtjdom of the indents. 47 
 
 preffing and diflipating of Inundations,Tempefts, Winds, 
 and general Earthquakes, a more peaceable durable A- 
 greement and Tranquility of things followed. But of 
 this Fable it may convertibly be faid, That the Fable 
 contains Philofophy,and Philofophy again the Fable : For 
 we know by Faith, that all thefe things are nothing clfe 
 but the long fmce cealing and failing Oracles of Senfe, 
 feeing that both the Matter and Fabrick of the World 
 are moil: truly referred to a Creator. 
 
 ^^OTEUS, or scatter. 
 
 THE Poets fay that Frotem was Ne^timth 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 pafi: as well as 
 prefent; fothat belides his' skill in Divination, he was 
 the Meflenger and Interpreter of all Antiquities and 
 hidden Myfteries. The place of his abode was a huge 
 vail Cave, where hisCuftomwas every Day at Noon 
 to count his Flock of Sea-calves, and then to go to fleep. 
 Moreover he that defired bis advice in any thing, could 
 by no other means obtain it, but by catching him in 
 Manacles, and holding hint faft therewith^ who never- 
 thelefs to be at liberty, would turn himfelf into all 
 manner of Forms and Wonders of Nature; fometimes 
 into Fire, fometimes into Water, fometimes into the 
 fliapeof Bealls, and the like; till at length he were re-: 
 flored to his own Form again. "\ 
 
 This Fable may feem to, unfold the fecvcts of Nature, 
 and the properties of Adattef'. For under the Per ion of 
 Proteus^ the firfl: Matter (which next to GlOd i^ the An- 
 cienteft thing may be repixfented : For Matter dwells 
 in the concavity of Heaven, .as: in a Cave, 
 
 He is Neptune's bond-man, becaufe the Operations and 
 FJifpen fat ions of Matter are chiefly exercifed in liquid; 
 Bodies. His 
 
48 The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 . His Flock or Herd feems to be nothing but the or^ 
 dhui'Y Species of fenfible Creatures, Plants and Metals.j 
 in which Matter feems to diffufe and as it werefpend it 
 felf ; fo that after the forming and perfecting of thefe 
 Kinds, (^having ended as it were her Task,) fhe feems 
 to deep and take her reft, not attempting the com- 
 pofition of any more Species. And this may be the 
 Moral of frotetu his counting of his Flock, and of his 
 deeping. 
 
 Now this is faid to be done, not in the Morning, 
 nor inthe Evening, but at Noon •, to wit, at fuch time 
 as is raofl fit and convenient for the perfecting 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 Tout of the Holy Hiftory) to be 
 done about the time of the Creation : For then by 
 the power of that Divine Word (^Producat^) Afatter at 
 the Creator's Command did congregate it felf (not by 
 ambages or turnings, but inftantly) to the produdion 
 of its Work into an Act and conftitution of Species, 
 And thus far have we the Narration of Proteus (free 
 and unreftrained, together with his Flock compleat: 
 for the univerfality of Things, with their ordinary 
 Strudures and Compofitions of Species^ bears the Face 
 of Matter, not lim.ited and conftrained, and of the 
 Flock alfo of A'Jaterial Beings. Neverthelefs if any 
 expert Minifter of Nature, fhall encounter Matter by 
 main force, vexing and urging her with intent and 
 purpofe to reduce her to nothing ; fl-ie contrariwife 
 (feeing annihilation and ablolute dellrudion cannot 
 be efFeded by the Omnipotency of GodJ being thus 
 caught in the ftraits of neceffity, doth change and 
 turn her felf into divers flrange Forms and Shapes of 
 things, fo that at length (by fetching a circuit as it 
 were) ine 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 be more fa- 
 
77;e Wifdbm of tf?e jincknts, 4^ 
 
 cile and expedite^ if matter be laid hold on by I^Iana- 
 cles, that is. Extremities. 
 
 Now whereas it is feigned that Proteus w2s a Pro° 
 phet, well skilled in three differences of Times, it batK 
 an excellent Agreement vath the Nature of Matter : 
 for it is necefTary that he that will know the Properties 
 and Proceedings of Matter, fhould comprehend iil hi5 
 Underflanding the fum of all things, which have been^ 
 which are, or v/hich Ihall be, although no Know- 
 ledge cari extend fo far as to hngular, and individnal 
 Beings. 
 
 MEMNOH, or a Youth too forl^ard. 
 
 THe Poets fay, that Memnon was the Soil of Juro- 
 }% who ( adorned with beautiful Armouf, and 
 animated with popular Applaufe,) came to the Trojdn 
 IVar-^ where ( iri rafh Boldnefs^ bailing unto, and 
 thirfling after Glory,) he enters into fmgle Combat 
 with Achilles^ the valianteft of all the GrdCiam^ by whofe 
 powerful hand he was there (lain. But Jupiter pitying 
 hisdellrudion, fent Birds to modulate certain lamenta- 
 ble and doleful Notes at the Solemnization of his Fu- 
 neral Obfequics. Whofe Statue alfo f the Sun refieding 
 on it with his Morning Beams) did ufually, as is re- 
 ported fend forth a mournful Sound. 
 
 This Fable may be applied to the unfortunate delli- 
 nies of hopeful young Men, who like the Sons of j^u- 
 rora^ (puffed up with the glittering fliew of vanity,- 
 and oftentation,) attempt a(^ions above their llrength,^ 
 and provoke, and prefs the mofl: valiant Heroes to com- 
 bate with them ^ fo that f meeting with their over- 
 match J they are vanquifned, and deltroyed .• whofe 
 imtimiely Death is oft accompanied with much pity 
 and commiferation. For among all the Dif^flrers that 
 ^.^n happen w Mortals, there is no!ie fo lamentable^ 
 
 R ^m 
 
^o 7he Wtfdom of the Ancmts. 
 
 andfo powerful to move compaffion, as the 'flower of 
 Vertuc cropt with too rndden a Mifchance. Neither 
 hath it been often known that Men in their green years 
 become fo loathfome, and odious, as that at their 
 Deaths either Sorrow is (tinted, or Commiferation mo- 
 derated \ but that Lamentation and Mourning do not 
 only flutter about their Obfeqnies, like thofe Funeral 
 Birds ^ but this pitiful Commiferation doth continue 
 for a long fpacc, and fpecially by Occafions, and new 
 Motion?, and beginning of great Matters, as it were 
 by the Morning-Rays of the Sun^ their Paflions and 
 Defires are renewed. 
 
 TITHONUS, or Satiety. 
 
 JT is elegantly feigned, that Tithomis was the Para- 
 mour of Juror a^ who (defirous to enjoy his Com- 
 pany 7 petitioned Jupter that he might never die^ 
 but (through Womanifn overfightj forgetting to in- 
 fert this claufe in her Petition, that he might not with- 
 al grow old, and feeble^ it followed that he was on- 
 ly freed from the conditioft of Mortality^ but for old 
 Age, that came upon him in a marvellous, and mife- 
 rable fafnion, agreeable to the (late of thofe who can- 
 not die, yet every day grow weaker and weaker with 
 Age: Infomuch thni Jupiter fin commiferation of that 
 his Mifery,) did at length metamorphofe him into a 
 Grafs-hopper. 
 
 This Fable feems to be an ingenious Charafter, or 
 Defcription of Pleafure, which in the beginning, and 
 as it were, in the morning, feems to be pleafant and 
 delightful, that men delirc they might enjoy, and 
 monopolize it for ever unto themfelves, unmindful of 
 that Saciety, and Loathing, which like old age,; will 
 come upon them before they be aware. And fo at 
 laft, (when the ufe of Pleafure leaves Men, the Defire 
 
 and 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. 5 { 
 
 and Affe^lion not yet yielding iinto Death,) it comes 
 to pafs that iMen pleafe themfelves only by talking, 
 and commemorating thofe things which brought plea« 
 fure unto them in the flower of their Age, which may. 
 be obferved in libidinous Perfons, and alfo in Men of 
 Military ProfcITions; the one delighting in beaftly 
 Talk, the other boafting of their valorous Deeds, like 
 Grafs-hoppers , whofc Vigour confifls only in thtif 
 Voice. 
 
 JUKO'S SUirOli, or Bafenefs. 
 
 THe Poets fay, that Ji^piter^ to enjoy his luflful De=^- 
 lights^ took upon him the fhape of fundry Crea« 
 tures, as of a Bull, of an Eagle, of a Swan, and of a 
 Golden Shower :, but being a Suitor to Juno^ he came 
 in a Form moil ignoble and bafe, an Objed full of 
 contempt and fcorn, refcmbling indeed a mlferable 
 Cuckorv weather beaten with Rain and Tempefl, luimb'd, 
 quaking, and half dead with Cold. 
 
 This Fable is wife, and feems to be taken out of the 
 Bowels of Morality ^ the fenfe of it being this. That 
 Men boaft not too much of themfelves, thinking by 
 Oitentation of their own worth, to infmuate them- 
 felves into efrimation and favour with Men. The 
 fuccefs of fuch intentions being for the mod part mea« 
 fured by the nature and difpolition of thofe to whom 
 Men fue for Grace ^ who, if of themfelves they be en- 
 dowed with no Gifts arid Ornaments of Nature, but 
 are only of haughty and malignant Spirits, .f intimated 
 by the perfon of Jmo^) then are Suitors to knovi 
 that it is good policy to omit all kind of appearance 
 that may any way Ihew their own leaft Praife or worth 
 and that they much deceive themfelves in taking any 
 <"»th^r courf^. Neither is it enough to fliW deformity 
 
 R z in 
 
m I 7he Wi[do77i of the Ancmts^ 
 
 in Obfequioufnefs, unlefs they alfo appear even abjeft 
 and bafe in their very Perfons. 
 
 CUfW, or an Atom. 
 
 THat which the Poets fay of Cufid^ or Love^ can- 
 not properly be attributed to one and the felf 
 fame Pcrfon • and yet the difference is fuch, that (by 
 rejecting the Confufton of PerfonsJ the Similitude may 
 be received. 
 
 They fay, that Love is the ancientefl of all the Gods, 
 and of all things elfe except Chaos^ which they hold 
 to be a Contemporary with it. Now as touching Chaos^ 
 that by the Ancients was never dignified with Divine 
 Honour, or with the Title of the God. And as for 
 Love^ they abfolutcly bring him in without a Father ; 
 only fomc are of opinion, that he came of an Egg 
 that was laid by Kox^ and that on Chaos he begat the 
 God, and all things elfe. There are four things attri- 
 buted to him , perpetual Infancy, Blindnefs, Naked- 
 jiefs, and an Archery. There was alfo another Love^ 
 which vv^as the youngeil of the Gods, and he, they fay, 
 was the Son of rom. On this alfo they beflow the 
 Attributes of the eider Love^ as in fome fort we'll apply 
 unto him. 
 
 This Fable tends, and looks to the Cradle of Nature 
 Love Teeming to be the appetite or defire of the firJl 
 Matter, or ftofpcakmore plainj the natural motion of 
 the Jton?^ which is that Ancient and only Power that 
 Forms and Fafiiions all things out of Matter, of which 
 there is no Parent, that is to fay, no Caufe, feeing eve- 
 ry Caufe is as a Parent to its efFea:. Of this power or 
 virtue there can be no Caufe in Nature (as for God^ we 
 always except him, ) for nothing was before it, and 
 therefore no eflicient Caufe of it. Neither was there 
 any thing better known to Nature, and therefore nei- 
 ther 
 
 'i^^ 
 
71^6 Wlfdom of the Ancients. y j 
 
 ther Genus nor Form. Wherefore whatfoever it is_^ po- 
 fitive it is, and but inexprelTible. Moreover, it the 
 manner and proceeding of it were to be conceived, yet 
 could it not be by any Caufe, feeing that fnext unto 
 God, J it is the Caufe of Caufcs, it felf only without 
 any Caufe. And perchance there is no likelihood that 
 the manner of it may be contained or comprehended 
 within the narrow compafs of humane fearch. Not 
 without reafon therefore it is feign'd to come of an Egg 
 which was laid by Nox, Certainly the Divine Philofo- 
 pher grants fo much. 
 
 Eccl. 3. II Cun[ia fecit tempejlatibtis fuls puJchra^ & 
 mundum tradidit difputationibus eorum^ ita tamcn ut non inve^' 
 niat homo oftis^ quod opcratiis eft Dens principio ad finem. 
 That is, he hath made every thing beautiful in their 
 Seafons, alfo he hathfet the World in their Meditati- 
 ons ; yet Man cannot find the Work that God hath 
 wrought, from the beginning even to the end : For 
 the principal Law of Nature, or Power of this Defire, 
 created (by God,) in thefe parcels of things, for con- 
 curring and meeting together, (from whofe Repetitions 
 and Multiplications all Variety of Creatures proceeded, 
 and were compofedj may dazle the Eyes of Men's 
 Underftandings, and comprehended it can hardly be. 
 The 6Vffi^ Philofophers are obferved to be very acute 
 and diligent in fearching out the material Principles of 
 things^ but in the beginnings of motion (wherein con* 
 fifts all the efficacy of operation,) they are negligent 
 and weak, and in this that we handle, they fc^m to 
 be altogether blind, and ftammering;, for the Opinion 
 of the Peripateticks concerning the appetite of Matter, 
 caufed by privation, is in a manner nothing elfe but 
 Words, which rather found, than jjgnifie any Reality. 
 And thofe that refer it unto God, do very well ^ but 
 then they leap up, they afccnd not by degrees; for 
 doubtlefs there is one chief Law ftibordinare 10 God, in 
 which all natural things concur and meet , the fame 
 that ipthe force-cited Scripture is demonltrated in tiicfe 
 
 R 3 Words, 
 
54 T^^ Wtfdom of the Ancients. 
 
 Words, Opus quod operatus eft Bern a princjpio ufjue ad fi- 
 pern :, the Work that God hath wrought from the be- 
 ginaing even to the end. But Dcmccritus^ which en-* 
 tred more deeply into the conUderaiion of this pointy 
 after he had conceived an A(om^ with fome fmall di- 
 menfion and form, he attributed unto it one only de- 
 iire, or lirft motion, fimply, or abfolutcly, and ano- 
 ther comparativelv, or in refpecl- for lie thought that 
 all things did properly tend to the Centre of the World, 
 whereof thofe Bodies which were more material, de- 
 fcend with fwifter motion, and thofe that had lefs Mat- 
 ter, did, on the contrary, tend upward. But this Me- 
 ditation was very fhallow, containing icfs than was ex- 
 pedient^ for neither the turning of the Cclellial Bodies 
 in a round, nor fliutting and opening of things, may 
 feem to be reduced or applied to this beginning. And 
 as for that opinion of Epicurus^ concerning the cafual 
 declination and agitation of the Atof?i^ it is but a mere 
 Toy, and a plain evidence, that he was ignorant of that 
 Point. It is therefore more apparent (than we could 
 wifhj that this Cuptd^ or Love, remains as yet clou- 
 ded under the,fhades o{ Night. Now as concerning 
 his Attributes,; He is elegantly defcribed with perpetual 
 Infancy, or Childhood ;, becaufe compound Bodies they 
 feem greater, and more ftricken in years : Whereas the 
 firft Seeds of things, or Atoms^ theyare little, anddi- 
 piinute, and alfo in their Infancy. 
 
 He is alfo well feigned to be naked, becaufe all com- 
 pound Bodies, to a Man rightly judging, feem to be 
 apparelled and cloathed, and nothing to be properly 
 naked but the firft Particles of things. 
 
 Concerning his Blindefs, the Allegory is full of 
 Wifdom 5 for this Love^ or Defire (whatfoever it be) 
 feems to have but little Providence, as directing his 
 pace and motion by that which it perceives nearefl:^ 
 not unlike blind men that goby feeling: More admira- 
 ble then, mull: that chief divine Providence be, which 
 (from things empty and deftitute of Providence, and 
 ■ ■ . " ■ ■ • . ^^ 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. 55 
 
 as it were, blind,) by a conftant and fatal Law, pro- 
 ducetb fo excellent an Order and Beauty of Things. 
 
 The la ft thing which is attributed to Love^ is Ar-^ 
 chery^ by which is meant, that his Virtue is fuch, as 
 that it worKsupon a diitant Obje^f^:^ becaufc that what- 
 foever operates afar otF, fcems to fhoot, as it were, aii 
 Arrow. Wheiefore whofoever holds the Being both 
 of Atoms and Kicnity^ muft needs infer, that the V^ir* 
 tue of the Atom reacheth to a diftant Objedl ^ for if 
 it were not fo, there could be no motion at all, by rea* 
 fon of the interpofition oiy.icuhy^ but all things would 
 ftand Itone ftill, and remain immoveable. 
 
 Now as touching that other Cupd or Lnve^ he may 
 weU be termed the youngeft of the Gods, becaufe he 
 could have no being before the conflitution of Species, 
 And in his defcription the Allegory may be applied 
 and traduced to manners : Neverthelefs he holds fome 
 kind of conformity with the Elder ;, for renus doth ge- 
 nerally ftir up a defire of Conjunaion and Procreati- 
 on, and Cupid her Son doth apply this defire to fome 
 individual Nature^ fo that the general difpolltion comes 
 from rcnus^ the more exact fympathy from Cupid: the 
 one derived from Caufes more near, the other from Be- 
 ginnings more remote and fatal, and as it were from 
 the elder Cupid ^ of whom every exquilite fympathy 
 doth depend. 
 
 mOJMEDES, or Zeal 
 
 DIOMEDES flourifhing with great Fame and 
 Glory in the Trojan Wars, and in high Fa* 
 vour with PaUas^ was by her inlligated (being indeed 
 forwarder than he fhould have been) not to forbear 
 Venus 2l jot, if he encountred with her in Fight i^ which 
 very boldly he performed, wounding her in the right 
 Arni, This pr^fumptuous Fa^-he carried clear for a 
 
 R 4 wbilej 
 
^6 The Wi/dom of the Ancunts. 
 
 .^hilCj and being honoured and renowned for his ma^ 
 py heroick Deeds, at lad returned into his own Coun- 
 fry, where finding himfelfhard beftead with domellick 
 Troubles, fled into Italy ^ betaking himfelt to the Pro- 
 |:€dion of Foreigners, where in the beginning he was 
 fortunate and royally entertained by ¥.i^g Daunns with 
 funiptuous Gifts, raifing many Statues in honour of 
 Jiini throughout his Dominions. But upon the very firll 
 Calamity that hapned unto this Nation, whereunto he 
 >vas fled for Succour, King Daunm enters into a con- 
 feic y^dth himfelf that he had entertained a wicked 
 Guell into his Family, and a Man odious to the God- 
 defs, and an Impugner of there Di^/inity, that had da- 
 yed, yyith his Sword, to aflault and w^ound that God- 
 defs, who in their Religion, they held it Sacrilege 
 fo much as to touch. Therefore, that he might expi- 
 ate his Countrey's Guilt, (nothing refpec^tlng the Du- 
 ties of Hofpitality , when the Bonds of Religion tied 
 him v/ith a more reverent regard J fuddenly flew Dio^ 
 medes^ commanding withal that his Trophies and Sta- 
 tues Ihould be abolifned and dellroyed. Neither was 
 it fafe to lamci^t this miferable Deitiny ;, but even his 
 Companions in Arms, whilil they mourned at the 
 Funeral of their Captain, and filled all the places with 
 plaints and Lamentations, vyere fuddenly metamor- 
 phofed into Birds like unto Swans, who, when their 
 Death approacheth, fmg melodious and mournful 
 Hymns. ■ . 
 
 This Fable hath a moft rare and fingular Subjed ; 
 For in any of the Poetical Records, v^herein the Heroes 
 are mentioned, we fmd not that any one of them, be- 
 lides D.iomtdes^ did ever with his Sword offer Violence 
 to any of the Deities. And indeed, the Fable feems in him 
 to reprefeut the nature and fortune of Man, who.of 
 himfelf, doth propound, and make this as the end of 
 all his Actions, to worftiip fome Divine Power, or to 
 follow fome SeiTt of Religion, though never fo vain 
 ?irid fnperftUioiis, and v/ith Force ai?4 Arms to defend 
 ' ■ ' ' * the 
 
The Wlfdom of the Ancients, 5 7 
 
 the fame : For although thofe bloody Quarrels for Re- 
 ligion were unknown to the Andents,(the Heathen Gods 
 not having fo much as a touch of that Jealoulie, which 
 is an Attribute of the true God J yet the Wifdom of the 
 Antient Times feems to be fo copious and fiil], as that, 
 what was not known by Experience, was yec compre- 
 hended by Meditations and Fictions. They then that 
 endeavour to retorm and convince any Se<ft of Religi- 
 on, (though vain, corrupt, and infamous, fhadowed 
 by the Pevfon of Venus,') not by the force of Argument 
 and Dofflrine, and Holinefs of Life, and by the weight 
 of Examples and Authority, but labour to extirpate 
 and root it out by Fire and Sword, and Tortures, aro 
 encouraged, it may be, thereunto by Pallas ^ that is, 
 by the Acrity of Prudence^ and Severity of Judgment, 
 by whofe Vigour and Efficacy, they Tee into the Falh- 
 ty and Vanity of thefe Errors. And by this there ha- 
 tred of Pravity, and good zeal to Religion, they pur- 
 chafe to themfelves great Glory, and by the Vulgar (to 
 whom nothing moderate can be grateful) are elleemed 
 and honoured as the only Supporters of Truth and Re- 
 ligion, when others feem to be luke-warm and full of 
 Fear. Yet this Glory and Happinefs doth fcldom en- 
 dure to the end, feeing every violent Profperity, if it pre- 
 vent not alteration by an untimely Death grows to be 
 unprofperous at lafl / Fo*" if it happen that by a change 
 of Government , this baniihed and deprefled Sec^l get 
 ftrength, and fo bear up again, then thefe zealousMen, 
 fo fierce in oppofition before, are condemned, their ve- 
 ry Names are hateful, and all their Glory ends in Ob- 
 loqu/. 
 
 In that Diomedes is faid to be murthered by hisHofl, 
 it gives us to underftand that the difference of Religi- 
 on breeds Deceit and Treachery, even among nearelt 
 Acquaintance. 
 
 Now in that Lamentation and Mourning w^as not 
 tolerable but punifhed ^ it puts us in mind, that let 
 there be never fo nefarious an Aft done, yec there is 
 
 foma 
 
58 71)6 Wifdom of the Ancient si 
 
 fome place left for Commiferation and Pity, that even 
 thofe that hate Offences, fliould yet in Humanity 
 commiferate Offenders, and Pity their diftrcfs, it be- 
 ing the Extremity of Evil when Mercy is not fufFered 
 to have commerce with Mifery. Yea, even in the 
 caufe as well of Religion as Impiety, many Men may 
 be noted and obferved to have been compafTionate. 
 But on the contrary the complaints and moans of Di- 
 mnedes\ Followers, that is, of Men of the fame Seft 
 and Opinion , are wont to be fhrill and loud , like 
 Swans or the Birds of Diomedes. In whom alfo that 
 part of the Allegory is excellent to fignifie that the 
 laft Words of thofe that fuffer Death for Religion, like 
 the Songs of dying Swans, do wonderfully work up- 
 on the Minds of Men, and ftrike and remain a long 
 time in their Senfcsand Memories. 
 
 Dj£f)ALUS, or S^UcUntck. 
 
 MEchanical Wifdom and Induftry, and in it un- 
 lawful Science perverted to v/rong ends, is (ha- 
 dowed by the Ancients under the Perfon of Dadaltis^ 
 a Man ingenious, but execrable. This Ddedalm (for 
 murthering his fellow-fervant that emulated him) being 
 banifhed, was kindly entertained (during his Exile) 
 in many Cities and Princes Courts : For indeed he 
 was the Raifer and Builder of many goodly Struftures, 
 3S well in honour of the Gods , as the Beauty and 
 Magnificence of Cities, and other publick places, but 
 for his Works of. Mifchief he is molt . notorious It 
 is he that framed the Engine which Pafiphae ufed to 
 fatisfie her Luft: in company with a Bull \ fo that by 
 his wretched Induftry, and pernicious Device, that 
 Monfter Minotaur (the deftrudion of fo many hope- 
 ful Youths^ took his accurfed and infamous begin-^ 
 cing, and ftudying to cover ajid increafe pne Mifr 
 
 chirf 
 
Tl^e Wi/dom of the Ancients. jp 
 
 chief with another ^ for the fecurity and prefervati- 
 on of this Monfter he invented and built a Labyrinth, 
 a work for intent and nfe mofl nefarious and wicked, 
 for Skill and Workmanfhip famous and excellent. Af- 
 terwards, that he might not be noted only for Works 
 of Mifchicf, but be fought after as well for Remedies, 
 as for Inftruments of Deftrudion, he was the Author 
 of that ingenious device concerning the Clew of 
 Thread, by which the Labyrinth was made pallable 
 without any let. This Ditdulus was perfecuted by Aminos 
 with great Severity, Diligence, and Inquiry, but he 
 always found the means to avoid and efcape his Ty- 
 ranny. Liilly, he taught his Son Icarus to fly^ but 
 the Novice, in Oftentation of this Art, foaring too 
 high, fell into the Sea and was drowned. 
 
 The Parable feems ro be thus: In the beginning of 
 it may be noted that kind of Envy or Emulation that 
 lodgeth, and wonderfully fways and domineers a- 
 mongil excellent Artificers, there being no kind of 
 People more reciprocally tormented with bitter and 
 deadly Hatred than they. 
 
 7 he Banifhment alfo of Dcedalus (a punifliment in- 
 flidled on him againll the Rules of Policy and Provi- 
 dence) is worth the noting: Eor Artificers have this 
 Prerogative to find entertainment and welcome in all 
 Countries, To that Exile to an excellent Workman can 
 hardly be termed a punifhment, whereas other Con- 
 ditions and States of Life can fcarce live out of their 
 own Country. The admiration of Artificers is pro- 
 pagated and increafed in foreign and llrange Nation 
 feeing it is a natural and unbred difpofition of Men to 
 value their own Countrey-men (in refped of Mecha- 
 nical Worksj lefs than Strangers. 
 
 Concerning the ufe of MechanicalArts, that which 
 follows is plain. The Life of Man is much beholden 
 to them, feeing many things (conducing to the Or-- 
 nament of Religion, to the Grace of Civil Difcipline 
 and to the beautifying of all Humane Kind) are ex- 
 
 traded 
 
^o The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 traded out of their Treafuries: And yet notwith- 
 ftanding from the fame Magazjne or Store-houfe arc 
 produced Inftruments both of Lull and Death ^ for to 
 omit the Wiles of Bands, we will know how far ex- 
 quifite Poyfons, Warlike Engines, and fuch like Mif- 
 chiefs (the effedts of Mechanical Inventions^ do exceed 
 the Minotaur himfelf in Malignity and fa vage Cruelty. 
 
 Moreover that of the Labyrinth is an excellent Alle- 
 gory, whereby is fhadowed the nature of Mechanical 
 Sciences ^ for all fuch handicraft Works as are more 
 ingenious and accurate, may be compared to a Laby- 
 rinth in refped of Subtility and divers intricate Pafia- 
 ges, and in other plain refemblances, which by the 
 Eye of Judgment can hardly be guided and difcerned, 
 but only by the Line of Experience. 
 
 Neither is it impertinently added, that he which in- 
 vented the intricate Nooks of the Labyrinth, did alfo 
 fhew the Commodity of the Clew : For Mechanical 
 Arts are of ambiguous ufe, ferving as well for hurt as 
 for Remedy, and they have in a manner Power both to 
 loofe and bind themfelves. 
 
 Unlawful Trades, andfoby confcquence. Arts them- 
 felves are often perfecuted by A^inos^ that is by Laws, 
 which do condemn them , and prohibit Men to ufe 
 them. Neverthelefs they are hid and retained every 
 where, finding lurking holes and, places of Receipt, 
 which was well obferved by Tacitus of the Mathema* 
 ricians and Figure-flingers of his time , in a thing not 
 fo much unlike ^ Genus Hominum quod in Civitate nojlra 
 femper & retinebitur & vetahitur. There is a kind of 
 Men that will always abide in our C\Vj ^ though al- 
 ways forbidden. And yet notwithftanding unlawful 
 and 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,) 
 they grow to be-contemned and fcorned, and fo pe- 
 rilh by too much Oftentation, And to fay the Truth, 
 
 they 
 
Ihe Wifdom of the Jiiaents. 6i 
 
 they are not fo happily reftrained by the Reins of Law, 
 as bewrayed by their own Vanity. 
 
 E<I{ICTB0H1US, orlmpoUure. 
 
 THe Poets Fable that Fiilcan folicited Minerva for 
 her Virginity, and impatient of denial, with an 
 inflamed defire offered her violence, but in ftruggling 
 his feed fell upon the Ground, whereof came Eri^ho- 
 nim^ whofc Body from the middle upward, was of a 
 comely and apt proportion, but his Thighs and Legs 
 like the tail of an Eel, fmall and deformed. To which 
 Monftrofity he being confcious, became the firll in- 
 ventor of the ufe of Chariots , whereby that part of 
 his Body which was well proportioned might be fecn, 
 and the other which was ugly and uncomely might be 
 hid. 
 
 This ftrange and prodigious Fidion may feem to 
 fhew that Art which ffor the great ufe it hath of Fire j 
 is Ihadowed by Vukan^ although it labour by much 
 llriving with corporeal fubfbances to force Nature, and 
 to make her fubjedt to it, ((he being for her induftii- 
 ous Works rightly reprefented by Mncrva-J yet fel-" 
 dom or never attains the end it aims at, but with much 
 ado and great pains (wrellling as it were with her) 
 comes fhort of its purpofe, and prodnceth certain im- 
 perfeft Births and lame Works, fair to the Eye, but 
 weak and defedlive in ufe, which many Inipollors 
 (whith much fubtilty and deceit) fet to view, and car- 
 ry about, as it were in triumph, as may for the moft 
 part be noted in Chymical produdions , ^^nd other 
 Mechanical fubtilties and novelties, efpecially when 
 Trather Perfeciiting their intent, that reclining their Er- 
 rorsj they rather ftiive to overcome Nature by force, 
 than fue for her Erabracements by due obfequioufncfs 
 and obfervance. 
 
6l 7he Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 DEUCALION, or %e(litutm. 
 
 THe Poets fay, that f the People of the Old World 
 being deftroyed by a general Delugej Deucalion 
 and Pyrrha 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 cafl them be- 
 hind their Backs ^ which at firlt flriick them with 
 great amazement and'defpair, feeing (all things be- 
 ing defaced by the Flood) it would be an endlefs 
 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 things) were 
 iignified by the Oracle. 
 
 This Fable feerns to reveal a fecret of Nature, and 
 to correct an error familiar to Men's conceits: For 
 through want of knowledge Men think that things 
 may take renovation and reltauration from their pu^ 
 trefadion and dregs, no otherwife than the Thocnix 
 from the Alhes, which in no cafe can be admitted 
 feeing fuch kind of Materials, when they have fulfilled, 
 their pei iods,are unapt for the beginnings of fuch things : 
 We mull therefore look back to more common Princi- 
 ples. 
 
 NEMESlSy or the Vkif^itude of things. 
 
 ^1EMES1S 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 Daughter 
 of Oceaniis and Nox. She is pourtraided with Wings 
 on her Shoulders^ and on her Head a Coronet, bear-- 
 
 H 
 
The W^^Jdom of the Jncients. ^^3 
 
 ing in her Right Hand a Javelin of J{h , arid in her 
 left a Pitcher with the fimilitudes of zy£thiopians en- 
 graven on it j and laftly, (he is defcribed fitting on an 
 Hart. 
 
 The Parable may be thus unfolded. Her name Ne- 
 mefis doth plainly fignifie Revenge or Retribution, her 
 office and adminiftration being f like a Tribune of the 
 People) to hinder the conflant and perpetual felicity 
 of happy Men and to interpofe her word , veto , I 
 forbid the continuance of it ^ that is , not only to 
 chaftife Infolency, but to intermix proiperity (though 
 harmlefs and in a mean) with the Vicilfitudes of ad- 
 verfity, as if it were a cuftom, that no mortal Man 
 ihould be admitted to the Table of the Gods but for 
 fport. Truly when I read that Chapter, wherein Cai- 
 us Plinius hath colkded his misfortunes and mifeiies of 
 Jugujlus Cafar^ whom of all Men I thought the mofl 
 happy, who had alfo a kind of Art to ufe and enjoy 
 his Fortune, and in whofemind might be noted neither 
 pride, nor ligiitnefs, nor nicenefs, nor diforder, nor 
 melancholy, (as that he had appointed a time to die of 
 his own accord,; I then deemed this Goddefs to be great 
 and powerful, to whofe Altar fo worthy a Sacrifice as 
 this was drawn. 
 
 The Parents of this Goddefs were Oceams and Nox^ 
 that is, the Viciflitudc of things and Divine Judgment 
 obfcure and fecret : Fof the alteration of things arc 
 aptly reprefented by the Sea, in refpedt of the conti- 
 nual Ebbing and Flowing of it, and hidden Provi- 
 dence is well fet forth by the Night : For even the 
 Nodurnal Namfis (feeing Humane judgment differs 
 much from Divine) was" ferioully obferved by the 
 Heathen. 
 
 Virgil ilneid. lib. 2. 
 
 Cadit & Rifheusjujliffimusunus^ 
 
 Quifuit ex Teucrvs^ & fervanuffimus aqy.l 
 DHs aliter vifim >-.. .■ . . . 
 
 That 
 
($4 T^^ Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 That day, by Greekifh force, was Rifhcus flaia 
 So jiifl and irrift obferver of the Law, 
 As Troy within her Walls, did not contain 
 A better Man : Yet God then good it faw. 
 
 She is defcribed with Wings, becaufe the changes of 
 things are To Hidden, as that they are feen before fore- 
 fcen; For in the Records of all Ages, we find it for 
 the moft part tni.% that great Potentates, and wife 
 I\len, have perilhed by thofe misfortunes which they 
 inofl coniemned^ as may be obferved in A:/jrcus Cicero- 
 who being admoni filed by Decius Brutus of O^avius Ca- 
 far's hypocritical friendiliip and hollow-heartednefs to^ 
 wards him, returns this anfwer, Te autem^ mi Brute^ 
 (icut dtbco^ amo^ quod iftud quicquid ejl nu^arum me fcire 
 •voluifti: I mult ever acknowledge my felf fDear Brutus) 
 beholden to thee, in love, for that thou hall been fo 
 careful to acvinaint me with that which I efteem but as 
 a necdlefs triiic to be doubted. 
 
 Nem-fts is alfo adorned with a Coronet, to fliev>^ the' 
 envious and malignant difpofition of the vulgar, for 
 when Fortunes Favourites and great Potentates come to 
 ruine, then do the common People rejoyce, fetting, 
 as it were, a Crown upon the heac' of Revenge. 
 
 The javelin in her right hand points at thofe whom 
 ihe aftiially ilrikes and pierceth through. 
 
 And before thofe, whom (he deflroys not in their 
 calamity and misfortune, (he ever prefents that black 
 and difmal fpedlacle in her. left hand : for queltionlefs' 
 to Men fitting as it were upon the Pinacle of Profperi- 
 ty, the thoughts of Death and painfulnefs of ficknefs 
 and misfortunes, perfidioufnefs of Friends, treachery 
 of roes, change of Ellate, and fuch like, feem as ugly 
 'to the Eye of their Meditations, as thofe <iy£thiopians 
 pictured in Nemefts her Pitcher. Virgil in dcfcribing the' 
 Bv.tle of Aliumy fpcaks thus elegantly of C/eoj^^^r;?. 
 
The Wtfdom of the Anclentsl 6i 
 
 Regina in mcclmpatrio vocat agfmna ftflro 
 Nee dumetiam geminos a Urgorejpcit ungues. 
 
 The Qjieeri amid ft this hurly-burly Hands, 
 And with her Coaatrey Timbrel calls her Bands ^ 
 Not fpying yet, where crawl'd behind her Back,^ 
 Two deadly Snakes with Venom fpecklcd black. 
 
 But not long after , which way foevcr Ihe turned^ 
 Troops of ctALtbiopi.ms were Hill before her Eyes. 
 
 Laftly, It is wifely added, Tkit Nemefts rides upon 
 ^n Hart ^ becanfe a Hart is a inolt lively Creature, 
 And albeit, it may be^ that fueh as are cut off by Death 
 in their Youth prevent and fhnn the power of Nemefts-^ 
 yet doubtlefs fuch, whofc proiperity and power conti- 
 nue long, are made fubject unto her, and lie as it were 
 trodden under her Feet. 
 
 ACHELOUS, or, battle. 
 
 IT is a Fable of Antiquity, that when Hercules 2nd 
 Jlchclous as Rivals contended for the Marriage of 
 Deianira^ the matter drev/ them to combate, wherein 
 Echelons took upon him many divers (hapes, for fo was 
 it in his power to do, and amongll others, transfor- 
 ining himfelf into the iikenefs of a fuiious wild Bull^- 
 aflaults Hercules and provokes him to fight. But Hercu* 
 hs^ for all this, (ticking to his old Humane Forn^, cou- 
 rageouily encounters him, and fo the Combat goes 
 roundly on. But ihts v/as the event. That Hercules 
 tore away one of the Bull's Horns, wherewith he be- 
 ing mightily daunted and grieved, to ranfome his Horii 
 again, was contented to give Flermles^ in excbangQ 
 thereof^ the ^w^/rfew Horn, oxCornu'Copa, 
 
 S fh!^ 
 
66 The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 This Fable hath relation nnto the Expeditions of 
 War , for the Preparations thereof on the defenfive 
 pare (which cxpreft in the Perfon of y^cbelous) is very 
 divcrfe and uncertain. But the invading Party is moll 
 commonly of one fort, and that very fmgle, confilting 
 of an Army by Land, or perhaps of a Navy by Sea. 
 But for a King that in his own Territory, expects an 
 Enemy, his occafions are infinite. He fortifies Towns, 
 he aflcmblcs Men out ot the Countreys and Villages, 
 he raifetli Citadels, he builds and breaks down Bridges, 
 he difpofcth Garrifons, and placeth Troops of Soldiers 
 en Paflages of Rivers, on Ports, on Mountains, and 
 Ambufhes in Woods, and is bufied with a multitude of 
 other Dircclions, infomuch^ that everyday he prefcri- 
 beth new Forms and Oidcrs^ and then at lafl having 
 acconmicdated all things compleat for defence, he then 
 rightly reprefents the form and manner of a fierce fight- 
 ing Bull On the other fide, the Invader his greateft 
 care is, the fear to be diftrefTed for Viduals in an 
 Encmv-Country^ and therefore affects chiefly to haften 
 on Battle : For if it fliould happen, that after a Field- 
 fight, he prove the Vidtor, and as it were, break the 
 Horn of the Enemy, then certainly this follows, that 
 his Enem.y being ftricken with Terror, and abafed in 
 his Reputation, prefently bewrays his weaknefs, and 
 feeking torepnirhislofs, retires himfelf to fome ftrong 
 hold, abandoning to the Conqueror the fpoil and fack 
 of his Country and Cities : which may well be termed 
 a Type of the Amalthcan Horn. 
 
 DlOl^rSm, or Tapions. 
 
 THEY fay tliat Semele^ 'j.upiters Sweet-heart, (lia- 
 ving bound her Paramour, by an irrevocable 
 Oath, to grant her one Requeft which fhe would re- 
 quire ) deiived that \\z would accompany her in the 
 
 fame 
 
The Wtfdom of the Ancients. 6f 
 
 fame form whereiii he accompanied Juno: Which he 
 granting fas not able to deny) it came to pafs, that 
 tlie mifeiable Wench was burnt with Lightning. But 
 the Infant which (lie bare in her Womb, Jupter^ the 
 Father, took out, and kept it in a gaih which he cut 
 in his Thigh, till the Months were compleat that it 
 fhould be born. This burthen made Jupiter fomewhat 
 to limp, whereupon the Child Cbecaufe it was heavy 
 and troublefome to its Father while it lay in his Thigh) 
 was called Dionyfvj. Being born , it was committed 
 to Proftrpina for fome years to be Nurft, and being 
 grown up, it had fuch a Maiden face, as that a Marf 
 could hardly judge whether it were a Boy or Girl. He 
 was dead alfo, and buried for a time, but afterward 
 revived: Being but a Youth, he invented and taught 
 the planting and dielHng of V'ines, the making alfoy 
 and ufe of Wine ^ for, which becoming famous and re- 
 nowned, he fubjugated the World, even to the utter- 
 niofl bounds of India. He rode in a chariot drawrt 
 with Tygers. There danced about him certain defor- 
 med Hobgoblins called Cobali. j4cratus^ and ethers, yea, 
 even the Mufes alfo were fome of his Follov/ers. He 
 took to Wife Aruuhie.^ forfaken and left by Thefeuf. The 
 Tree facred unto him was the ivy. He was held the 
 Inventor and Inftitutor of Sacrifices, and Ceremonies,- 
 and full of Corruption and Cruelty. He had power to 
 flrike Men v;ith fury and madnefs •, for it is reported. 
 That at the celebration of his Orgies, two famous 
 Worthies, rcnthcus and Orpheus.^ were torn in pieces by 
 certain franrick Women, the one becaufe he got upon 
 a Tree to behold their Ceremonies in thefe Sacrifices ^ 
 the other for making melody with his Harp: and for 
 his Gods, they are in a manner the fame with Jupitefs, 
 
 There is fuch excellent morality coucht in this Fable^ 
 as that Moral Philofophy affords not better ; for under 
 thcPerfon oi Bacchus is defcribed the nature of Affecti- 
 on, Pallion, or Perturbation, the Mother of which 
 (though never fo hurtful ) is nothing elfe but the Ob- 
 
6% Tfce Wifdom of the indent si ^ 
 
 led of apparent good in the Eyes of Appetite. And it 
 is always conceived in an unlawful defire, rafhly pro- 
 pounded and obtained, before well underftood and con- 
 fidered ^ and when it begins to grow , the Mother of 
 it, which is the defire of apparent good by too much 
 fervency, is deftroyed and perifheth. Neverthelefs 
 ('whirfl: yet it is an imperfeft Emhriy) it is nouriihed 
 and prefcrved in the Humane Soul, (which is at it were 
 a Father unto it, and reprefented by Jupiter^) but efpe- 
 cially in the inferior p^t thereof, as in a Thigh, where 
 alfo it caufeth fo much trouble and vexation, as that 
 good determinations and actions are much hindred and 
 lamed thereby • and when it comes to be confirmed 
 by confent and habit, and breaks out as it were into 
 aft, it remains yet a while with Proferpma^ as with a 
 Nurfe, that is, it feeks corners and fecret places, and 
 as it were, Caves under Ground, until (the Reins of 
 Shame and Fear being laid al'ide in a pampered audaci- 
 oufnefsj it either takes the pretext of fome Vertue, or 
 becomes altogether impudent and ihamelefs. And it is 
 molt true, that every vehement PafTion is of a doubtfull 
 Sex, as being Mafculine in the firit Motion, but Femi- 
 nine in Profecution. 
 
 It is an excellent Fiftion that of Bacchus his revi- 
 ving; for PafTions do fometimes feem to be in a dead 
 Heep, and as it were utterly extindt, but we fhould not 
 think them to be fo indeed, no, though they lay, as 
 it were, in their Grave ^ for let there be but matter and 
 opportunity offered , and you fhall fee them quickly 
 to revive again. 
 
 The invention of Wine is wittily afcribed unto him; 
 every affeftion being ingenious and skilful in finding 
 out that which brings nourifliment unto it; and indeed, 
 of all things known to Men , Wine is mofl powerful 
 and efficacious to excite and kindle PafTions of what 
 kind foever, as being in a manner common Nurfe to 
 them all. 
 
 Again, 
 
The WifJom of the Ancients. 69 
 
 Again, his conquering of Nations, and undertaking 
 infinite Expeditions is an elegant device •, for Defire. 
 never r.efls content with what it hath, but with an in- 
 finite and raifatiable Appetite ftill covets and gapes' af- 
 ter more. 
 
 His Chariot alfo is well faid to be drawn by Tygcrs-, 
 for as foon as any afFedion fliall from going a foot, be 
 advanced to ride in a Chariot, and (hall captivate rea- 
 fon, and lead her in a triumph, it grows cruel, unta- 
 med, and fierce againlt whatfoever withftands or op- 
 pofethit. 
 
 It is worth the noting alfo, that thofe ridiculous Hob^ 
 goblins are brought in dancing about his Chariot ^ for 
 every PalTion doth caufe, in the Eyes, Face and Ge- 
 flure, certain undecent, and ill-fceniing, apilh, and 
 deformed motions •, fo that they who in any kind of 
 Paflion, as in anger, arrogancy, or love, fccm glorir 
 ous and brave in their own Eyes, do yet appear to 0- 
 thers misfhapen and ridiculous. 
 
 In that the Mufes are faid to be of his company, it 
 fiiews that there is no afFection almoll which is not 
 foothed by fome Art, wherein the indulgence of Wits 
 doth derogate from the glory of the Mufes, who (whea 
 they ought to be the Miltrcfs of Life) are made th? 
 Waiting-maids, of afFedions. 
 
 Again, where Bacchus is faid to have loved Ariadyic^ 
 that was rejededby Thefeics-^ it is an Allegory of fpecial 
 obfervation ;, for it is molt certain, that Pairion:^, al- 
 ways coyet and defire that which Experience forfakes y 
 and they all know (who have paid dear for ferving 
 and obeying their Lufl) that whether it be honour, 
 or riches, or delight, or glory, or knowledge, or any 
 thing elfe which they feek after , yet are they but 
 things call: off, and by divers Men, in all ages"^ after 
 experience had utterly rejefted and loathed. 
 
 Neither is it without a MyHery, that the Ii^y wa§ 
 fcicixd to Bacchm '^ for ithe Application holds, Firfl:, {ri 
 that th? Jyy remains green in Winter, Secondly, la 
 
70 The Wlfioni of the Ancients. 
 
 that it flicks to, embraceth, and overtoppeth fo many di- 
 vers Bodies, as Trees, Walls, and Edifices. Touching 
 the firf]-, every Pafllon doth by refillance and rcluda- 
 tion, and as it were by Jritiperiftjfis ('like the Ivy of 
 the cold Winter,) grow frefti and lofty. And as for 
 the other, every predominate Affection doth again 
 (Tike the Ivy) embrance and limit all Humane Afti- 
 pns and Determinations, adhering and cleaving fall unto 
 them. 
 
 Neither is it a Wonder, that fuperftitious Rites and 
 Gercmonies were attributed unto Bacchus^ feeing every 
 giddy headed humour keeps in a manner Revel-rout in 
 falfe Religions :, or that the caufe of Madnefs fhould be 
 afcribed unto him, feeing every affection is by Nature 
 afhortfury, which (it it grows vehement, and become 
 habitual) concludes in madnefs. 
 
 Concerning the rending and difmembring of Pcwf/;^?/^ 
 and Orf'Sm^ the Parable is plain, for every preva- 
 lent afteftion is outrageous and feverc, and againfl 
 curious inquiry, and wholfome and free admoniti- 
 
 , on. 
 
 Laftly, That confufion of Jupiter and Bacchus^ their 
 Perfons may be well transferred to a Parable, feeing 
 noble and famous Ads,and remarkable and glorioU';ri 
 Merits, do fometimes proceed from Vertue, and well 
 ordered Reafon and xMagnanimity, and fom.etimes from 
 a fecret Affection, and hidden Paffion, which are fo 
 dignified with the celebrity of Fame and Glory, that a 
 Man can hardly diftinguifh between the Ads of Bacchus^ 
 and the Gefts oi Jupiter, 
 
 AT JL ART A, or gain. 
 
 ' A T^LJNTJ, who w^as reputed to excel in fwift- 
 
 _x\^ nefs , would needs challenge Hippomenes at a 
 
 match in running. The conditions of the prize were 
 
 tbefe: 
 
Tl)e IVifdom of the Ancients. y \ 
 
 thefe: That if Hippowenes won the Race, he fhould 
 efpoufe u4talanta ^ if he were out-run , that then he 
 Ihould forfeit his Life. And in the Opinion of all, the 
 vidtory was thought aflTured of Atalmtah fide, being 
 famous, as (he was, for her match lefs and inconqricra^ 
 blc fpeed, whereby fhe had been the bane of many. 
 Hippomenes therefore bethinks liim how to deceive her 
 by a trick, and in tliat regard provides three Golden 
 Apples or Balls, which he purpofely carried about him. 
 The Race is begun, and yitalmt.i gets a good Itart be- 
 fore him. He feeing himfelf thus call behind, being 
 mindful of his device, throws one of his Golden Balls 
 before her, and yet not outright, but fomewhat of the 
 one fide, both to make her linger and alio to draw 
 her out of the right courfe: She, out of a Wbmanifh 
 defire, (being thus enticed with the beauty of the 
 Golden Apple J leaving her direct Race runs afide 
 and ftoops to catch the Ball, Hippomenes the while holds 
 on his courfe, getting thereby a great flart, and leaves 
 her behind him; But flie by her own natural fwift- 
 nefs, recovers her lofb time, and gets before him a- 
 gain. But Hippomenes Hill continues his Height, and both 
 the fecond and third times call out his Balls, thofc in- 
 ticing delays ^ and fo by craft, and not by his activity 
 wins the Race and Victory. 
 
 This Fable feems AUegorically to demonflrate a no« 
 table conflict between Art and Nature • for Art (llg- 
 nified by yitahnta) in its work (if it be not letted and 
 hindred) is far more fwift than Nature, more fpeedy 
 in pace, and fooner attains the end it aims at, which 
 is manifeft almoft in every effedt: As you may fee 
 it in Fruit-trees, whereof thofe that grow of a Kernel 
 are long eVe they bear, but fuch as arc grafted on a 
 Stock a great deal fooner. You may fee it in Clay 
 which in the generation of Stones, is long e're it be! 
 come hard ; but in the burning of Bricks , is very 
 quickly effected. Alfo in Moral PalTdges you may 
 obfcrve, that it is a long time e're fby the benefit of 
 
 S 4 Nature) 
 
yt The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 Nature) forrow can be aiTwaged, and comfort attain- 
 ed^ whereas Philofophy (which is, as it were, Art of 
 Living) tarries not the Icifure of time, but doth it in- 
 ilantly, and out of hand ^ and yet this Prerogative 
 and fmgular agility of Art is hind red by certain Gol- 
 den Apples to the infinite prejudice of Humane pro- 
 ceedings: For there is not any one /irt or Science 
 which conflantly perfeveres in a true and lawful courfe, 
 till it comes to the propofed End or Mark , but ever 
 and anon makes Hops after good beginnings, leaves the 
 Eace, and turns afide to Profit and Commodity, like 
 
 Jpeckinat curfus^ aurumqne voluhik tollit. 
 
 Who doth her courfe forfake, 
 The Rolling Gold to take. 
 
 And therefore it is no wonder that Art and not the 
 power to conquer Nature, and by Pact or Law of Con- 
 quefl^ to kill and deflroy her ^ but on the contrary it 
 falls out, that Art becomes fubjed to Nature, and yields 
 the Obedience, as a Wife the Husband. 
 
 PROMETHEUS, or the State of Man. 
 
 THE Ancients deliver, that Tromethetis made a Man 
 of Clay, mixt with certain parcels taken from 
 divers Animals, v^\\o ftudying to maintain this his 
 Work by Art, (that he might not be accounted a foun- 
 der only, but Propagator of Humane kind) Hole up 
 to Heaven with a bundle of Twigs, which he kindled 
 at the Chariot of the Sun, came down again ^ and 
 pmmunicated it with Men: and yet they fay, (That 
 potwithftanding this excellent work of his, J he was 
 requited with Ingratitude^ in a treacherous Confpira-- 
 •^ . — •— — • • ■ cy: 
 
Tl^e Wlfdcm of the Ancients. ' 7^ 
 
 ey: For they accufcd both bim and his Invention to 
 Jupiter^ which was not fo taken as was meet it fliould, 
 for the Information was pleailng to Jupter ^ and all 
 the Gods. And therefore in a merry Mood, granted 
 unto Men, not only the nfe of Fire, but perpetual 
 youth alfo,a Boon moft acceptable and defirable. They 
 being, as it were, over-joyed, did foolifhly lay this 
 Gift of the Gods' upon the back of an Afs, who be- 
 ing wonderfully opprefs^d with Thirft, and near a 
 Fountain, was told by a Serpent (which had the cu- 
 flody thereof ) that he fhould not drink, unlcfs he 
 would promifc to give him the Burthen that was on 
 ins Back. 1 he filly Afs accepted the condition, and 
 fo the rellauration of Youth (fold for a draught of 
 Water) pall from Men to Serpents. But Prometheus 
 full of Malice, being reconciled unto Men, after they 
 were fruftratcd of their Gift, but in a Chafe yet with 
 Jupiter^ feared not to ufe deceit in Sacrifice: For ha- 
 ving killed two Bulls, and in one of their Hides wrapp'd 
 up the Fkn-i and Fat of them both, and in the other 
 only the Bones, with a great (hew of Religious Devo- 
 tion, K^YQ Jupiter his choice, who fdetefling his Fraud 
 and HypocriHe, but taking an occaHon of Revenge) 
 (Chofethat which was ffopp'd with Bones, and fo turn- 
 ing to Revenge (vvheh he faw that the Inlblency of 
 Prometheus wcnld not be reprefented, but by laying fonic 
 grievous Afflidion upon Mankind, in the fornimg of 
 which, he fo much bragged and boafledj commanded 
 yulcan to frame a goodly beautiful Woman , which 
 being done, every one of the Gods beftowed a Gift 
 on her^ whereupon fhc was called Pandora. To this 
 Woman they gave, in her hand, a goodly Box full of 
 all Miferies and Calamities, only in the bottom of it 
 they put Hope ; with this Box ihe comes nrll: to Pr(u 
 juetheus , thinking to catch him , if peradventure he 
 fnould accept it at her hands, and fo open it : which 
 he neverthelefs, with good Providence and Forefighj, 
 refufed. Whereupon ihe goes to Epum'thais {\\\\o 
 
 thougii 
 
74 T^^ Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 though Brother to Prometheus^ yet was of a much dif- 
 fering DifpofitionJ and offers this Box unto him, who 
 without delay took it, and rafhly opened it; but 
 w^hen he faw that all kind of Miferies came flutter- 
 ing about his Ears, being wife too late, with great 
 fpeed and earneil endeavour clapt on the Cover, and 
 fo with much ado retained Hopt fitting alone in the 
 bottom-, at lafl Jupiter laying many and grievous 
 Crimes to Prometheus his charge (^^ that he had lloln 
 Fire from Heaven, that in contempt of his iMajefty, 
 he facrificed a Bull's Hide fluff 'd with Bones, that he 
 fcornfully rejeded his Gift, and befides all this that 
 he offered violence to Pallcvs ) caft him into Chains, 
 and doom'd him to perpetual Torment.- and by Ju- 
 fiter\ Command, was brought to the Mountain Cau- 
 cafus^ and there bound fall to a Pillar that he could 
 not ftir; there came an Eagle alfo, that every day 
 fat tyring upon his Liver and wafted it, but as much 
 as was eaten in the day, grew again in the Night, that 
 Matter for Torment to work upon might never decay. 
 But yet they fay there was an end of this Punilhment. 
 For Hercules croffing the Ocean in a Cup, which the 
 Sun gave him, came to Caucafus^ and fet Prometheus at 
 liberty, by fhooting the Eagle with an Arrow. More- 
 over in fome Nations there were inftituted in the ho- 
 nours of Prometheus^ certain Games of Lamp-bearers, 
 in which they that ftrived for the Prize, were wont 
 to carry Torches lighted ^ which who fo fuffered to go 
 out, yielded the Place and Victory tothofe that follow- 
 ed, and fo caft back themfelves ^ fo that whofoever 
 came firft to the Mark with his Torch burning, got the 
 Prize. 
 
 This Fable demonftrates and prelfeth many true and 
 grave Speculations, wherein fome things have been 
 heretofore well noted, others not fo much as touch 'd. 
 
 Prometheus doth clearly and elegantly fignifie Provi-> 
 4ence: For in the Univerfality of Nature, the Fabrick 
 §ngl Conftitution of Man only was by the Ancients 
 
 pigk'd 
 
The Wlfdom of the Ancients, y< 
 
 pick'd out and chofen, and attributed unto Trovidcnccy 
 as a peculiar Work. The reafon of it fcems to be, not 
 only in that the Nature of Man is capable of a mind 
 and undcrflanding » which is the Seat oi Providence -^ 
 and therefore it would fccm fnrange and incredible, 
 that the reafnn and mind fhould fo proceed and flow 
 from dumb and deaf Principles, as that it iliould necef- 
 farily be concluded, the Soul of Man to be endued 
 with Providence, not without the example, intention, 
 and ftamp of a greater Providence. But this aifo is 
 chiefly propounded, that man is as it were the C entre 
 of the World , in refpedl: of final Caufes, fo that if 
 Man were not in Nature, all things would feem to 
 ftray and wander without purpofe, and like icatcered 
 Branches (as they iliy) without inclinations to their 
 end: For all things attend on Man, and he makes ufe 
 of, and gathers Fruit from all Creatures: For the re- 
 volutions and periods of Stars make both for the di- 
 -ftindions of Times, and the dillribution of the World's 
 fight. Meteors alfo are referred to prefages of Tempelts ^ 
 and Winds are ordained, as well for Navigation, as 
 for turning of Mills, and other Engines: And Plants, 
 and Animals of what kind foever, are ufcful either for 
 Men's Houfes, and places of (belter, or for Rayment, 
 or for Food, or Medicine, or for eafe of Labour, or in 
 a word, for delight and folace^ fo that all thin^^s feem 
 to work, not for themiclves, but for Man. 
 
 Neither is it added without confideration that cer-r 
 tain Particles were taken from divers living Creatures, 
 and mix'd and tempered with that clayey Mafs, be- 
 caufe it is moll true that of all things comprehended 
 within the compafs of the llniverfe, Man is a thing 
 moft mix'd and compounded, infomuch that he w^as 
 well termed by the Ancients, a little World^ for al- 
 though thQChymicks do, with too much Curiofity, take 
 and wreil the elegancy of this Word (Microcofw') to 
 the Letter, contending to tlndinManall Minerals, all 
 Vegetables and the red, or ^ny thing that holds propor- 
 
7 6 The Wtfdotn of the Ancients. 
 
 tion with them ^ yet this propofition remains found and 
 whole, that the Body of Man, of all material Beings is 
 found to be moft compounded, and mofl organical, 
 whereby it is endued and furnifhed with mofl: admirable 
 Vertues and Faculties. And as for fimple Bodies, their 
 Powers are not many,though certain and violent, as exi^ 
 fting without being weakned, diminiihed or (tinted by 
 mixture ^ for the multiplicity and excellency of Opera- 
 tion have their refidencc in mixture and compofition, and 
 yet neverthelefs, Man in his Originals feems to be a 
 thing unarmed, and naked, and unable to help it felf, 
 as needing the aid of many things ; therefore Prometheus 
 made halte to find out Fire, which fuppeditates and 
 yields comfort and help in a manner, to all humane 
 Wants and Necelllties : fo that if the Soul be the Form 
 of Forms, and if the Hand be the Inftrument oflnftru- 
 ments- Fire dcferves well to be called the Succour of 
 Succours, or the Help of Helps, which infinite ways 
 affords aid and afilftance to all Labours and Me- 
 chanical Arts, and to the Sciences themfelves. 
 
 The manner of ftealing this fire is aptly defcribcd, 
 even from the nature of things: It was, they fay, by a 
 bundle of Twigs held to touch the Chariot of the Sun : 
 For twigs are ufed in giving blows or Stripes, to figni- 
 fie clearly, that fire is engendred by the violent per- 
 cufiion and mutual collifion of Bodies, by which their 
 material Subflances are attenuated and fet in Motion, 
 and prepared to receive the heat or influence of the 
 Heavenly Bodies -, and fo in a clandefline manner, and 
 as it were by ftealth, may be fa id to take and fnatch 
 Fire from the Chariot.of the Sun. 
 
 There follows next a remarkable part of the Parable, 
 that Men inllead of Gratulation and Thankfgiving, 
 were angry, and expoltulated the Matter with Profne- 
 theus^ infomuch that they accufed both him and his lu- 
 veiition unto Jupiter^ which was fo acceptable to him, 
 that he augm'ented their former Commodities with a 
 ftevy Bouijty. Seems it not ftrange, that Ingratitude 
 
 towards 
 
The Wifdom of the Jncmii. 77 
 
 towards the Author of a Benefit (a Vice that in a man- 
 ner contains all other Vices j fhould find fuch Approba- 
 tion and Reward ? No, it feems to be otberwife : For 
 the meaning of the Allegory is this, that Men's ont-crics 
 upon the defeds of Nature and Art, proceed from an 
 excellent difpofitionof the Mind, and turn to their good, 
 whereas the filencing of them is hateful to the Gods, 
 and redounds not fo much to their Profit: For they 
 that infinitely extol Humane Nature, or the knowledge 
 they poflefs, breaking out into a prodigal admiration 
 of that they have and enjoy, adoring alfo thofe Sciences 
 they profefs, would have them be accounted perfe(ft*, 
 they do firft of all fhcw little Reverence to the divine 
 Nature, by equalizing, in a manner, their own De- 
 feds with God's Perfection : Again, they are wonder- 
 fully injurious to Men, by imagining they have attain- 
 ed the highelt ftep of knowledge, frefting themfelves 
 contented) feek no further. On the contrary , fuch 
 as bring Nature and Art to the Bar with Accufations, 
 and Bills of Complaint againfl them , are indeed of 
 more true and moderate Judgments : For they are ever 
 in Adtion, fceking always to find out new Inventions. 
 Which makes me much to wonder at the foolifli and in- 
 confidcrate Difpofitions of fome Men, who fmaking 
 themfelves Bond-flaves to the Arrogancy of a few) have 
 the Philofophy of the Peripateticks (containing only a 
 Portion of Gcerclan Wifdom, and that but a fmall one 
 neither) in fo great elleem, that they hold it, not only 
 an unprofitable, but a fufpicious , and almoft heinous 
 thing, to lay any imputation of Imperfection upon it. I 
 approve rather of Emrjcdodes his Opinion (who like a 
 Mad- man, and ot Democrjtus his Judgment, who with 
 great moderation complained how^ that all things were 
 involved in a Mid) that we knew nothing, that we 
 difcerned nothing , that Truth was drowned in the 
 depths of Obfcurity, and that falfe things were wonder- 
 fully joined and intermixed with true (as for the new 
 Academy that exceeded all meafurc) than of the con- 
 fident 
 
78 Tte Wlfdom of the Ancients. 
 
 fident and pronunciative School of yurijlotlc. Let Men 
 therefore be admoniihcd, that by acknowledging the 
 Imperfcdioa of Nature and Art, they are grateful to 
 the Gods, and fhall thereby obtain new Benctits and 
 greater Favours at their bountifi.l Hands, and tne Ac- 
 cufation of Prometheus their Author and Mailer (though 
 bitter and vehement) will conduce more to their Pro- 
 fit, than to the effuic in the congratulation of his In- 
 vention : For in a Word the opinion of having enough, 
 is to be accounted one of^the greateft Caufes of having 
 too little. 
 
 Now as touching the kind of Gift which Men are 
 faid to have received in reward of their Accufation 
 (to wit, an ever-fading Flower of Youth) it is to 
 fhew, that the Ancients feemed not to defpair of at- 
 taining the skill by Means and Medicines, to put off 
 Old Age, and to prolong Life, but this to be numbred 
 rather among faeh things (having been once happily 
 attainc 1 unto j arc now through Men's Negligence and 
 CarelefncH, utterly perifhed and loit ^ than among fuch 
 as have been always denied and never granted: For 
 they iignifie and fnew, thdt by affording the true ufe 
 of Fire^ and by a good and Itern accufation and con- 
 vi£tion of the Errors of Art, the Divine Bounty is 
 not wanting unto Men in the obtaining of fuch Gifts, 
 but Men are wanting to themfelves in laying this Gift 
 of the Gods upon the back of a filly flow-paced Afs, 
 which may feem to be Experience , a ftupid" thing, 
 and full of Delay: From whole leifurely and Snail- 
 like-pace, proceeds that complaint of Life's brevity^ 
 and Arts length. And to fay the Truth, I am of this 
 opinion, thatthofe two Faculties; Dog?natical and Em- 
 perkal^ are not as yet well joined and coupled toge- 
 ther, but as new Gifts of the Gods impofed either up- 
 on Philofopnical Abftractions, as upon a flying Birdy 
 or upon ilow and dull Experience, as upon an Afs, 
 And yet methinks, I would not entertain an ill con- 
 teit of this Afs^. if it meet not for the accidents of 
 
 Travel 
 
 I 
 
7he Wifdom of the Ancients. 7^ 
 
 Travel and Thirft : For I am perfwaded, that who fo 
 conftantly goes on, by the condiift of Experience as 
 by a certain Rule and Method, and not covets to meet 
 with fuch Experiments by the may, as conduce either 
 to gain or oltentation, (to obtain v;hich, he mufb be 
 fain to lay down, and fell this Burthen j may prove no 
 unfit Porter to bear his new addition of divine Muni- 
 ficence. 
 
 Now, in that thisGift is faid to pafs from Alen to Ser- 
 pents, it may feem to be added to the Fable for orna- 
 ment-fake in a manner, unlefs'it were inferted to fhame 
 Men, that having the ufe of that Coeleflial Fire, and 
 of fo many Arts, are not able to get unto themfelves 
 fuch things as Nature it fclf bellows upon many other 
 Creatures. 
 
 But that fudden reconciliation of Men to Prometheus 
 after they were fruftratcd of their hopes, contains a 
 profitable and wife Note, (hewing the levity and te- 
 merity of Men in new Experiments ; for if they have 
 not prefent Succcfs, anfwerablc to their expectation, 
 with too fudden haft defift from that they began, and 
 with precipitancy returning to their former experiments 
 are reconciled to them again. 
 
 The ftate of Man, in refpeS of Arts, and fuch things 
 as concern the Intelled, being now defcribed, the Pa- 
 rable palTeth to Religion: For after the planting of 
 Arts, follows the fetting of Divine Principles, which 
 Hypocriiie hath over-fpread and polluted. By that two- 
 fold Sacrifice therefore is elegantly fhadowed out the 
 Perfons of a true Religious Man , and an Hypocrite, 
 In the one is contained Fatnefs, which (by reafon of 
 the Inflammation and Fumes thereof,) is called, The 
 Portion of God -J by which his AfFecTtion and Zeal, (tend- 
 ing to God's Glory, and afcending tov/ards Heaven) 
 is lignified. In hiin alfo are contained the Bowels of 
 Charity, and in him is found that good and whole- 
 fome Flefh, Whereas in the other, there is nothing 
 
 but 
 
8o The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 but dry and naked Bones ^ which neverthelefs, do PtufF 
 up the Hide, and make it appear like a fair and good- 
 ly Sacrifice : By this may be well meant thofe exter- 
 nal and vain Rites, and empty Ceremonies by which 
 Men do oppreis and fill up the ilncere Worfhip of 
 God, things compofed rather for oftcntation, than any 
 way conducing to true Piety. Neither do they hold 
 it fuiiicicnt to offer fuch mock-Sacrifices unto God^ 
 except they alfo lay them before him, as if he had cho- 
 fen and befpoke them. Certainly the Prophet in the 
 perfon of God, doth thus expoihilate concerning this 
 Choice, If a, 58. 5. Num tandem hoc eft illud Jejtmnan 
 quod E LE G /, ut homo anhnam faam in diem unum ajfli- 
 gat^ & caput injlar yur.ceti demktat? It is fuch a Fail, 
 that I have chofen, that a Man Pnould afflid his Soul for 
 a day, and to bow down his head like a Bulrufn ? 
 
 Having now touch 'd the State of Religion, the Pa- 
 rable converts it lelf to the Manners and Conditions 
 of humane Life. And it is a common, but apt inter- 
 pretation, by Pandora to be meant pleafure and volup- 
 tuoufnefs-, which f when the civil Life is pamper'd 
 — with too miUch Art, and Culture, and Superfluity,) is 
 ingendred, as it were, by the efficacy of Fire, and 
 therefore the work of X^oluptuonfaefs is attributed unto 
 Vulcan^ who alfo himfelf doth repreient Fire. Froni 
 this do infinite Miferies, together with too late repen- 
 tance, proceed, and overflow the Minds, and Bodies, 
 and Fortunes of Men, and that not only in rcfpe^l of 
 particular Eilates, but even over Kingdoms and Com- 
 monwealths-, for from this Fountain have Wars, Tu- 
 mults, and Tyrannies derived their Original. 
 
 But it would be worth the Labour to confider how 
 elegantly and proportionably this Fable doth delineate 
 two Conditions-, or (as I may fay) two Tables or 
 Examples of humane Life, under the Perfons of Pro- 
 methcus^ or Epimetbeus ^ for they that are of Epimetheus 
 his Sect, are improvident ^ not forefeeing ^^hat may 
 eome to pafs hereafter^ efteeming that belt which 
 
 feem* 
 
77;^ Wifdom of the Ancient i. g t 
 
 ieems moll fweet for the prefenj^ whence ic happens^ 
 that they arc overtaken with many miicries, difficulties^ 
 and calamities, and fo lead their Lives alnioil; in per- 
 petual aftiidtion ^ but yet nocvvichllaadiag they pleafe 
 their Fancy, and out of ignorance of the pallages of 
 things, do entertain many vain hopes in their Mind, 
 whereby they fomet'.mes fas with fweet dreams) fo- 
 Lice themfclves, andfvveecenthe Miferics of their Life. 
 Bnt they that are Prometheus his Scholars, are Men en- 
 dued with Prudence, forefceing things to come, wa- 
 rily fhunning, and avoiding m^ny Evils and Misfor- 
 tunes. Buttothcfe their good Properties, they have 
 alfo annexed, that they deprive themfelves,- and defraud 
 their Genius of many lawful Pleafures, and divers Re- 
 creations, and (which is worfe,) they vex, and tor- 
 ment themfelves with cares and troubles, and intcftine 
 fears :i for being chained to the Pillar ofncceOicy, they 
 arealHicted with Innumerable Cogitations, fvvhich^ be- 
 caufe they arc very iwift, may be fitly compared to aix 
 Eagle,) and thofe griping, and as it were, gnawing 
 and devouring the Liver, unlefsfonietimes, as it were, 
 by Night, it may be they get a little Recreation, and 
 cafe of Mind-, but fo, as that they are again fuddenly 
 afQulted v/ith frefli anxieties and fears. 
 
 Therefore this Benefit happens to but a very few 
 of either Condition, that they Ihould retain the Com-* 
 modities of Providence, and free themfelves from the 
 Miferies of Care and Perturbation^ neither indeed 
 can any attain unto it, but by the alTilbncc of Her- 
 ciiles^ that is, Fortitude,- and Conltancy of Mind^ 
 which is prepared for every Event and armed in all 
 Fortunes, forefeeing without fear, enjoying without 
 loathing, and fullering without fnipatierrce. It is worth 
 the noting alfo, that this Vercue Was not Uitural to" 
 F'-ometbcus^ but adventitial, and from the indulgence 
 of another; for no in-bred and natural Fortitude is' 
 able to encounter with thcfe Miferies. Moreover, this 
 Vcrtue v/as received and brought unto hin> from the 
 
 T remotcit 
 
82 The W'tjdom of ih Ancmts. 
 
 reniotcfl: part of the Ocean^ and from the Sun^ that is, 
 fromWiiciom, as from the Sun-^ and from the Medita- 
 tion of Inconftancy, or of the Waters of Humane Life, 
 as from the failing upon the Ocean;, which two f^trgil 
 hath well conjoyned in thefe Verfes •, 
 
 Felix qui ptuit rerum cognofccre caufas : 
 Qutijue mctus omnes^ & inexorabik fatum 
 Subjecit pdtbiiSj Jlrepitumq-^ Acherontis avari, 
 
 Happy is he that knows the caufes of things: 
 And that with daiintiefs courage treads upon 
 All Fear and Fates, relentlefs Threatnings, . 
 And greedy Throat of roaring Acheron. 
 
 Moreover, it is elegantly added for the confolation 
 and confirmation of Mens Minds, that this noble He- 
 ro crofs'd the Ocean in a Cup or Pan, left peradven- 
 ture, they might too much fear that the ftraits and 
 fraiky of their Nature will not be capable of this For- 
 titude and Conftancy. Of which very thing Seneca 
 well conceived, when he laid. Magnum eft habere fimul 
 fragilhatem hominis^ & Jecuritate7n Dei, It is a great 
 matter for Humane Fraiky and Divine Security to be at 
 one and the felf-fame time, in one and the felf-fame 
 Subject. 
 
 But now we are to Hep back a little again to that, 
 which by premeditation paftover, left a breach (hould 
 be made in thofe things that were fo link'd together. 
 That therefore which I could touch here, is that laft 
 Crime imputed to Prometheus^ about feeking to bereave 
 A'finerva of her Virginity: For queftionlefs, it was 
 this hainous offence that brought that puniftiment of 
 devouring his Liver, upon him •, which is nothing elfe 
 but to (hew, that when vvc are puft up with two much 
 Learning and Science, they go about oftentimes to 
 make even Divine Oracles lubjedt to Sence and Rea- 
 for^ . whence moft certainly follows a continual di- 
 
 ftradion. 
 
71)6 Wifdom of the Ancients. 8 ; 
 
 ftradion, and refllefs griping of the Mind •, we nm(t 
 therefore with a fober, and humble Judgment, diftin- 
 guifh between Humanity and Divinity, and between the 
 Oracles of Senfe, and the Myileries of Faith, unkfs an 
 Heretical Religion, and a commentitious Phiiofophy be 
 pleating unto us. 
 
 Lallly, It remains that we fay fomething of the Game? 
 of Pyoincthe".s^ performed with burning Toiches, which 
 again harh reference to Arts and Sciences, asthat Fire,iii 
 whofe Memory, and Celebration, thefe Games were 
 infiitwted, and it contains in it a m.oft wife admonition, 
 that the perfection of Sciences to be expe(5ted from 
 SuccefTion, not from the nimblencfs and promptnefs of 
 one only Author-, for they that are nimbleft in Courfe^ 
 and ftrongeil in Contention, yet haply have not the 
 luck to keep Fire ftill in their Torch ; Iccing it may be 
 as well extinguiihed by running too fall, as by going 
 too flow. And this running and contending with 
 Lamps, feems long llnce to be intermitted , feeing 
 all Sciences feem even now to fiourifli moll in their 
 firll Authors, Artftotk\ Galcn^ Euclicl^ aiid Ptolemy y 
 SuccelTion having neither effeded, nor almolc attempt- 
 ed any great Matter. It were therefore to be wifhed, 
 that thele Games, in honour of Promethem^ or Humane 
 Nature, were again reflored, and that Matters fliould 
 receive luccefs by Combate and Emulation, and not 
 hang upon any one Man's fparkling and fhaking Torch. 
 Men therefore are to be admonilhcd to roufe up their 
 Spirits, and try their ilrengths and turns, and not ta 
 refer all to the Opinions and Brains of a fe 
 
 vv. 
 
 And thus have I delivered that which I thought good 
 to obferve out of this ib well known, and coranioii 
 Fable -^ artd yet I will not deny, hue tlut there may 
 be fome things in it, which have an adniirable con- 
 fent with the Myfteries of Chriftian P^eligicn, and 
 efpecially that Sailing of Hercules in a Cup, (to fct Pro- 
 mctUiiS at liberty,) fecms to repreient an Image of the 
 Divine V/orJ^ coming in Flejh, as in a trail VeHcl,. to 
 
 T 2- redeeui 
 
g 4. The Wifdom of the Jnclents, 
 
 Vedecm Man from theSln'cry of HelJ. But I have in- 
 terdicted my Pen all liberty in this kind, left I Ihould 
 life lhanf;e Fire at the Altar of the Lord. 
 
 S CriL A znd iCAl^USy orihe 
 
 MEDIOCRITY, or t\^^Mddk-xvay^ is moll 
 commended in Moral Actions ^ in Contempla- 
 tive Sciences, not fo celebrated ^ though no lefs pro- 
 fiiable and commodious ^ but in Political Employments, 
 to be nfed with great heed and judgment. The An- 
 cients by the way, prefcribed by Icarus^ noted the Me- 
 diocrity of Manners; and by the Way between Scylla and 
 Caryldvs (fo famous for difficulty and danger,^ the Me- 
 diocrity oi intelledual Operations. 
 
 Jcarus being to crofs the Sea by flight, was command- 
 ed by his Father, that he (hould fly neither too high 
 nor too low; for his Wings being joined with Wax, if 
 he Ihould mount too high,it was to be feared lelttheV/ax; 
 •would melt by the heat of the Sun ; and if too low, lelt 
 miHy Vapours of the Sea would niakeitlefs tenacious; 
 but he in a youthful jollity foarin'g too high, fell down 
 headlong, and periihed in the Water. 
 
 The Parable is ealie and vulgar ; for the way of Vcr- 
 tue lies in a direct Path between Excefs and Defed. 
 Neither is it a wonder that y<:^m5pcriii-ied by Excefs, 
 iccing that Excefs for the moll part, is the peculiar fault 
 of Youth, as Defe<ft is of Age, and yet of two evil 
 and hurtful ways, Y'outh commonly makes choice of 
 the better. Defeat being always accounted woril; for 
 whereas excefs contains fome Sparks of Magnanimity^ 
 and, like a Bird, claim.s Kindred of the Heavens, De- 
 fec% only like a bafe Worm, crawls upon the Earth. 
 Excellently therefore faid Htraclitus^ Lumen fic^um^^ opti- 
 wa Jnhnjy a dry Light is the bell Soul; for if the 
 
 Soul 
 
Tloe W^fdom of the Jncmits] 85 
 
 Soul contrad moifture from the Earth is become de- 
 generate altogether. Again, on the other fide, there 
 niiift be moderation ufcd, that this Light be fubtiliz'd 
 by this laudable Siccicy, and not dcftroy'd by too much 
 fervency. And thus much every Man for the moft part 
 knows. 
 
 Now they that would fail between Scylla and Cha* 
 yyhd'vs mull be furniflied, as well with the skill, aspro- 
 fpcrous fuccefs in Navigation : For if their Ships fall in- 
 to Scylla they are fplit on the Rocks: if into Charybdis 
 they are fwallowcd up of a Gulph. 
 
 Hie Moral of this Parable (which we will but briefly 
 touch, although it contain matter of infinite Contem- 
 ])lation) fecms to be this: That in every ArtandScience^ 
 and fo in their Rules and Axioms, there be a mean ob- 
 ferved between the Rocks of Diltindfions, and the 
 Gulfs of Llniverfalities^ which two are famous for the 
 Wrack both of Wits and Arts. 
 
 SVHYNX, or Science. 
 
 THEY fay that Sfhynx w^as a Monder of divers 
 forms, as having the Face and Voice of a Virgin, 
 the Wings of a Bird, and the Talons of a Gryphin. His 
 abode was in a Mountain near the City of Ibebes^ he 
 kept alfo the High-ways, and ufed to lie in Ambufh 
 tor Travellers, and fo to furprize them: To whom 
 (being in his pov/er) he propounded certain dark and 
 intricate Riddles, which were thought to h:\'e been gi- 
 ven and received of the Mufes. Now if thefe mifera- 
 ble Captives were not able inltantly to refolve and inter- 
 pret them in the mid'ft of their Difficulties and Doubt<?, 
 Ihe would rend and rear them in pieces. The Coun^ 
 try groaning a long time under this Calamity, the 
 T'hehans at laft propounded the Kingdom as a Reward 
 ijj)p him that cpuld interpret the Riddles of Sfoynx^ 
 
 T 3 there 
 
86 The Wifdom of the Andents. 
 
 there being no other way to defl:roy her : Whereupon* 
 Oedipus (a iMan of piercing, and deep Judgment, but 
 Maimed and Lame, by realbn of. holes bored in his 
 Feet,) moved with the hope of fo great a Reward, ac- 
 cepted the condition, and determined to put it to the 
 hazard ^ and fo with an uikiaimted and bold Spirit, 
 prefented himfelf before the iMonfler-, who asked him 
 what Creature that was, which after his Birth, went 
 firft upon four Feet, next, upon two, then upon three, 
 and laftly, upon four Feet again*, anfvvered forthwith, 
 that it was Man-, which in his Infancy, immediately 
 after Bivth, 'crawls upon all four^ fcarce venturing to 
 creep, and not long after. Hands upright upon two 
 Feet ^ then growing old, he leans upon a Staff' where- 
 with he fupports himfelf, fo that he may feem to have 
 three Feet ^ andatlall, in decrepid years, his ftrength 
 failing him, he falls groveling again upon four, and lies 
 bed-rid. Having therefore by this true Anfwer gotten 
 the Vicfovy, he inllantly flew this Sphynx^ (and laying 
 her Body upon an Afs,) leads, it, as it were, in Tri- 
 umph ^ and fo (according to the condition,) was crea- 
 ted King of the Tk^^wj. 
 
 This Fable contains in it no lefs wifdom than ele- 
 gancy, and itfeemsto point at Scionce, efpecially that 
 which is joyncd with pradice, for Science may not ab- 
 furdlybe term'd a Monfter, as being by the ignorant 
 and rude multitude always held in admiration. It is 
 diverfe in (liape and figure, by reafon of the infinite 
 Variety of Subjects, wherein it is converfant. " A Mai- 
 den Face and Voice is attributed unto it for its gracious 
 countenance and volubility of Tongue. Wings are ad- 
 ded, becaufe Sciences and their Inventions do pafs and 
 ipy from one to another, as it were, in a moment, fee- 
 ing that the communication of Science is as the kindling 
 cf one light at another. Elegantly alfo it is feigned to 
 have fhaipand hooked Talons, becaufe the Axioms 
 2|]d Argumeiusof Science do fo faften upon the mind, 
 ^i>d fo llrpngiy apprehend and hold it, as that it ffir 
 
 no|: 
 
TJ:e Wifdom of the Ancients. §7 
 
 not or evade, which is noted alfo by the Divine Philo- 
 lopher, Ecckf. 12. 12. P^trha fapentum (faith he) funt 
 tanquam aculei <dr veluti clavt in altumdcfixi. The words 
 of the wife are like Goads, and Nails driven far in. 
 
 Moreover, all Science fcems to be placed in deep 
 and high Mountains -, as being thought to be a lofty and 
 high thing, looking dovv'n upon Ignorance with a 
 fcornfui Eye. It may be obfcrved and feen alfo a great 
 way, and far in compafs, as things fet on the tops of 
 Mountains. 
 
 Furthermore, Science may well be feigned to befet 
 the High-way, becaufe which way foever we turn in 
 this Progrefs and Pilgrimage of Humane Life, we meet 
 with fome matter or occalion offered for Contempla- 
 tion. 
 
 Sphyyjx is fa id to have received from the Mufes, di- 
 vers difficult Qiieftions and Riddles, and to propound 
 them unto Men, which remaining with the Mufes, are 
 free ( it may be ) from favage cruelty ;, for fo long 
 as there is no other end of Study and Meditation, than 
 to know, the llnderftanding is not racked and impri fo- 
 iled, but enjoys Freedom and Liberty, and even doubts 
 and variety, find a kind of pleafure and delegation: 
 But when once thefe ^A.mgma's are delivered by the 
 Mufes to Sphynx^ that is, to practice, fo that if it be fol- 
 licited and urged by action, and Eledion, and Deter- 
 mination ^ then they begin to be troublefom and ra- 
 ging ^ and unlefs they be refolved and expedited, they 
 do wonderfully torment and vex the minds of Men, 
 diftrading, and in a manner rending them into fundry 
 parts. 
 
 Moreover, there is always a twofold condition pro- 
 pounded with Spbynx her (^^nigmas : To him that doth 
 not expound them, diftraftion of mind ^ and to him 
 that doth, a Kingdom ^ for he that knows that which 
 hefoughtto know, hath attained the end he aimed at, 
 and every Artificer alfo commands over his work. 
 
 T 4 Of 
 
88 The Wijdom of the Jnctcnts. 
 
 Of SpJjynx her Riddles, they arc generally two kinds; 
 fome concerning the nature of things, others touching 
 the nature of Men. So alfo there arc two kinds of 
 Empires, as rewards to thofe that refolvc them. The 
 one over Nature, the other over Men ; for the proper 
 and chief end of true Natural Pbilofophy is to com- 
 niand and fway over Natural Beings:, as Bodies, Me- 
 dicines, Mechanical Work^, and infinite other things; 
 although the School (being content vvith Inch things 
 as are offered, and priding it felf with Speeches) doth 
 neglcd realities and works, treading them as it were 
 under foot. But that ^A^nigma propounded to Oedipm 
 (by means of v»/hicli he obtained the Theban Empire) 
 belonged to the Nature of Man : For whofoever doth 
 throughly confider the Nature of Man, may be in^ 
 rnanner the contriver of his ow^n Fortune, andisborn i 
 to command, which is well fpoken of the Komam 
 Arts: 
 
 Tu rcgere imperio populos^ Romane, momenta, 
 Hce tibi enmt Artes 
 
 Boman remember, that with Scepters awe 
 
 Thy Realms thou Rule. Thefe Arts let be thy Law.- 
 
 It was therefore very appoiite, that Juguftus C^far 
 (whether by Premeditation, or by a Chance) bare a 
 Sphynx in his Signet: For he (if ever any) was fa- 
 mous not only in Political Government, but in all 
 the courfe of his Life ; he happily diicovered many 
 nevy <ty£mgma$ concerning the Nature of Man, which 
 if he had not done with dexterity and promptnefs, he 
 had often-times fain into imminent Danger and De- 
 ftrudipn. 
 
 Moreover, It is added in the Fable, that the Body 
 of $phyr.x^ when fine was overcome, was laid upon an 
 Afs; which indeed is an elegant Fi(^ion, feeing there 
 |s nothing To acut? and nbitrufe, but (being w-ell under- 
 
 ftood, 
 
7he IVifdom of the Ancients. 8p 
 
 ftood, and divulged,) may be well apprehended by a 
 flow capacity. 
 
 Neither is it to be omitted^ that Spljynx was overcome 
 by a Man lame in his Feet ; for vv^hen Men are too 
 fwiftof Foot, and too fpeedy of Pace, in halting to 
 Sphynx her rt^Lnigmas^ it comes to pafs, that (The get- 
 tingthe upper hand) their Wits and Minds are rather 
 diitracl:cd by Difputations, than that ev^r they come to 
 command by Works and EiFedts. 
 
 T<I{0SE^fI2siJ, or Spirit. 
 
 PLVT O^ they fay, being made King of the Infer- 
 nal Dominions, fby that memorable Divilion ) 
 was in defrair of ever attaining any one of the Su- 
 perior GoddelTes in Marriage, efpecially if he fliould 
 venture to court them, either with Words, or with 
 an; amorous Behaviour ^ fo that of neceflity he was 
 tc lay fome Plot to g'Jtone of them by Rapine : Ta- 
 king therefore the Benefit of Opportunity^ he caught 
 \\\)J.'yGfi:rpna fthe Daughter of Ctre^, a beautiful vir- 
 gin,) as (he was gathering Nrtray/i^j-f'/orrr-'j in the Mea- 
 dows of Sialy^ and carried her away with him in his 
 Coach to the Subterranean Dominions ; where fhc 
 was welcomed with fuch Refpecr, as that Ihe wasftijed 
 the Lady of Dis. But Ceres ^ her Mother, when, in 
 no place Ihe could find this her only beloved Daugh- 
 ter, in a forrowful Humour, and dilhradkd beyond 
 meafure, went compaffing the whole Earth, with a 
 burning Torch in her hand, to feek, and recover this 
 her loft Child. But when fhe faw that all was in vain 
 fappoUng peradventure, that fhe was carried to Hell, 
 fhe importuned Jupiter with many Tears and I,amen- 
 tations, that fhe might be reftored unto^ her again • 
 and at length, prevailed thus far, Thatiffnehad tafte4 
 pf nothing in Hell, ftefhould have leave to bring her 
 
po The Wifdom of the Ancients] 
 
 from thence. Which Condition was as good as a De- 
 nial to her Petition, Proferpma having already eaten 
 three Grains of a Pomegranate: And yet for all this 
 Ceres gave not over her Suit, but fell to Prayers and 
 Moans afrefh: Wherefore, it was at lail granted, that 
 (the Year being divided) Proferpina Ihould by alter- 
 nate Courfes, remain one fix Months with her Hus- 
 band, and the other fix Months with her Mother. Not 
 long afcer this. The fens, and Perithous^ in an over-hardy 
 Adventure, attempted to fetch her from PMo'sBed^ 
 who, being weary with Travel, and fitting down upon 
 a Stone in Hell, to reft themfelves, had not the power 
 to rife again ^ but fat there for ever. Proferpma there- 
 fore remained Queen of Hell, in whofe Honour there 
 was this great privilege granted, That although it 
 were enabled, that none that went down to Hell, fhould 
 have the power ever to return from thence ^ yet was this 
 lingular exception annexed to this Law, That if any 
 prefented Proferpina with a Golden Bough, it Ihould 
 be lawful for him to go and come at his pleafure. 
 Now there was but one only fuch a Bow in a fpa- 
 cious and fhady Grove, which was not a Plant nei- 
 ther of it felf, but budded from a Tree of another 
 kind, like a Rope of Gum, which being pluckt off, ano- 
 ther would inftantly fpring out. 
 
 This Fable feems to pertain to Nature, and to dive 
 into that rich and plentiful efficacy and variety of fub- 
 alternal Creatures, from u^hom whatfoever we have is 
 derived, and to them doth again return. 
 
 hy Proferpina^ the Ancients meant that i^^thercal Spi- 
 rit, (which being feparated from the upper Globe) is 
 fhutup and detained under the Earth (rcprefented by 
 Pluto) v/hich the Poet weliexpreft thus : 
 
 Sive recens tellus^ fedu[la(iue nuper ah alto 
 ^/Ethere^^ co^nati retincbat femina coeli. 
 
 Whether 
 
The Wljdom of the Ancients. 91 
 
 Whether the Youngling TV^/^J (that of late 
 Was from the high-rear'd zALther feparate) 
 Did yet contain her Teeming Womb within 
 The living Seeds of Heaven her neaieft kin. 
 
 This Spirit is feigned to be raptcd by the Earth, be- 
 caufe nothing can with-hold ir, when it hath time end 
 leifure to efcape. It is therefore caught and Haid by a 
 fudden contradion, no otherwife than if a Man fhoiild 
 ti,o about to mix Air with Water, v;hich can be done 
 by no means, but by a fpeedy and rapid Agitation, as 
 may be feen in Froth, wherein the Air is rapted by the 
 Water. 
 
 Neither is it elegantly added, that Profcrpiyia was 
 rapt as Hie was gathering Naraljus Mow-ers in the \ al- 
 leys, becaufe NaniJJus hath his Name from flownefs 
 or flupidity : for indeed then is this Spirit mofl: pre- 
 pared and fitted to be fnatcht by Terrcftrial Matter, 
 when it begins to be coagulated, and become as it were 
 flown. 
 
 Rightly is Pro/crpm.i honoured more than any of the 
 other God's Bed-fellows, in being filled the Lady of Dts^ 
 becaufe this Spirit doth rule and fway all things in 
 thofe lower Regions, Pluto abiding llupid and igno- 
 rant. 
 
 This Spirit the power Cosleftial f fliadowcd by Ccr 
 res) ffrives, with infinite fedulity, to recover and get 
 again: For that Brand or burning Torch of zither 
 (which Ceres carried in her hand; doth doubtlefs llgni- 
 fie the Sun which enlightneth the whole Circuit of the 
 Earth, and would be of greatelt moment to recover 
 Froftrpna^ if poflible it might be. 
 
 But Froferpina abides ftill ^ the Reafon of which is 
 accurately, and excellently propounded ii? the Condi- 
 tions between Jupiter and Ceres : For, firfl, it is moft 
 certain there are two Ways to keep Spirit in folid and 
 terreftrial Matter ^ the onq by Conftipation and Ob- 
 
 llruaion. 
 
pi The Wi/dom of the Ancients. 
 
 ftru£lion, which is mcer Imprifonment and Confliraint; 
 the other, by Adminiltration, or proportionable Nu- 
 triment, which it receives willingly, and of its own 
 accord : For after that the included Spirit begins to feed 
 and nourifli it felf, it makes no hafte to be gone ^ but 
 is as it were, linked to its Earth : And this is pointed 
 at by Profcrpina her eating of Pomegranate-^ which if (he 
 had not done, (he had long llnce been recovered by 
 Ceres with her Torch, compaillng the Earth. Now as 
 concerning that Spirit which is in Metals and Minerals, 
 it is chiefly perchance rellrained by the folidity of 
 Mafs: But that which is in Plants and Animals, inha- 
 bits a porous Body, and hath open Paffige to be gone, 
 in a manner, as it lifts, were it not that it willingly 
 abides of itsownaccord, byreafon of theRelilh it finds 
 in its entertainment. Thefecond Condition concerning 
 the (ix Months Cnftom, it is no other than an elegant 
 Defcription of the Divifion of the Year ; feeing this 
 Spirit mix'd with Earth, appears above ground in Ve- 
 getable Bodicsduring the Summer Months, and in the 
 Winter links down again. 
 
 Now as concerning Thefeiu and Perithous^ and their 
 attempt to hnng Proferpina quite away, the meaning of 
 it is, that it oftentimes comes to pafs that fome m©re 
 fubtil Spirit defcending with divers Bodies to the Earth, 
 never come to fuck of any fubalternal Spirit, whereby 
 to unite it unto them, and fo to bring it away. But 
 on the contrary are coagulated themfelves, and never 
 rife more, that Proferpim fhould be by that means aug^ 
 men ted with Inhabitants and Dominion. 
 
 All that v/e can fay concerning that Sprig of Gold is 
 hardly able to defend us from the violence of the Chy- 
 micks^ if in this regard they fet upon us, feeing they 
 promife by that their £/m> to effed Golden Mountains, 
 and the reftoring of Natural Bodies, as it were, from 
 the Portal of Hell. But concerning Chymiftry , and 
 thofe perpetual Suitors for that Philofophical Elixtr^ we 
 know certainly that their Theory is without grounds, 
 
 mi 
 
Tl:ie Wifdom of the Ancients. 9 ; 
 
 and we fnfpedt that their Pra(frice is alfo without cer- 
 tain reward. And therefore (omitting thefe) of this 
 laltpartof the Parable, this is my Opinion, I am indu- 
 ced to believe by many Figures of the Ancients, that 
 the confervation and reltauration of Natural Bodies, 
 infome fort, was not eflcemed by them as a thing im- 
 pofllbletobc attained, but as a thing abllrufe and full 
 of Difficulties, and fo they feem to intimate in this 
 place, when they report that this one only Sprig was 
 fownd among infinite other Trees in a huge and thick 
 Wood, which they feigned to beofGold, becaufeGold 
 is the Badge of perpetuity, and to be artificially as it 
 were inferted, becaufe thiseffedtis to be rather hoped 
 for from Art, than from any Medicine, or fimpleor 
 natural means. 
 
 M E 7 1 S, or Counjel. 
 
 TH E Ancient Poets report, that Juptter took A^eti^ 
 to Wife, whofc Name doth plainly il-gnifie Coun- 
 fel, and that fhe by him conceived. Which when he 
 found, not tarrying the time of her deliverance, devours 
 both her and that which fhe went withal, by which 
 means Jupiter himfelf became with Child, and was de- 
 livered of a wondrous birth ^ for out of his Head or 
 Brain came forth Pall.-is Armed. 
 
 The Senfe of this Fable (which at firlt apprehcnfioa 
 may feem monltrous and abfurdj contains in it- a fecFec 
 of State,to vvit,vvith what policy Kings arc wont to car- 
 ry thenjfelvcs towards their Counfellors, whereby they 
 may not only prefervc their Authority and Majdty 
 free and entire, but alfo that it may be the more ex- 
 tolled and dignified of the People : For Kings being as 
 it were tied and coupled in a Nuptial Bond to 'their 
 Counfellors, do truly conceive that communicating 
 with them about the affairs of greatdb importance do 
 yet dctra;5t aoihinc; from their ow-ii !\b;:Hy. Idcx 
 
 wl'.Cil 
 
p4 Tfce IVifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 when any Matter comes to be cenfured or decreed 
 (which is a birth J there do they confine andreR-raiii 
 the liberty of their Counceilors^ left that which is done 
 ihould feem to be hatched by their Wifdom and Judg- 
 ment. So as at laft Kings (except it be in Rich matters 
 as are diftaftful and maligned, which they always will 
 be fare to put off from themfelvesj do afllime the 
 honour and praife of all matters that are ruminated in 
 Council, and, as it were, formed in the Womb, where- 
 by the refolution and execution (which becaufe it pro- 
 ceeds from power, and implies necelTity, is elegantly 
 fhidowed under the Figure of Pallas Armed; fhall feem 
 to proceed wholly from thcEnfelvcs. Neither fufficeth 
 it, that it is done by the Authority of the King, by his 
 ir/ecr will and free applaufe, except withal, this be 
 added and appropriated as to IlTue out of his own 
 Head or Brain, intimating, that out of his own Judg- 
 ment, Wifdom, and Ordinance, it was only invented 
 and deiivcd. 
 
 1 
 
 Ihe Sr^El^S orfleafures. 
 
 ^ H E Fable of the Syrens feems rightly to liave 
 
 been applied to the pernicious allurements of Plea- 
 
 fure, but in a very vulgar and grofs manner. And 
 therefore to me it appears, that the Wifdom of the An- 
 cients have with a farther reach or infight ftrained dee- 
 per Matter out of them, not unlike the Grapes ill prefs'd ^ 
 from v/hich, though fome Liquor were drawn, yet 
 the beft was left behind. Thefe Syrens are faid to be 
 the Daughters of Jchelous^ ^adTcrpfKhore one of the Mu- 
 fes.:, who in their firft being, were winged, but after 
 radily entring into contention with the Mufes, were by 
 them'vanquiihed, and deprived of their Wings. Of 
 whofe pluck'dont Feathers the Mufes made thcmfelves 
 Coronets^ To as ever lince that time all the Mufes have 
 
 attired 
 
The Wifdom of the Ancients. py 
 
 attired themfelves with plumed heads, except Terpfichore 
 only, that was Mother to the Syrens. The Habitation 
 of the Syrens was in certain pleafant IQands, frooi 
 whence as foon as out of their Watch-Tower they dis- 
 covered any Ships appro;^ching, with their fweet Times 
 they would firft entice and flay them, and having them 
 in their power would deftroy them. Neither was 
 their Song plain and lingle, but confilting of fuch varie- 
 ty of melodious Tunes fo fitting and delighting the 
 Ears that heard them, as that it ravifhed and betrayed 
 all Pallengers. And fo great were the mifchiefs they 
 did, that thefe Ifles of the Syrens^ even as far otf as Man 
 can ken them, appeared all over white with the Bones 
 of unburied CarcalTes. For the remedying of this Mi- 
 fery a double means was at laif found out ^ the one by 
 Vlyjjts^ the other by Orpheus. Vlyjfes (to make experi- 
 ment of his Device) caufed all the Ears of his Company 
 tobeftop'd with Wax, and made himfelf to be bound 
 to the Main Mall, with fpecial Commandment to his 
 Mariners not to be loofed, albeit himfelf Ihould require 
 them fo to do. ButOr]?/;^^^ neglededand difdained to 
 be fo bound, with a flirill and fweet Voice, fmging Praifes 
 of the Gods to his Harp, fupprefs'd the Songs of the 
 Syrens.^ and fo freed himfelf from their danger. 
 
 This Fable hath relation to Mens Manners, and con- 
 tains in it a manifeil and mofl excellent Parable : For 
 Pleafures do for the moil proceed out of the abun- 
 dance and fuperfiuity of all things, and alfo out of 
 the delights and jovial contentments of the Mind ; 
 the which are wont fuddenly, as it were, with winged 
 Inticementsto ravifh and rap Mortal Men : But Learn- 
 ing and Education brings it fo to pafs, as that it re- 
 llrains and^ bridles Man's Mind, making itfo to confi- 
 der the ends and events of Things, as that it clips the 
 Wings of Pleafure. And this was greatly to the ho- 
 nour and renown of the Mufes • for after that by 
 feme E\'an?ples, it was made manifeil, that by the 
 power of Philofopby, vain Fkafures might grow con- 
 temptible^ 
 
^6 The Wifdom of the Ancients. 
 
 tcmptible ^ it prefently grew to great efteem, asathing 
 that could raife, and elevate the Mind alofc, that feem* 
 cd to be bafc, and fix'ed to the Earth, make the co- 
 gitations of the Men f which do everrciide in the Head, 
 to be aethereal,and as it were winged. But that the I\lo- 
 ther of the Syrens was left to her Feet, and without 
 VVifigs^ that no doubt is no otherv/ife meant, than of 
 Light and fupeificial Learning, appropriated and de- 
 figncd only toPleafures, as were thofe which Pctronius 
 devoted himfelf unto, after he had received his fatal 
 Sentence^ and having his Foot, as it v/ere, upon the 
 Threlhold of Death, fought to give himfelf all de- 
 lightful Contentments ^ infomuch, as v;hcn he had caufed 
 Coiifolatory Letters to be fent him, he would perufe 
 none of them, (as Tacitus reports-, that fhould give 
 him Courage and Co.nflancy ^ ) but only read fantaflicai 
 Vcrfes, fuch as thefe are ^ 
 
 rivamm^ Mea Leshia^ atcr^ amonus^ 
 Eumorefquc Scnum [tvcriorum^ 
 Omnes Uri'ms apirnemtis j4JJis. 
 
 xMy Lesbia^ let us live and loVe ; 
 Though wayward Dotards us reprove. 
 Weigh their Words light for our behove. 
 
 And this alfo : 
 
 Jura Senes noYtnt.^ & quid fit fafq-^ nefafque^ 
 Jyiquirant trifles^ D^gumqi txumina fervent. 
 
 Let doting Granfirc know the Law, 
 And right and wrong obfervc with awe : 
 Let them iii that itrid Circle draw. 
 
 Thiffkind of Doctrine v/ould eafdy perfvvade to take 
 thefe plumed Coronets from the Mufes, and to reltorq 
 the Wings again to the Syrens, Tiicfs Syrens are faid 
 
 to 
 
7he Wifdom <^ the Ancients. 97 
 
 to dwell in remote Ifles • for that pleafures Love Pri- 
 vacy, and retired Places, Ihunning always too much 
 Company of People. The Syren's Songs are fo vul- 
 garly underftood, together with the Deceits and Dan- 
 ger of them, as that they need no expofition. But 
 that of the Bones appearing like white Cliffs , and 
 defcryed afar off, hath more Acutenefs in it •, for there- 
 by is fignified, that, albeit the Examples of Afflictions 
 be manifell, and eminent •, yet do they not fufficient- 
 ly detercr us from the Wicked Enticements of Plea- 
 fures. 
 
 As for the Remainder of this Patable, though it be 
 hot over-myftical, yet it is very grave, and excellent: 
 For in it are fet out three Remedies for this violent, 
 enticing Mifchief- to wit, Two from Philofophy 
 and one from Religion. The firfl Means to fhun 
 thefe inordinate Pleafures is, to withftand, and refift 
 them in their beginnings, and ferioufly to fhun all cc- 
 cafions'that are offered, to debauch and entice the 
 Mind, which is fignified in that (topping of the Ears; 
 and that Remedy is properly ufed by the meaner and 
 bafer fort of People, as it were Vlyfes's Followers 
 or Mariners; whereas more Heroick and Noble Spi- 
 rits may boldly converfe even in the midft of thefe 
 reducing Pleafures, if with a rcfolvcd conflancy they 
 fland upon their Guard, and fort i fie their Minds; and 
 fo take greater contentment in the trial and experi- 
 ence of this their approved V^crtiic; learning rather 
 throughly to underltand the Follies and Vanities of 
 thofe Pleafures by Contemplation, than by SubmilTion t 
 Which Solomon avouched of liimfelf, when he reckon- 
 ed up the multitude of thofe Solaces and Pleafures 
 wherein he Swam, doth conclude with this Sentence, 
 
 Sapientia quo^uefer fiver ahat meciim. 
 
 Wifdom alfo continued with me, 
 
 U Therefore 
 
9 8 The Wtfdom of the Anckntsl 
 
 Therefore thcfe Htroes^ and Spirits of this excellent 
 Temper, even in the midft of thcfe enticing Pleafures^ 
 can fhew themfelves conftant and invincible, and are 
 able to fupport their own vertuous Inclination, a- 
 gainfl all heady and forcible perfwafions whatfoever^ 
 as by the example of Vlyjfes^ that fo peremptorily in- 
 terdided all pellilent Counfel, and Flatteries of hi$ 
 Companions , as the mofl dangerous and pernicious 
 Poyfons to captivate the Mind. But of all other Re- 
 medies in this cafe, that of Orpheus is molt predomi- 
 nant .• For they that chaunt and refound the praifes of 
 the Gods, confound and diffipate the Voices and In- 
 cantations of the Syrens ; for Divine Meditations do 
 not only in power fubdueall fenfual pleafures^ but. al* 
 fo far exceed them in fwiftnefs and delight. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 I 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 CHARACTER 
 
 O F 
 
 <0tteen €U^bet!> 
 
 Written by way of Effay. 
 By the Lord f^erulanu 
 
 QUeea EHz^aktb was one, whom Nature and 
 Fortune had made the Wonder of her Sex^ and' 
 an Ornament to Crowned Heads, For the truth 
 of this we need not appeal to the Teftimony 
 of any Aknh^ or of any fuch like SuUtary Rcclufe .* For 
 tho thefe men write acutely, and have extraordinary 
 Judgments-, yet being wedded to, and byafled by their 
 own Fatftion, they can never be faithful in tranfmitting 
 a thing of this nature to Poflerity. But this is a Pro-* 
 yince that more properly belongs to men of the fir/i 
 Rank^ to fuch as have had the management of the 60- 
 vernment in their own hands, and have been acquainted 
 \vith the Secret Springs and motions of Civil Affairs* 
 Every Age has lookd upon a female Government as a 
 Rarity ^ if profperotis as a Wonder ^ but if profperous and 
 lon^^ almofl as a Miracle. Whereas tho fhe reign'dfull 
 four and forty years, yet (he outliv'd not her bjppinefs^ 
 Of the bappinefs of her Reign I delign to fay fomething^ 
 withour running out into high Encomiums. For Praife 
 indeed is the Tribute of A/cn^ but Happincfs the Gift 
 of Cod, 
 
 I take this to be the firfl ftep to her Lippinefs^ that 
 from a Private condition fhe was rais'd to the Admi- 
 niftration of ihc Rc^al Power, Forafmuch as 'tis a itand- 
 ing Rule in the Molality and common Senfe of Mankind^ 
 that thofc things are to be look'd upon as our greateft 
 
 X hap^ 
 
loo T?:'^ CharaSler of 
 
 happiuefs, which come beyond our hope and expefta- 
 tion. But this is not what I mean. That which I 
 aim at is this, that Princes^ who are bred up in Courts 
 as the undoubted Heirs of a Crown, are fo far debauch'd 
 by a foft indulgence and effeminate Education, that 
 they frequently become lefs capable of managing the 
 State: Whereas thofe have proved the bell and moft 
 excellent Princes, who have been under the Difci- 
 pline of both Fortunes. We need not to go far for 
 inftances, Bcmy the Seventh ill England^ and Lexvvs the 
 Twelfth' \n France^ within our own memory, and almoft 
 at the fame time, mounted the Throne, not only from 
 a Private, but alfo from an Adverfe and harafs'd For- 
 tune ^ and the one prov'd famous for his Prudence^ the o- 
 thev for his Jmicc. This was the Cafe of Queen Elizabeth • 
 whofe Fortune was as inconftant at the firft,as at lafl when 
 {became to the Crown,it prov'd Conftant and Even. For 
 at her Birth (he was declar'd Heirefs to the Throne, 
 afterwards difmherited, and at lafl defpis'd .* during 
 her Brother's Reign (he enjoy 'd a more ferene and favour- 
 able Fortune, but whilil her Sifter fway'd the Scepter 
 the Clouds and Storms returned upon her again. Nor 
 v/as Ihe advanced on a fudden from a Prifon to a Throne, 
 thereby to render her haughty after the Provocation 
 of her Sufferings : But being reflor'd to her Liberty, 
 and rais'd in her hopes, Die at lafl quietly and happily 
 mounted the Throne, without any Oppofition or Com- 
 petitor. 
 
 Thefe things I have mention'd, to fhevv how careful 
 Divine providence was of this bell; of Princes^ by pre- 
 paring her for a Crown by fuch methods of Difcipline. 
 Nor ought the misfortune of her Another to Eclipfe the 
 glory of her Birth: cfpccially fince 'tis abundantly evi- 
 dent, that Henry the Eighth was engag d in a new love 
 before he gave way to his Anger againft Qaeen Jnn : 
 nor ispoflerity a llranger to the nature of that Eing^ 
 which was fo very prone to Love and Jealouiie, and 
 f vofecuted both even with the efFnfion of Blood. To 
 ) his we may add, that (l^c was cut ciFby an AcGufati- 
 
 on 
 
Q^ 
 
 ueen Elizabeth. loi 
 
 ongronilded on flight Conjedlures, and on the impro- 
 bable Teftiniony of a wicked Accufer : all which was 
 mutter'd privately at that very time ; and Qjieen y^rtti 
 herfclf with an undaunted mind, and noble prefence 
 protelled her Innocence at the time of her Death. For 
 having (as fhe thought) got a faithful and generous 
 Aleirenger, fhe juft bctoVe her execution difpatcht him 
 away with this Meilage to the King; That the King had 
 'Very well ohfew^d^ and would jlill keep his promife good f^ 
 htr^ thjit ivas now going to be invcfted with new honors : fmce 
 from a Private Perfon he rals'^d her at fir ft to the dignity of a- 
 Marcblonefs^ and then advanc'*d her to be the Partner of his 
 Bed and throne ^ and yiow^ when he could raife her no higher 
 on Earthy defignd to promote her an Innocent to the Crown of 
 Alartyrdom. But the MefTenger durfl: not tell this id 
 the King^ who was devoted to another Love, tho famC' 
 the AITciter of Trutli, has tranfmitted it to Pofierity. ' 
 Another part of the Happinefs of Q_ueen EUz^abeth 
 feems to coniillin the Period and Courfe of time wherein 
 fhe rcign'd : Not only that it was Long^ hit becaufe it 
 was fuch a Part of her Life, as was molib fit for managing 
 the AHairs of State, and governing a Kingdom. For 
 file was five and twenty years old when ihe began her 
 Reign (at which Age Ihe was out of her Guardians Jurif- 
 di:lionJ and ihe eontinu'd to Reign to the 7oth year 
 of her Age. So th:',t (he neither experienced what it was 
 to be a Adinor^ and under a Governors power ; nor did 
 fne labour undet the Inconveniences of an extreme and 
 miferable Old Jge. An Age, v/hich even to Private 
 men brings too many troubles along with it ; but to 
 Kings, befide the ordinary Miferies of human Life,- it 
 come.s attended v/ith the Decay of their States, and is 
 back'd with an inglorious Exit. For there has fcarce b'eeri 
 a King, that has livd to an extreme and infirm old Age 
 but what lofL much of tlMi Power and Eltccm, which 
 he formerly had. Of this we have a notable Inftance m 
 Philip thQ Second^ King of Spdin^ a Prince very patent, 
 and one very weH skill'd in the Art of Governing? 
 
 X. 2 who' 
 
1C2 11)6 CharaSler of 
 
 who ia his latter days, labouring under the Impotcncy 
 of old Age, deeply experienc'd the truth of what we 
 alferted. He quitted all his Conquells in France^ made 
 a Peace with that Nation, and endeavour'd to do the 
 fame with others, that fo he might leave all things in 
 quiet and compos'd to his Succeflbrs. On the other 
 hand, Queen Eliz^abetb^s Fortune was fo Conllant and 
 Vigorous,that no declenfion of Affiairs follow'd her lively, 
 tho declining Age. Nay more, for a Handing and moft 
 certain monument of her happinefs, fhe died not before 
 a Vidory in Ireland had put an end to the Rebellion there, 
 fo fhining and uniform was her Glory in all its Parts ! 
 Befides, I think it very material to refied, over what 
 fort of People (lie bore the fway, for had her Govern- 
 ment been over the Palmyrenians^ or any other foft and 
 immanly Nation of yifia^ it had been a lefs wonder^ 
 fmce a female in the Throne would be fuitable enough 
 CO an Ejfeminate ?co^\t^ but to have all things move 
 and be directed by a Woman's Nod in England^ a Na- 
 tion fo fierce and warlike^ this, I fay, jultly raifes our 
 hgheit admiration. 
 
 But tho the Genius of her Subjects was fo defirous of 
 War,and fo impatient of Peace,yet this did not hinder her 
 from maintaining itltridtly all herReign. And this natural 
 inclination of hers, joind with fuccefs, is what I reckon 
 redounds to her higheft Commendation.For this conduced 
 much to the Happinefs of their own Life, to the Honour 
 of her Sex, and to the Peace and Quiet of her Confcience. 
 About the tenth year of her Reign , an Infurrec^ioii 
 was indeed attempted in the North^ but it wasfoon hufh'd 
 and fupprefs'd. All the reft: of her time Engl:md en- 
 joy 'd a fecure and profound Peace. And I account it 
 a moft glorious Peace, upon thefe two accounts • which 
 tho they make nothing to the Merit^ yet contribute ve- 
 ry much to the dory of a Peace. The firft is, that it 
 appear'd the more Confpicuous and Shining by the Cala- 
 mities of its Neighbours , v/hich were all in flames 
 round it. Another u^ that even in the Bleffings 
 
 of 
 
Qiieen Elizabeth. 10} 
 
 of Peace, there flill remain'd fo much martial Glory, a$ 
 by its famous Actions not only retained, but like wife 
 increas'd the honour of the Englifh Nation. For the fup- 
 plies fent into the Netherhnds^ France^ and Scotland-, 
 the Voyages that were made to the Indies^ and round 
 the whole World ^ the Fleets that were fent to infeft 
 Portugal and the Coafts of Spain^ and the Iri/h Rebels fo 
 often conquer^d and cut off, were all fnfficient Tefti^ 
 monies, that England had remitted and loft: nothing of 
 its Ancient Glory in the Field o£War. 
 
 It was likewife an addition to her Glory aud Deftrts^ 
 that by her timely fupplies, the Neighbouring Princes 
 were maintain'd in their Thrones^ and the Suppliant 
 States, who by a condud unbecoming Princes, were 
 expos'd to the Cruelty of their Minifters, to the fury of 
 the Rabble, and to all manner of Ravage and Slaughter, 
 were at laft: reliev'd by her and plac'd in that pollure of 
 Affairs, wherein they now are. Nor were her Counfds 
 lefs beneficial than her Supplies : witncfs her frequent ad- 
 monitions to his Catholick Ma]ejly^ to moderate the dif- 
 pleafuie he had conceiv'd againft his Subjects in the A>- 
 tkr lands, and to reft ore them to th;it mildnefs of Go- 
 vernment which they formerly enjoyM: and witnefs 
 her earneft importunities with the Kings oi France, put- 
 ting them often in mind of the Edi{is wherein they had 
 promis'd to preferve the Peace. It mufc indeed be nc- 
 knowledg'd that her advices prov'd ineffeftual. For the 
 common intcreft: of Europe opposed th^ firjl, left the Am- 
 bition of Spain, freed as it were from its confinement, 
 ftiould enlarge it felf (as affairs then ftood j to the great 
 prejudice of the Kingdoms and States of the Chriftian 
 World. And the Latter was prevented by the Maifacre 
 of fo many Innocent Perfons, who with their Wives 
 and Children were butchcr'd in their own Habitations 
 by the barbarous Rabble, who like fo many Beafts of 
 prey feem'd to be Animated, Armed, and fent out by 
 Publick Authority.- So that the Blood which vas ftied 
 cry'd aloud for Revenge, that the Kingdom, ft:ainM by 
 fg notorious a Villainy , might be purg'd by mutual 
 
 X 3 Slau^ht^ 
 
104 T/;e CharaFter of 
 
 Slaughters and Bloodfhed. However fhe perform'd the 
 Office of a Faithful^ Prudent^ and Generous Ally. 
 
 There is ftill another Reafon, why we fhonld admire 
 the peaceful Reign ofQjieen £//2:^&Pf.(7, namely, becaufe 
 the Peace which Ihe enjoyed, was not owing to the in- 
 clination which the age flie liv'd in had to it, bi^t wholly 
 to her own Prudence and wife Conducr. She ftruggled 
 xvith an Inbred Faction at home ^ rjpon the account of 
 Religion \ and the llrength of the Kingdom, like the 
 common Bulwark of al]£^ro;'6',reem'd tooppofe the grow- 
 ing Greatnefs o^xhzSfdr.iard^ and his Ambition fo for- 
 inidable at that time ^ fo that upon thefe accounts, there 
 was a fufficicni ^- aufe of War: but by her Forces and 
 Policy fhp furmounted thefe difficulties. This was de- 
 nionftrated by one of the moft memorable Events, that 
 ever happened in the whole courfe of Affairs of our age. 
 For when the Spani/Jj Armada ro.de upon our Seas, to 
 the terror of all Europe^ with fo much noife, and fo much 
 aflurance of fuccefs -^ it took not the leaft Fifher-boat, 
 nor burnt the leafl Cottage, nor fo much as touched 
 upon our Coaft : but being routed in an Engagement, 
 was difpers'd by a miferable flight, and with frequent 
 florms^ and fo left England and her Sea Coafts in an 
 unmov'd and undillurbed Peace. Nor was fhe lefs for- 
 tunate in difappointing the fecret Plots of her private 
 Foes, than in Conquering and Routing the Forces of an 
 open Enemy; For tho there were many Confpiracies 
 laid againft her Life, yet were they moft happily dif- 
 covered and defeated. Nor was fhe upon that account 
 more fearful or anxious of the fafety of her Perfon ^ her 
 Guards were nor increased, nor did (he confine her felf in 
 her Palace, without appearing abroad : But fecure of 
 her felf, and trufling to her Subjects , fhe remembred 
 her Deliverance^ but forgot the Danger., and alter'd no- 
 thing of her ufual Management and Behaviour. 
 
 It IS likewife Vv^orthy our Obfervation, to confider in 
 what fort of times fhe flourifh'd.For fome Ages are fo Bar- 
 barous and {gnor,3at, that Men have be^nGovern'd. with 
 
 • ' "^^ as 
 
Queen Elizabeth. 105 
 
 as much eafe , as a Shepherd drives and manages 
 his Sheep : But this Princefs iivM in a molt Learn- 
 ed and Polite Age^ wherein it required great parts aai 
 a high degree of V^ertue to be excellent. A Fentale 
 Govermmnt is likewife very often cclips'd by M.irru^ge^ 
 and all the Praifes and Condiidt is bcifovv d upon the 
 Bushand: whilft thofe who live unmarry'd, have no 
 fharcrs or partners in their Glory. And in this was our 
 Qiieen the more to be commended, in that her Throne 
 flood upon no other Bafis^ than what fhe her fclf had 
 creeled. She had no Brother^ no Vnclc^ nor any other 
 of the Royal Family^ to partaker of her Cares, or fhare 
 in her Government. But even thofe whom (he did ad- 
 vance to any places of Truft, were fo manag'd and kept 
 in fuch awe, that each of them was folicitous how to 
 pleafe her-, fo that fhe was always Mtjlrcfs of her 
 felf. She was indeed ChMefs^ and left no illae of her 
 own Body to fucceed her : But this has been the cafe of 
 the moft fortunate Princcs,of Alexander the Great ^ oiju- 
 I'nis Ccffar^ of Trajan^ and fcveral others: which has 
 been variouily cenfur'd, and has always been a matter 
 of Difpute. For fome have look'd upon it as a Di- 
 minution of human Happinefs^ as if men could not be 
 compleatly happy, unlefs they were fo both in their 
 own perfons, and in the propagation of their Species : 
 but others have efteem'd it as the greater Happinefs, 
 becaufe then it feems to be compleat, wlien it is not any 
 longer fubjc^led to the various turns of Fortune : which 
 'tis impolTible to fecure, when a Pofterity is left behind. 
 
 To all this we may add her Outrvoj-d Emhcllijhments j 
 ihewas tall oijlature^ well ihap'd in her Body, and had 
 in her Face the mixture oiSweetnefs and Majefty^ and al^ 
 ways enjoy'd a very Sound Health. Behdes all this, (lie 
 was ftrong and vigorous to the very lafl, never experi- 
 cnc'd the Changes of Fortune, i)or the miferies of old 
 Age, and at laft'^by an eafy and gentle death fhe obtairi'd 
 that Euthanafia^ which u^uguflm Ccefar was us'd fo paluo- 
 nately to defire. This aifo is Recorded cf Antonlmn 
 
 X 4 [^^''^^i 
 
\q6 The Q)arailer of 
 
 fius^ one of the befl of Emperors^ v;hofe death feem'd 
 to be nothing elfe but a qniet and fweet {lumber. Jult 
 JTo in Queen Eliz/ibeth's Diftemper, there was nothing 
 that was deadly, or ominous, or unfuitable to humane 
 nature. She was not defirous of Life, or impatient 
 under Sicknefs, nor difturb'd with the tortures of any 
 Pain: No direful, no peftilential Symptom appear'd, 
 but every thing feem'd rather to prognollicate the decay 
 of Nature, than either the corruption or difparagement 
 of it. For fome few days before her Death, being weak- 
 ened by the drinefs of her Conllitution, and the cares 
 of the Government, having not fo much as drank aay 
 VVine, or taV^en any moifl diet, flie vv^as feiz'd with a 
 Pead Palfy^ but yet (which is not ufiial in that Diflem- 
 per) Ihe retained her Speech, her Senfe and her Motion, 
 tho not fo brisk and lively as before. Nor was flie long 
 Inthis condition, fo that it did not feem to be the laft 
 A^ of her Life, but rather the fiyfiflep to her Death. 
 For tho 'tis efleemed a mifery to live a long time in th^ 
 lofs of the ufe of our faculties*, yet to be prepared for 
 Death, by a gradual decay of our fenfes, is certainly 4 
 very fweet and pleafant Dijfolution. 
 
 Another remarkable addition to her f/apphicfs^ is 
 this, that fhe was not only very happy in her own Per/on^ 
 but likewife in the Worthinefs of her Minijlers o^ State. 
 For fhe made choice of fuch men, as this jjland perhaps 
 \\as never fo happy in before. But God that favours 
 Kiy^gs^ raifes them up Ji^inijltrs and adorns their Minds. 
 
 There remain two Fofthumous Felicities^ which feem to 
 attend the more Noble ^nd Auguil Parages of her Life : 
 The One is that of her SucceJJor^ihc (9f/;er,that of her Mc- 
 mory. For fhe has got [x\ch a SucceJ] or ^ who, tho by his 
 Afafculine Virtue^ and Off-fpring^ and late Jccejfion to the 
 Throne^ he may excel and eclipfe her Glory •, yet is fo faf 
 a favourer of her Name and Efteem^ and is fo willing to 
 tranfmit her a<f^ions to polterity, that he has madeljttle 
 alterations, either in the choice pf Minifiers^ or in th^ 
 method of G overni'Ag, So that hardly any Father has been 
 fucceeded by his Son^ with lefs noife, dilturbance or al- 
 teration. 
 
Queen Elizabeth . 1 07 
 
 teration. As for her Memory ^ 'tis fo much in the 
 mouths, and fo frefb in the minds of all men, that Death 
 feemsto have extinguifhed Envy, and put her Fame ia 
 a clearer light,and now the Nappinefs of her A/ewory does 
 as it were ftrive to outvie that of her Lift\ For tho 
 through mens love to any Party, or upon the account 
 of the difference of Religion, any fadious report may 
 bp fpread abroad, yet 'tis fuch as feems to be fearful of 
 it felf, is not fmcere, and can never laft long. And 'ris 
 upon this account especially that I have made this col- 
 le(fi:ion of things, that relate to her happinefs, and 
 are marks of the Divine favour: that fo no foul-mou- 
 thed Libeller might dare to Ifain fo great bleiTmgs of 
 God, by the venom of his fcandalous Tongue, if any 
 one fhould now fay, as one did to C^far^ qu£ miremur 
 habemus • fed qu£ laudemuf^ expe^amus ; ire do indeed fee 
 caufe to Mm'ire^ hut none to Praife: to this I anfwer that 
 I look upon jidmiratwn as the fuperlative degree of 
 Praif^. Nor could that Happinefs we have been defcrib- 
 ing, be attained by any, but fuch as are fupportcd and 
 highly indulged by the Divine favour^ and fuch as in 
 fome meafure by their Morals and Fertue are the Efl-a- 
 blifhers of their own Fortune. F^owever I thought fit to 
 fubjoin fome few hints with refpedt to thofe Mijrals of 
 the Qiieen, which feem to have been molt expofcd to the 
 la(h of malevolent Tongues. 
 
 In Religion^ Queen Eliz^aheth was Pious and Moderate 
 Conflant and Steady ^ and a profeft Enemy to Novelty, 
 As for her Piety ^ tho the chief Itrokes of it appeared in 
 the Adtions and Affairs of State -^ yet fome figns of it 
 were to be feen in the courfe of her Life, and her ordi- 
 nary Converfation. She was feldom abfent from Di- 
 vine Service^ either in her pubhck or private Chapel. She 
 employed much of her time in reading the Scriptures 
 and the Writings of the Fathers., efpecially of S. Augujlwe, 
 She compos'd fome Prayers her felf, upon fome occafi- 
 ons, and for fome extraordinary purpofcs. Whenever 
 ftie mentioDe4 the name of Cod^ ev^n in prdinary djfr 
 
 courfe. 
 
io8 The QaraSler of 
 
 courfe, flie generally added the title of Creator ^ and 
 {hewed lomefort of humility and reverence in her looks 
 and countenance,which I my felf have often obferved. As 
 for that which fome have reported, that Ihc was fo far 
 from thinking of her Mortality^ that (he could not en- 
 dure to be told of Old j4ge or Denth^ it is abfolutely 
 falfe: fmcc fhe her felf, feveral years before her Death, 
 would frequently with much facctioufncfs call her fell 
 the Old Woman : and would often difcourfe about the 
 Injcriftion^ fhe had a mind Ihould be upon her Tomb: 
 She gave out, that (he was no lover of Glory and pom- 
 pous Titles, but only defircd her Memory might be re* 
 corded in a line or two which fhould very briefly ex- 
 prefs her Name^ her Virginity^ the time of her Reign^ the 
 Keformation of Religion^ and her Trefervation of the Peace, 
 'Tis true, in the flower of her Age before fhe was paft 
 Child-bearing, when fhe w^as importun'd by fome to 
 declare her Succejfor^ fhe did make anfwer, thatfje could 
 bv no means endure to have a Shroud held before her Eyes while 
 (he xoas livhig. However, fome few years before her 
 Death, when flie was more thoughtful, and meditated 
 (as 'tis probable) on her Mortality^ as one of her bofom 
 friends told her, that many and great Places and Offices 
 ofTrufl in the Commonwealth, would be too long va- 
 cant ^ fhe rofe up, and with more than ordinary con- 
 cern faid, that /he voa/s furc her place would not long be f^acant. 
 
 As for her Moderation m Religion^ perhaps in this her 
 Char ad tr will feem deficient, becaufe of the fcverity of 
 thofe Laws^ which were made againft her Subjecls of the 
 Romtfh Religion -^ but we will produce fuch things, as are 
 well known to us, and carefully taken notice of by us. 
 This is certain, that fhe was always averfe from laying 
 any conftraint on mens Confciences: but yet fhe could 
 not allow that the Government fhould be endanger'd 
 under the pretence of Confcience and Religion. Hence it 
 was that fhe thought nothing but a certain deflrudiioa 
 >vould enfue, if flic fnould at>.the firfl grant a liberty and 
 toleration of two Religious by publick Authority to a 
 
Q,ueen Elizabeth, 109 
 
 fierce and headftrong People, who would foon npon 
 their private Animolities fall together by the ears. E- 
 ven ill the beginning of her Reign, when all things 
 looked with a fnfpicious face, Ihekept foine of the f'n^ 
 httes^ which were of a more turbulent and fadtious fpirit, 
 Prifoners at large, tho fhe had the Law on her fide ! 
 and to the reft of both Orders, fhe nfed not any /harp 
 inqiiirition, but by a generous Connivence kept them 
 under her Prctcdtion. This was the poUure of affairs 
 at firft. Nor did Ihefwerve much from this her Clemen^ 
 cy^ tho provoked by the Bull of Excommunication thun- 
 dered againft her by Piuf the Fifth. This indeed might 
 have railed her indignation, and have been the occalion 
 of new modelling the State, but flill fhe retained her 
 own generous Temper. For this Prudent and Coura- 
 geous Woman was not much Moved at the noife of fuch 
 Threatnings, being fccure of the Fidelity and Affedion 
 of her' Subjects, and not fearing any harm from the Po- 
 tniflo Fa^ion^ which was too weak to attempt any thing 
 unlefs feconded by a foreign Enemy. 
 
 But about the three and twentieth year of her Reign, 
 the face of Affairs was quite chang'd. Nor is this 
 Period of time, feigned to ferve a turn only, but 
 mentioned in the Pullick Records^ and engraven as it were 
 in leaves of Brafs, Nor were her Subjc&s of the Romi/k 
 Religion punifhed with any feverity before that year 
 tho feveral Laws had formerly been enafted again ft 
 them. But at this time it was by degrees difcovered 
 what vaft and ambitious deHgns were kid by Spain^ to 
 conquer this Kingdom. A great part of this dellgn 
 was to raife a fadion in the very heart of the Nation, 
 which being no friends to the Government, and defirou^ 
 of alteration, fhould join with the Enemy upon his Jn- 
 vafion. This was hoped would be effeded upon the 
 difference there was in Religion : whereupon they re- 
 folved to improve that breach , and Priefts were fent 
 over from the young Seminaries^ to raife and inereafc 
 Mens Love for the Rowijh Religion^ to teaeh aqcj inforce 
 
 ^hc 
 
1 1 o yhe Q^araSler of 
 
 the Validity of the Pope's BuU^which abfolved the Queens 
 Subjedts from their Allegiance, and to excite and prepare 
 the Minds of men for an Alteration in the Government. 
 
 Much about that time, Ireland was openly invaded, 
 and the A^^weand Government of Queen Eliz^aheth vilified 
 by various and Scandalous Libels^ and affairs were in 
 fuch a ftrange ferment, that they prognofticated a grea- 
 ter Commotion. Nor indeed will I fay, that every Friefi 
 knew of the defign, or wereconfcious of what was to be 
 done, but certainly they were the wicked Inlligatorsand 
 Promoters of the Villainy others were to com mit. And 
 this is certainly true, (as appears by feveral Confeflions) 
 that almoft all the Priefts who were fent into England 
 from the year abovemention*d, to the thirtieth year of 
 Qiieen Elizabeth's Reign (wherein the Defign of iS]?^m and 
 the Romanics was to be put in Execution, by that memo- 
 rable preparation of a Fleet and Land-forcesj I fay 'tis 
 certain, that all, who were fent over within that time, 
 among other things had this likewife in their Orders, 
 That they fhould infinuate, Tloat Affairs could not laft long 
 in the fame pojlure j that they would put on a new face within 
 fomefhnrt time-^ and that the Pope and the Catholick Princes 
 would take care of the Englilh State^ provided the Englifti 
 were not their own htnderance. Nay, fome of the Priefls 
 were manifeftly engag'd in the Plots and Contrivances 
 which were laid for the Subverfion and Ruin of the Go- 
 vemment : and which is ftill more, the whole Train of 
 this Detlgn was difcover'd by Letters which were inter- 
 cepted from all parts : wherein it was written, That the 
 rtgilancy of the Queen and her Council over the Catholicks 
 would be baffled: Forfhe onlyfeenCd concern' d^ that the Fadi^ 
 cnfh.uld not beheaded by any Nobleman or P erf on of Qua^ 
 lity 5 whereas the Defign they laid was fuch as wcvs carried on 
 by Private Men of no Note •, who never met and confpifd to^ 
 gether in numbers^ but ordered and difpos'd all things in thepri^ 
 vate way of Confejfwn, Thefe were the Artifices which 
 were then us'd, and were To cuftomary and familiar to 
 t{iofe Men, as .might be feen in a frelb and parallel cafe. 
 
 In 
 
Queen Elizabeth. i 1 1 
 
 In a time of fo much danger, Q]icen Eliz^iheth was ob- 
 liged by a kind of fatal neceffity to enad fever e Laws, 
 thereby to reftrain thofe of her Subjccls, who being avcrfe 
 to her Government, and grown pail: the hopes of being 
 cur'd, began to grow rich by the private Life they led, 
 being exempted from the charge and burden of publick 
 Offices. The Original of this fpreading Evil wascharg'd 
 ViiponthQ Seminary Pricfts'^ who were bred up in foreign 
 parts, and maintain'd by the Charity and Benevolence of 
 Foreign Princes the profefi: Enemies of the Realm; who 
 had liv'd in places, where the bed Titles they could be- 
 llow on Queen Eliz,abcth were thofe of, Heretich^ Excom- 
 tnunicated^ and Damnable Fury •, who, tho they themfelves 
 were not cngag'd in treafonable pradices, yet were 
 known to be the intimate Friends of fuch as were guilty 
 of thofe Villainies, and who, by their Artifices and poy- 
 fonous Methods had depraved the very Sacrifice of the 
 AU[s^ which before was a fweet and harmlefs thing ^ 
 and had as it were infected it with a new kind of Ferment 
 and pernicious Malignity • Whereupon the only Expe- 
 dient to put a flop to this growing Evil was thought to 
 be the prohibiting thefe men from coming into the Land 
 upon pain of Death •, which was accordingly enafted in 
 the feven and twentieth Year of her Reign. Nor did the 
 Event it felf, when fo great a Storm broke out upon, 
 and threatened the Nation, in the leafl take off from the 
 Envy and Hatred of thefe Men, but rather increased it ^ 
 fo far had they diverted themfelves of the Love they ow'd 
 their Country, Afterwards when our fears of Spain 
 fthe true occafion of this feverity) were over and va- 
 riifht •, yet the Memory of the former times wasfo deep- 
 ly fixt in the Minds and Senfes of moft Men, and to have 
 abrogated the Laws that were once made would have 
 argued fo much JnconjUncy^ or to have flighted thera 
 would have been a ilgn of fo much Indifferency ; that Queen 
 Elizjihetb as cafes then flood, did not think it fafe for 
 her felf, that things fhould return to the fame poflure 
 they were in before tlie three and twentieth year of her 
 
 Reign, 
 
112 The CharaEler 0/ 
 
 Reign. To this may be added the Indujlry of fome to 
 increafe the Revenues of the Exchequer^ and the Care 
 ot thofc Alimfitrs of Jufiice^ who are us d to mind no 
 other Safety of their Country than what is contain'd iu 
 the Laws : both which required and call'd loudly for the 
 Laws to be put in Execution. However, fhe (to the 
 Glory of her good Nature be it fpokenj did fo far 
 blunt^the edge of the Laws, that but very few Priefts 
 fufler'd Death upon that account. Nor do we fpeak this 
 by way of defence, for thefe matters ftand in need of 
 none: fince the whole Safety of the Nation depended 
 upon this Conducc,and the Method and Meafure of all this 
 Severity was far from being bloody,and is a thing that no 
 Chriftian need to be afham'dof^ for it proceeded more 
 from the Arrogance and Wicked Pradices of others, than 
 from any necefiity the Nation lay under,and it Hands for a 
 Monument of Difgi-ace to the Romanifis. But not to for- 
 get what v/e firH alTerted, we think we have abundantly 
 dem.Qnftrated, that ^Q.vi^^7noderate\n joints of Religion^ 
 and that the Alteration which did happen, was not owing 
 to her Nature,but to the Iniquity of the times. . , 
 
 Of her Conftancy in Religion an^ the iVorflup thereof, 
 the greatefl proof is, That with an undaunted Minfd and 
 little alTillance fne extirpated and abrogated the Romifi 
 Religion^ as being diragreeable tothzWord of Cod^ the 
 Primitive Purity^ and her ow'iiCcnfcience: notwithftand- 
 ing in her Sifters Reign it was eftabliflied by Publick Au- 
 thority and a great deal of Care, and had taken deep 
 root, and was llrengthned with the Confent and Appro- 
 bation of all that were in Authority and Places of Trufl. 
 Nor did (he d" this haitily or in a heat, but cautioufly 
 and by degrees. The truth of which appears, not on- 
 ly in her whole Conduft and Affairs, but alfo in that 
 Anfwer which fnc once made to a Courtier upon the 
 like occafion. For in the beginning of her Reign, v/hen 
 according to theCultom the Prifoner'}, were to be releas'd, 
 to grace and honor her firft Acccflion to the Throne - 
 as file was goin^ to Chapel fhe was accojffcd by a certain 
 
 CoiATtier^ 
 
Queen Elizabeth. 1 1 5 
 
 Courtier^ who took more than ordinary freedom, being 
 of a pleafant and facetious Nature. He, either promp- 
 ted to it by his own private Inclination, or fet on by a 
 Wifer Head, deliver'd a Petition into her hand, and in 
 a fnll Conconrfe of People with a loud Voice exprelfed 
 himfeif thus. That there were Jlill four or five kept Frifoners^ 
 and that for no reafon at all : That he came to petition for their 
 Freedom^ as well as for the rejl. That they were the Four 
 Evangelifis^ and the ^pojlle S, Paul , who had been long 
 confin'd in an unknown tongue^ as it were in a Frifon^ and 
 were not fi'.ffcfd to appear abroad in the World. The QiKen 
 gave him this very cautious Reply, That it wa/s befi to 
 confult themfjjl^ whether they were willing to have their Free- 
 domyet^ or no. And thus fhe kept every thing within 
 her own Power, by giving fuch a doubtful Anfwer to fo 
 furprizing a Demand. Nor did (he carry on things fear- 
 fully, and by fits and Harts, but gravely, orderly, and 
 maturely : A Conference firft had between the Parties, 
 and a Barltaynent firft call'd ^ and at laft, within the com- 
 pafs of a year, fhe fo far order'd and eftabliih'd all things 
 which concern'd Religion^ that fliedid not fuffer the leaft 
 Tittle of them to be alter'd,during all her Reign. And 
 It was always her Publick Admonition in almoft every 
 Seffion of Parliament^ that no Innovation fhould be made 
 in the Difcipline and Ceremomies of the CJmrck Thu^ 
 far of her Religion. 
 
 Now if any of thQ graver Sort ihould objeft thefe Levi- 
 ties: "Thatlhe was contented and defirous to be Admi- 
 "red, to be Courted, and upon the Account of Love to 
 "bePrais'd and Extoll'd; and that Ihe continu'd thefe 
 "Levities even to an Age wherein they were unbecom- 
 " ing her. Yet if you take even thefe in a milderi fenfe, 
 they are not without cheir due Admiration^ fince they are- 
 fuch things, as often are to be found in the fabulous Nar- 
 rations of Poets and others. Thus ^tis recorded of a cer- 
 tain Qiieen in the Fortunate Jflands^ who in her Court 
 and Government entertained that foft thing calPd Lovc^ 
 and yet forbid Lufl to enter there, But if a harfher con- 
 
 ftrudion 
 
1 1 4 Tl^e Qhar after of 
 
 flruftion ftiould be put upon them, yet they are to be 
 admirM, and that very highly too, fincc thefe Softnejfcs 
 caft but little blemiih on her Fame^ and none at all upon 
 her Grandeur-^ did no Injury to her Government, and 
 hinder'd not the Publick Adminillration of Affairs. For 
 thefe fort of things are ufually joyn'd to the moil Noted 
 Fortune. But, to conclude this Eflay^ (he was certainly 
 a good^ moral Prmcejs^ and as fuch Ihe defir'd to appear : 
 She was a hater oiFice^ and ftudy'd to grow famous by 
 honouYdhk Methods, And truly at the naming of her 
 Afanners^ fomething comes into my mind, which I will 
 here declare. When Ihe had order'd an Exprefs to be 
 written to her Embaflador, concerning certain Inftrudi- 
 ons, which he was privately to impart to the Queen Mo- 
 ther of France at l^alois^ and her Secretary had inferted 
 a certain Claufe, that the EmbafTador to ingratiate him- 
 fclf the better Hiould fay. That they were two Female lYm- 
 ces^ ofwhom^ in the Management of j4jf airs ^ and in the j4rt 
 and Skill of Governing^ 06 great things were expe^cd 06 from 
 the bcfi of Men •, (he could not endure the Comparifon, 
 but order'd it tobeftruck out, andfaid, thdit/he us' d quite 
 different Arts andMethods in the Adminiflration of the Govern- 
 tnent. And fhe was extreamly pleas'd, when any one by 
 chance dropt out fuch an Expreffionas this, l^hat jhe would 
 have liv'd and exceWd in the Eye of the World^ tho'/he hadfpent 
 her days in a private and meanStation: So defir ous was (he that 
 nothing of her Virtue and Praife Ihould be owing to the 
 Crandure of her Fortune, But if I (liould enter upon her Prai- 
 fes,either Moral or Political^ or fhould touch only upon her 
 t^trtues^ which would be a Difparagement to fo great a 
 Priaceft : or Ihould I endeavour to fet them in their clear 
 and proper light,! muft run out into the Hijlory of her 
 Life,which require, more leifure,and a larger Genius,than 
 I can pretend to. For I have here given you her Chara^er 
 in ihor t. But it mult after all be faid, That only Time will 
 bellow a true Encomium on this Excellent Woman : fmce 
 no Age ilnce theCreation,could ever fhew her£^«.j/in her 
 own 5(?jf ,tbat was fo fit to manage the Affairs of a State, 
 FINIS. 
 
THE 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 Cj4j[andra, or Divination. Page i 
 
 Typbon^ or a Rebel. i8 
 
 The Cyclofs^ or the Minifters of Terror; 20 
 
 Narcijjus^ or Self-Love, 2 1 
 
 Styx^ or Leagues. 22 
 
 Pan^ or Nature. 24 
 
 Ferjeus^ or War. 34 
 
 ^ndyrnion^ or a Favourite. 37 
 
 The Sifter of the Giants, or Fame. 39 
 
 ACieon^ and P^theus^ or a Curious Man. 40 
 
 Orpheus^ or Philofophy. 41 
 
 Cesium^ or Beginnings. 44 
 
 Proteus^ or Matter. 47 
 
 Memnon^ or a Youth too forward. 49 
 
 Ty thorns^ or Satiety. ^3 
 
 y««o'j Suitor, orBafenefs, 51 
 
 C«pr^, or an Atom. ^2 
 
 Diomedes^ or Zeal. ^5 
 
 padalusy or Mechanick. 58 
 
 Ericthonius^ or Impofture. ^i 
 
 Deucalion^ or Reftitution. ^2 
 
 Nemefis^ or the Vicifliitude of Things. ;f;,*^. 
 
 Jchelous^ or Battle. 55 
 
 Dionyfuf^ or Paffions. ^(^ 
 
 Atalanta^ or Gain. 70 
 
 Prometheus^ or the Statue of Man. 72 
 
 59^//^ and Ici^rus^ or the Middle-way. 84 
 
 S'^hynx^ or Science. g^ 
 
 Proferpina^ or Spirit. 89 
 
 Afer/j, or Counfel. g^ 
 
 ThQ Syrens, orPkafures. 94 
 
 THE 
 FINIS. 
 
F' 
 
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