'm t j& ^ HI Libris BEATRIX JONES The Gift of Beatrix Farrand to the General Library University of California, Berkeley• 7 Cs LwwTON * ■ O' k r,Y 7Ar HN5DQBfRAREI i COUNSELS, CIVIL & MORAL, O F Sir F%A^CIS Lord Verulamj Vifcount $l Alban. With a Table of the Colours Good & Evil. V/hereunto is added The W is dom of the ANCIENTS- Enlarged by the Honorable Author bimfclf J and flow note cxadly Publiflxd; London, Printed by T. N, for John Martynt S. Me.irne, and H. Hcrringman, and arc,to, be fold in S. Pauls Churchyard, Little Britain, and New Exchange. > MDCLXXIir.f » I • - A «*» ,• / f* ff , 4« i \ » /» r w .s f • ; * • t 9 \ »Ä thlh(Mz> TO THE Right Honorable my very good Lord, THE Duke of Hucfyngham his Grace, Lord High-Admiral OF ENGLAND. Excellent Lord, »S££!B^|P01on1on fays' A good Name is a precious Ointment ; and, I ajfure my felf fuch will Your Graces Name be with Poflerity ; for your Fortune and Merit, both have been "Eminent • nnd You have planted things that are like to laß. I do now publifb my Eflays j which, of all my other Works, haye been moß current: 4024 l F!<* JH 5T, vf Of Truth. I ^MA^g^Hat is Truth, faid jetting Tilate^ and would notftavfor an an-^ver* Certainly there be,that j||g£^|gy delight in giddinefs, and count it a Bondage to fix a Belief 3 affecting freewil jn thinking, as wallas in adting. And though the Sedtsof Philott> phersof that kind be gone, yet there remain certain difcourfing Wits, which are ofthe fame Veins, though there be not fo much Blood in them, as was in thofe of the A ncients. But it is not only the difficulty and labour, which Men take in finding out of Truth 3 nor again, that when it is found, it impofeth upon Mens thoughts, that doth bring ties in favour 3 but a natural, though corrupt Love, oi the Lie it felf. One of the lat£r School of the Grecians examiqeththe matter, and is at a ftand, *9 think what foouid be in it, ■ that B Mea2 sir Francis Bacon’s EjJays Men (hould love lie*} where neither they ftiake for pleafure, as with Poets, nor for Advantage, as with the Merchant, but for the Lies fake. But I cannot tell, This fame Truth is a Naked and Open day-light,that doth not (hew the Mafques, arid Mummu-ries, and Triumphs of the World, half fo (lately and daintily as Candle-lights. Truth may perhaps come to the price of a Pearl, that (hewethbeft by day; but it will not rife to the price of a Diamond or Carbuncle, that (heweth bed in varied Lights. A mixture of a Lie doth ever add pleafure. Doth any Man doubt, that if there were taken out of Mens minds vain Opinions, flattering Hopes, falfe valuations, Imaginations as one would, and the like 5 but it would leave the minds of a number of Men, poor fhrunken things, full of melancholly and in difpo(iton,and unpleafing to themfelves. One of the fathers in great feverity called Poefie, Virnm V&Monum> becaufe it filleth the Imagina-tion,and yet it is but with thefhadow of a Lie. But is not the Lie that paffeth through the mind, but the lie that finketh in, and fetleth in it,that doth the hurt, fuch as we fpake of before. But howfoever thefe things are thus in Mens depraved judgements and affe&ions* yet Truth, whichOf Truth. 3 only doth judge it felf, teacheth, that the enquiry of 7r//r£, which is the love-making, or wooing of it: the knowledge of Truth> which is the prefence of it: and the belief of Truths which is the enjoying of it, is the foveraign good of humane Nature. The firffc Creature of God in the works of of the Dayes, was the light of the Sence 5 i thelaft was the Light of Reafon $ and his Sabbath-Work ever fince,is the illumination of his Spirit. Firft, he breathed Light upon the face of the Matter of Chaos $ then he breathed Light into the face of Man 3 and ftill he breathethand infpireth Light into the face of his Cholen. The Poet that beautified the Se Grief flyethto it-Jearpre-occupatethit. Nay we read, after Otho the Emperour had (lain himfelf, Pity ('which is the tendereft of Affe&ions) provoked many to dye, out of meer compafli* on to their Soveraign, and as the trueft fort of Followers, Nay, Seneca add* JVicenefs and Satiety 5 cogita quam din eadenrfaceris j Morivelle, non tantumFor-tisp ant Mifer, fed etiarn F afiidiofus potejl, A man would dye, though he were neither valiant nor miferable, only upon aweari-nefs to do the fame thing fo oft over and over. It is no lefs worthy to obferve , how little alteration in good Spirits theap-proaches of Death make. For they appear to be the fame Men, till the laft inftant. Jugujius C£far dyed in a complement 5 via, Conjugii noflri memory vive, & vale. Tiberius in Diflimulation, as Tacitus faith of him t, Jam Tiber in m Vires, & Carpus, nonOf Death. 7 non DiJJimulatio deferehant. Vefpajian in a jeft fitting upon the ftool $ Vt puto, Deus fio. Galba with a Sentence 5 Feri, ft ex re Jtt populi Romani, holding forth his neck. Septimius Severus in difpatch $ Addefle, (i quid mihi reliat agendum. And the like. Certainly the Stoickj bellowed too much coftupon Death, and by their great preparations made it appear more fearful. Better, faith he, ghtifincm vita extremum inter munera ponat Natune. It is as natural to dye, as to be born 5 and to a little infant perhaps the one is as painful as the o* ther. He that dies in an earneft purfuir, is like one that is wounded in hot Blood, who for the time fcarce feels the hurt * and therefore a mind fixt, and bent upon fomewhat that is good, doth avert the dolours of Death. But above all, believe it, the fweeteft Canticle is, Nunc dimitt is, when a Man hath obtained worthy ends and expe&ations. Death hath this alfo 5 that it openeth the Gate to good Fame, and extinguifheth Envy. ----.Extin&w amahitur idem.t Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejfayt Of X)nityin Religion. III. , PEligion being the chief bajid of hu-^ mane fociety, it is a happy thing when it felf is well contained within the true band of .Vnity^ The Quarrels and Divifions about Religion were t/vils unknown to the Heathen. The reafon was, beicaufe the Religion of the Heathen ccn-fifted rather in Rites and Ceremonies , than in any constant belief. For you may imagine what kind of Faith theirs was, when the cheif Doftors and Fathers of their Church were Poets. But the true God hath this Attribute, that he is a jealous God, and therefore his Worfhip andKe-ligion will endure no mixture nor Partner« We (hall therefore fpeaka few words concerning the Vinity\ of the Churchy What are the Fruits thereof \ what the Bonds, and what the Means. The Fruits of Vuityfntxt unto the well-pleafingof 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,<0f Vnity in Religion. p tain, that Herefies and Schifms are of all others the greateft Scandals, yea, more than Corruption of Manners. For as in the Natural Body, a. Wound or Solution of continuity, is worfe than a corrupt Humour $ fo inthe Spiritual..So thatnothing doth fo much keep Men out of the Church j and drive Men out of the Church , as breach of Vnity : Arid therefore whenfo-ever it cometh to that pafs, that one faith, Ecce in deferto, another faith, Ecce inpenc* tralibusj that is,when fome Men feek Chrift in the Conventicles of Hereticks, and others in an outward face of a Church, that Voice had need continually tofound in Mens Ears, Nolite exire, Go not out. The Dofror of the Gentiles (the propriety of whofe vocation drew him to have a fpeck at care of thofe without ) faith, If an Heathen come in and hear you fpeakjvith fevc-ral Tongueswill he not fay that you are wad? And certainly it is little better, when Atheifts and prophane perfons do hear of fo many 'difeordant and contrary Opinions in Religion i it doth avert them from the Church, and maketh them to fit down in the chair of the Scorners. It is but a light thing to be vouched in foferiousa matter, but yet it exprefleth well the de-r fprmity. There a is Matter of Scoffing,io Sir Francis Bacon/ Ejfays that in this Catalogue of Books of a Feigned Library, fets down this Title of a Book , “The Morricedance of HereticJy. For indeed every Se& of them hath a divers pofture, or cringe by themfelves, which cannot but move derifion in Worldlings, and depraved Politicks, who are apt to contemn holy things. As for the Fruit towards thofe that are within. It is Peace, which containeth infi-nite Bleffings 3 it eftablifheth Faiths it kindleth Charity 3 the outward peace of the Church diftilleth into peace of Confidences and it turneth the Labours of Writing and Reading of Controverfies,into Treaties of Mortification and Devotion. Concerning the Bonds of Vnitj/j the true placing of them importeih exceedingly. There appear to be two extreams. For to certain Zelants all fpeech of pacification is odious. Is it peace, Jehu? JVhathatt thou to do with peace, turn thee behind me. Peace is not the matter, but Following and party. Contrariwife certain taodiceans, and luke-warm perfons, think they may accommodate points of Religion by middle ways, and taking part of both, and witty reconcilements 3 as if they would make an arbitrement between God and Man. But thefe extreams are to be avoided 3 which willOf Vnity in Religion. li . will be done, if the league of Chriftans, penned by our Saviour himfelf, were in the two crofs claufes thereof, foundly and plainly expounded. He that is not with us> is again ft us: And again. He that is not againSt us, is with us : That is,if the points Fundamental, and of Subftance in Religion^ were truly difcerned and diftingui-fhed from points not meerly of Faith, but of Opinion, Order, or good Intention. This is a thing may feem to many a matter trivial, and done already 5 but if it were done lefs partially, it would b e embraced more generally. Of this I may give only this advice, according to my fmall model: Men ought to take heed of rending Gods Church by two kinds of coritroverfies: 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 contradiction. For, as it is noted by one. of the Fathers , Chrijls Coat indeed had no jgam, hut the Churches Vcllure was of divers colours 5 whereupon he faith, In vejie varietas [it, fcijjitra non [it j they be two things, Vnity and Vnifornity. The other is, when the matter of the point controverted is great, but it is driven to ^n oyergreat fubtjlcy and obfcurity, fo12 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejfajs that it becometh a thing rather ingenious than fubftantial. A Man that is of judgment and underftanding, (hallfome-timeshear ignorant Men differ, and know well within himfelf, that thofe which fo differ, mean one thing, and yet they themfelves would never agree. And if it come fo to pafs, in that diftance of judgment which is between Man and Man, (hall we not think, that God above, that knows the heart, doth not difcern, that frail Men in fome of their contradictions' intend the fame thing, and acCepteth of both. The nature of fuch controverfies is excellently exprefledby Saint Yaul^ in the warning* and precept that he giveth Concerning the fame, Devito, prof arras vocum rrovitates, & oppofttones fal[t ‘ tro-minis fcienci£ 5 Men create oppositions Which are not, and put them into new terms fo fixed, as whereas the meaning ought to govern the term, the term in effect governeth the meaning. There be alfotwofalfe Teacer, orDniPjes:, the one, when the Teace is grounded but upon an implicite ignorance 3 for all Colours will agree in the dark: the other when it is pieced up upon a direCfc admiffion of contraries in Fundamental points. For Truth and Falfhood in fuch things* areOf Unity in Religion: like the Iron and Clay in the toes of Nebuchad-nezzars image, they may cleave., but they will not incorporate. Concerning the Means of procuring "Unity $ Men muft beware, that in the procuring or muniting of Religions Unity, they do not diffolve and deface the Laws of Charity, and of humane Society. There be two Swords amongft Chriftians, thè Spiritual and Temporal 5 and both have their due office and place in the maintenance of Religion. But we may not take up the third Sword, which is Mahomets Sword, or like unto it , that is,to propagate 2?e/z-gion by Wars, or by fanguinary Perfecu-tions, to force Consciences, except it .be in cafes of overt Scandal , Blafphemy,,’ or intermixture of praftife againftthe States much lefs to nourifti Seditions, to authorize Confpiracies and Rebellions, to put the Sword into the peoples hands, and the like, tending to the fubverfion of all Government, which is the Ordinance of God. For this is but to dafh the Firft Table againft the Second, and foto con-fider Men as Chriftians, as we forget that they are Men, Lucretius the Poet, when he beheld the Aft of Agamemnon,that could endure the facrificing of his own Daughter, exclaimed 5 Tatf14 Sir Francis BaconV Efays Tantum Religio pot nit Judder e malornm, , What would he have faid, if he had known of the Mafiacre in France, or the Powder-Treafon of England? He would have been feven times more Epicure and Atheifl: than he was: For as the Temporal Sword is to be drawn with great cir-cumfpe&ion in cafes of Religion } fo it is a thing monftrous, to put it into the hands of the common people. Let that be left unto the Anabaptifts, and other Furies. It was great blafphemy, when the Devil faid, I mil afcend, and be like the Highejl $ but it is greater blafphemy to perfonate God, and bring him in, faying, I will defeend, and belike the Prince of DarkneJ?; And what is it better,to make the caufe of Religion to defeend to the cruel and execrable a&ions of Murthering Princes, Butchery of People, and Subverfion of States and Governments ? Surely this is to bring down the Holy Ghoft, inftead of the likenefs of a Dove, in the (hape of a Vulture or Raven 5 and to fetoutof the Barque of a Chriftian Church, a Flagg of a Barque of Pyrates and AjJajJbts. Therefore it is mofl: necefiary, that the Church by Dottrine and Decree, Princes byOf Revenge. i j by their Sword, and all Learnings both Chriftianand Moral, as by their Mercury Rod, do damn and fend to Hell for ever thofe Fafts and Opinions, tending to the fupportof the fame, as hath been already in good part done. Surely in Counfels concerning Religion, that Counfel of the Apoftle would be prefixed, Ira hominir non implet jujliciam Dei. And it was a notable obfervation of a wife Father, and no lefs ingenoufly confeffed, that thofe which held and perjbaded prejjnre of Confciences, were commonly interejjed therein themfelves for their own ends. Of ‘Revenge. IV. REvenge is a kind of wild Juftice 5 which the more Mans Nature runs to, the more ought Law to weed it out. For as the firft wrong, it doth but offend the Law, but the Revenge of that wrong putteth the Law out of office: Certainly in taking Revenge, a Man is but even with his Enemy* but npaffing it over he is fuperiour: forI* Sir Francis Bacoti*/ Ejfays it is a Princes part to pardon. And sotomom lam fu re, faith. It k the glory of a Manta paß by an offence. That which ispaft, is gone, and irrecoverable 5 and wife Men have enough to do with things prefent* and to come: therefore they do but trifle with themfeves, that labour in part matters. There is no Man doth a wrong for the > Wrongs lake, but thereby to purchafe him* felf profit, or pleafure, or honour, or the like. Therefore why fhould I be angry with a Man for loving himfelf better then me £ And if any Man fhould do wrong meerly out of ill nature, why } yet it is but like the Thorn or Bryar, which prick and fcratch, becaufe they can do no other. The mod tolerable fort of Revenge, is' for thofe wrongs which there is no Law to remedy: But then let a Man take heed, the Revenge be fuch, as there is no Law to punilh 5 elfe a Mans Enemy is (fill be* fore-hand, and it is two for one. Some when they take Revenge^ are defircus the Party (hould know whence it cometh ; this is the more generous. For thedelight 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 that flyeth in the dark. Cofmus Duke ofFlorence had a defperate faying againft. per-.Of Adverjity. fjl perfidious or negletting Friends, as7 if thofe wrongs were unpardonable : Ton Jball read (faith hej that we are commanded to' forgive our Enemies *, but you never read,that we are commanded to forgive our Friends< But yet the Spirit o£Job was in a better tune 5 shall we (faith he) take food at Gods hand, ahd 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 wounds green,which other-wife would heal, and do well: TublickjReJ venges are for the moll part fortunate,as that for the death of Cefar for the death of rer* tinax, for the death of Henry the Third of France, aad many more. But in private Re* Venges it is not fo. Nay rather vindicative perfons live the life of Witches 5 who a$ they are mifehievous, fo end they unfor-: tunate. Of Adverfitj. J‘T waisan high Speech of Seneca, (after 4 the manner of the Stoicks) That the \good things whith beioAg to projperitj are to & beSir Francis Bacon'.f EJJays be nvijhed, but the good things that belong to* adverfity arc to be admired : Bona rerumfe-Qundarum optabilia , aslv erf arum mirabilja. Certainly, if Miracles be the command-over Nature, they appear mod in Adtfcr-fciy. It is yet a higher fpeechofhis, than t)>e other, (much too high for a Heathen) It is true greatnefs to have in one the frailty of a Man, and the fccurity of a Cod : Vcre magnum habere fragihtatem hominis, fecu-ritatem Dei, This would have done better iu Pocfie, where tranfcendencies are mo re allowed. Andthc Poets indeed have been bufie with it j for it is in effect the thing, which is figured in that ftrange Fi&ionof the ancient Poets, which feem-eth not to be without myftery > nay and to have fome approach to the State of a Chrifhan : That Hercules^ -what he went^o unbind rrometheus, (by whom humane Nature is reprefented) fay led the length of tfsc orcat Ocean in an Earthen rot or Pitcher j Lively diferibing Chriftian refolution, that fayleth in the frail Barque of the Flefh, through the waves of the world. But to fpeak in a mean : The Vertueof rrofpcrity is Temperance , the Vertue of Advctfty is Fortitude, which in Morals is the more heroical Vertue. rrofpcrity is the Blefling of the Old Teftament^Of Advftfity] Adverftty is the Bleffing of the New, which carrieth the greater Benedi&ion, and the clearer Revelation of Go4s favour. ■ .Yeteven inthaQld Teftament, if you liften to David’s Harp , you (hall hear as many Hearf-like Ayres, as Carols. And the Pencil of the Holy Ghoft hath laboured more in defcribing the Afffiftions of Jothan the Felicities of Solomon, profperity is not without many fears and diftaftes > and Adverftty is not without comforts and hopes. We fee m Needle-works and. E'mbroyderies,' it is more pleafing to have adively work upon a fad and’ folemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholly Work upon a lightfome ground, v Judge therefore of the pleafure of the Heart, by the pleafurfc of the Eye. Certainly Vertueis like pre* cious Odours, mofr fragrant when they are incenfed or crulhed : For Frojpenty doth beft difcover Vice, but Adzherfity doth beft difcover Vdrtue.20 Sir Francis BaconV Ußitys Of Simulation and VI. T~~^\lffimutation is but a faint kind of Policy or Wifdom 5 for it asketh a ftrong Wit, and a ftrong Heart, to know when to tell truth, and to do it. Therefore it is the weaker fort of Politicks, that are the great Diflemblers. Tacitus faith, Livia fortcdwcll with the Arts of her Husband and Dijfimulation of her Sonj attributing Arts or Policy to Anguß us, and Dißimulation to Tiberius. And again when Mucianus encourageth Vefpafiau to take Arms againft Vitellius^ he faith, IVe rife not againß the piercing Judgment of Auguftns,w0r//je extreamCan-tioh or Clofeneß of Tiberius. Thefe properties of Arts, or Policy and Dijfimulati-on, or Clofenefs, are indeed habits and faculties, feveral, and to bediftinguifhed. For if a man have that penetration of Judgement, as he can difcern, what things are to be laid open, and what to be fecreted, and what to be Ihewed at halfOf Simulation and Dijfimnlation. 21 half lights, and to whom, and when, (which indeed are. Arts of State, and Arts of Life, as Tacitus well calleth them) to him 5 a habit of Vjjjimulation isahin-derance, and a poornefs. But if a Man cannot attain to that Judgment, then it is left to him generally to be Clofe, and a Dijfembkr. For where a Man cannot choofe or vary in Particulars, there it is good to take the fafeft and warieft way in general 3 like the going : foftly by one that cannot well fee. Cer-stainly the ableft Men that ever were, i have had all an opennefs and franknefl 1 of dealing, and a Name of Certainty and ^Veracity .• but then they were like Hor-Jfes, well managed* for they could tell ipafling well, when to ftop or turn 3 '.And at fuch times, when they thought ,;the cafe indeed required Dijjimulation^ if then they ufed it, it came to pafs, that the former Opinion fpread abroad of their good faith, and clearnefs of dealing, ;raade them almofl invisible. There be three degrees of this hiding and vailing of Mans felf. The firft Clofe-iefs0 Refervation , and Secrecy 3 when a .Manleaveth himfelf without obfervation, .pr without hold to be taken what he h? The Second Dijjimulaion in the C 3 Ne#*-$2 Francis Bacon*/ Ejfays Negative, when a IVjan lets fall Signs and Arguments, that he is not that he is. ; And the third Simulation in the; Affirm4-tive, when a Man induftrioufly and exprefly feigns and pretends to be that he is not. For the firfl: of thefe, Secrecy : It is indeed the vertue of a Confeflor 3 and aflu-redly the Seeret Man heareth manyCon-feflions: For who will open himfelf to a Blab , or a Babler ? But if a man be thought Secret, it inviteth difeoyery, as the more clofe Air fucketh in the more open: And as in confcflion* the revealing is not for worldly ufe, but for the eafe of a Mans heart 3 fo Secret, Men come to the knowledge of many things in that kind, while Men rather difeharge their minds, than impart their minds. In few words, Myfteries are due to Secrecy, Befides ( to fay truth) JVakedvcfs is uncomely3 as well in mind, as in body 3 and it addeth no fmall reverence to Mens manners and actions, if they be not alto- j getheropen. As for Talkers, add Futile perfons, they are commonly vain , and , credulous withal. For he that talketh ; what he knoweth, will alfo talk what he i knoweth not. Therefore fet it down, I, fhat qn habit of Secrecy is bqthpolitick^ and j moral* «Of Simulation and Dijjimutation. 2$ moral. And in thispartit is good, that h Mans face give his tounge leave to fpeak-v For the dilcovery of Mans (elf; by the tca making the§o Sir Francis Bacon s Efays vulgar Souldier more bafe. Certainly Wife and Children area kind of difctpline of humanity, and Single Men, though they be many times more charitable, be-caufe their means are lefs exhauft , yet on the other, fide, they are more cruel and. hard hearted, (good to make fevere In-quififors^ becaufe their tendernefs is not fo oft called upon. Grave natures, led by cuftom, and therefore confiant, are commonly loving H/ssbands 3 as was faid of Vlyjjes, Vetulamfuampras a man may have a quarrel to marry when he will. But yet he wa» reputed one of the wife men, that made anfwer to the queftion, When a man Ihould marry ? Ayouttg man not yety an elder man not at all. It is often feen, that-bad Husbands have very good Wives 3 . whether it be, that itraifeth the price of their Husbands kindnefs when it comes, or that the Wives take a pride in their patience, jOf Envju patience.But this neverfails df the bad Husbands; were of their own, chuling, againfl: their Friends confent $ for. then they will be Cure to make good theirown folly. , Of Envy. IX. THere he none of the Jffe&iens, which have been noted to facinate or bewitch,; but Love and Envy. T^hey both have vehement wifhes, they frame themfelves readily into imaginations and fuggeftions ^ and they come eafily into the eye, efpecially upon the pretence; of the objefts, which are the points that conduce tofafcination, if any fuch thing there be. We fee likewife the Scripture ;calleth£»z^, an evil Eye y and the Aftro-log ers call the evil influences of the Stars, !Evil AfpeSfs y fo that ftill there feemeth to be acknowledged in the aft of Enyyy ‘; an ejaculation or irridiation of the Eye, INay, fome have been fo curious, as to inote , that the times, when the ftroke :cr percuffion of an Envious Eye doth mo ft ' hurt, are, when the Party exvied'is beheld inSir Francis Bacon/ Effays in glory or triumph 5 for that fets edge upon Envy : And befides , at fucli times the fpirits df the terfan envied dd come forth iiioft into the outward parts, and fo meet the blow. But leaving thefe curiofities, ('though not unworthy to be thought on fit place) We will handle, iVhat Perfons are apt to envy others, what Perfons are moft fnbjeft to to be enViedthemfelves, and what is the difference between publicly and private Envy • A man that hath no vertue in himfelf,' ever envieth vertue in others. For mens minds will either feed upon their own good5orupon others evil 5 and who wan-teth the one, will prey upon the other > and who fo is out of hope to attain to an-others vertue, will feek to come at even hand by deprefling another« fortune. A man that is bufie and inquifitive, is commonly Envious : for to know much of other mens matters cannot be, becaufe all that adoe may concern his efiate j therefore it mud needs be, that he taketh a kind of play-pleafure in looking upon the fortunes of others j neither can he that mindeth but his own bufinefs, find much matter for Envy: For Envy is a gadding paflion, and walketh the Streets, and doth not keep home, Non eli cnriofus, quin idemft tnalevolusi MenOf Envy. 35 Men of noble birth afe noted tobee#-vivious towards new Men when they rife i For the diftanceis altered * and it is like a deceipt of the eye* that when others •.come on, they think themfelves go back* Deformed perfons, and Eunuchs, and :old Men, and Baftards are envious: for he that cannot poffibly mend his own cafe, will do what he can to impair anothets,except thefe defe&s light upon a Very brave tand heroical nature, which thinketh to ■make his natural wants part of his honour 5 in that it (hould befaid, that an Eunuch, or lame Man, did fuch great ■matters, affetting the honour of a mira-:cle, as it was in Narfes the Eunuch, and * AgefilauSy and 7amberlanes3 that were lame ,9 Men. The fame is the cafe of men that rife after calamities and misfortunes j for 1 they are as men fallen out with the times, : and think other mens harms a redemption 1 of their own fufferings. They that defire to excel in too many [ matters, out of levity and vain gloTy, ; are ever Envious : For they cannot want * work, it being impoffible but many it t fome one of thofe things (hould furpafs , them *, which was the chara&er of Adrian the Emperour, that mortally envied foets D and34 Si? Francis Bacon’j Ejjays and Painters, • and Artificers in wdrks wherein he had a vein to excell. . Laftly, Near Kinsfolks. and Fellows in Office,and thofethat have been bred together, are more apt to Envy their equals, when they are raifed : For it doth upbraid unto them their own fortunes, and poin-tethat them, and cometh oftnerintc their remembrance, and incurreth likewife more into the note of others , and Envy ever redoubleth from Speech and Fame. Cain's Envy was the more vile and malignant towards his Brother Abel, be- « caufe when his Sacrifice was better accep- • ted, there was no body to look on. Thus* much for thoje that are apt to Envy, Concerning thofe that are more or lefs finbjeB to Envy : Firfi, Perfons of eminent ? vertue, when they are advanced, are lefs i envied : For their fortune feemeth but? due unto them, and no man envicth the? payment of a Debt, but Rewards and!) Liberality rather. Again , Envy is evert joyned with the comparing of amansfelf and where there is no comparifon, noj> Envy , and therefore Kings are not cnvi—\ eds but by Kings Neverthelefs it is tobes-, noted, that unworthy Perfons are moftr:< envied at their firft coming in and afier-ji wards overcome it better 5 whereat con-tOf Ehvj. . 35 csontrariwife, Perfons of worth arid merit ire mod envied^ when their fortune con* ' inueth long. For by that time, though rheir vertue be the fame, yet it hath no? :he fame Luftre $ for frelh men grow Up rhat darken it. Perfons of noble blood are lefs envied rn their riling $ for it feemeth but right done to their birth. Belides, there »feemeth not much added to their fortune 5 and Envy is as the Sun-beams, that beat notter upon a Bank, or deep riling Ground* :han upon a Flat. And for the fame reasons, thofe that are advanced by degrees nre lefs envied, than thofe that are advanced fuddenly, and perjaltum* Thofe that have joynfed with their Ho** nour great Travels, Cares, or Perils, are tiefs fubjeft to Envy; For men think that they earn their Honors hardly, and pity them fometimes , and Pity ever healeth Envy: Wherefore you lhall obferve, that the more deep and foberfort of politick Perfons in their greatnefs, are everbe-emoning themfelves, what a life they lead, (chanting a Quanta patimur. Not that they jfeel it fo, but only to abate the edge of Envy. But this is to be underftood of by-» 'Kinefs that is laid upon men, and riot fuch -as they call unto themfelves, For nothing D 3 inefeafetfj, Sir Francis Bacon’j Ejfays *ncrafeth Envy more than an unneceffary^ and ambitious engroffing of bufinefs 'll find nothing doth extinguifti Envy more*,1 than for a great Perfon to preferve all other t. inferiOUr Officers in their full rights, andh preheminencies of their places: for by v that means there be fo many Skreens between him and Envy. Above all , thofe are mod fubjedt tor Envy, which carry the greatnefs of their r fortunes in an infolentand proud manner, .1' being never wellf but while they are^ (hewing how great they are, either by? outward pomp, or by triumphing overt * all oppofition or competition i whereas* wife men will rather do Sacrificeto Envyy^ infuffering themfelves fometimes of pur— m pofe to be croft and over born of things^ that do not much concern them. Not*« Withftanding fo much is true. That the) ~ carriage of greatnefs in a plain and opem I manner (fo it be without arrogancy and).: vain*glory) doth draw lefs Envy, than if i j itbeina more crafty and cunning faftiion.f i For in that courfe a man doth but difavow m fortuneand feemeth to beconfcious of hisia own want in worth, and doth but teacbb. others to Envy him. Laftlv, to conclude this part; As we v: faid in the beginning, that the Adt of Envj'z: hacbiaOf Envy 37 had fomewbat in it of witchcraft, To there t: is no other cure of Envy, but the cure of Witchcraft } and that; is, to remove the .tot (as they call itj and to lay it upon another. For which purpofe, the wifer raft of great Perfons, bring in ever upon (the Stage fome body, upon whom to drive ithe Envy, that would come upon them-delves 5 fometimes upon Minifliers and Servants, fometimes upon Colleagues and l Aflbciates, and the like j and for that t urn there are never wanting fome Perfons l>f violent and undertaking Natures, who, is the true and lawfull end of afpiring : For good thoughts ('though God accept them,J yet towards Men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in A than voice it with Claims and Challenges. Preferve likewife the Rights of Inferior Places 5 and think it more Honour to di-red in chief, than tobebufie in all. Embrace and invite Helps and Advices, touching the Execution of thy Place : and do not driveaway fuch as bring the Information, as melders , but accept of them in good part. The Vices of Authority are chiefly four : DelayeSj Corruption, Rough-nefs, and Faff ion. For Delay es^ Giveealie accefs, Keep Times appointed, Go through with that which is iu hand, and interlace not4& Sir Francis BaconV Ejfays not bufinefs but of neceflity. For Corrupt tion, Do not only bind thine own hands* or thy Servants hands from taking , but bind thehandsof Suitors alfo from offering: For Integrity ufed, doth the one; but Integrity profeffed, and with a mani-feddeteftation of Bribery, doth the other. And a void not only the Fault, but the Sufpicion. Whofoever is found variable, and changeth manifedly, without mani-fed Caufe, giveth fufpicion of Corruption. Therefore always when thou changed thine Opinion or Courfe, profefs it plainly, and declare it , together with the Reafons that move thee to change, and do not think to deal it. A Servant, or a Favourite, if hebeinward, andnoother apparent Caufe of Edeem, is commonly thought but a By-way to clofe Corruption. For Roughnefs, It is a needlefs caufe of Dij* content 5 Severity breedeth Fear, but Roughticfs breeð. Hate. Even Reproofs from Authority ought to be grave, and not taunting. As for Facility, It is worfe than Bribery: for Bribes come but now and then ; but if Importunity, or idle Refpe&s lead a Man, he dial! never be without, as Solomon faith : To refpect Terfons is not good; for fitch a Man will tranfgrefs for a piece of bread. It is mod true| Of Great Place._ 4^ true that was anciently fpoken j A Place fkemththc Man : and it Iheweth fometo fthe better, and fometo thejworfe: 0//*-nnim conferfu '? capax Imperii-, nif imperaf ifetj faith Tacitus cf Galba: but of Vefpa-fan he faith j Solus Imperantium Vefpajia-nus runt at us in melius. Though the one was meant of Sufficiency , the other of /Manners and AfFeftion. It is an allured 'Sign of a worthy and generous Spirit, «whom Honour amends : for Honour i ■>, or Ihould be the place of Vertue, andasin 'Nature things move violently to their : place, and calmly in their place: fo Ver-tue in Ambition is violent, in Authority fetled and calm. All riling to Great Place, : is by a winding Stair} and if there be Fa&i-)ons, it is good to fide a Mans felf, whileft-1 he is in the Riling , and toballance him-\ felf when he is placed. Life the memory of r thy Predecelfor fairly and tenderly j for t if thou doft not, it is a debt will fure be ; paid when thou art gone. If thou have Colleagues, refpeft 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 fenfible,or toore-membring of thy Place in Converfation, and private Anfvvers to Suitors i but let it ■ rather be faid When he (its in Place3 be is {.another Man. “ Of4# Sir Francis Bacon'* Of XII. TT is a trivial Grammer*School Text, but yet worthy a wife Mans confideration. Qpeftion was asked of Dentojlhenes, What was thecheif part of an Orator? He anfwered, What next } A?Hon^ What next again ? Attion : He faid it that knew it beft, and had by nature himfelf no advantage in that he commended. A ftrange thing, that that part of an Orator which . is but fuperficical^ and rather the vertue . of a Player, fhould be placed fo high above thofe other noble parts of Invention» Elocution, and the reft: Nayalmoft alone 3 as if it were All in All. But the reafon is plain. There is in humane Nature .. generally more of the Fool, then of the : Wife 5 and therefore thofe faculties, by } which the foolifh part of mens minds is 32 taken, are moft potent. Wonderfull like u is the cafe of Boldnefs in Civil bufinefs: & What firft ? Boldnefs 3 What fecond and L third ? Boldnefs. And yet Boldnefi is a jk. Child of Ignorance and Bafenefs, far in- * feriour ’i- Of Boldncjs. 4

1 Of Cjoodncfs, and Cjoodnefs of I Stature. XIII. TTake Goodnef in this fenfe, the affe&ing of the weal of Men, which is that the ‘ Grecians call Fhilanthropia $ and the Word Humanity (as it isufed^ is a little too light toexprefsit. Goodnefs I call the Habit, and .'Goodnefs of Nature the Inclination. This of all Vertuesand Dignities of themind is the greateft, being the Chara&er of the Diety 5 and without it Man is a bufie, mifchievous, wretched thing , no better then a kind of iVermine. Goodnefs anfwers to the Theological Vertue Charity, and admits no excels, but Errour. The defire of power in excefs icaufed the Angels to fall 5 the defire of ' knowledge in excefs caufed Man to fall $ but in Charity there is no excefs, neither can iAngel or Man come in danger by it. The iinclinationto Goodnefs is imprinted deeply jin the nature of man; infomuch, that if it ' iflue not towards men,it wil take unto other living Creatures, as it is feen in the Turks, ja; cruel people, who neverthelefs are kind E 2 to512^ Sir Francis BaconV Ejfays to Beads, and give Alms to Dogs and Birds, j Infopiuchas E^cctojreporteth, a Chri--ft;an Boy in Conftantinople had like to have: been doned, for gagging, in a waggidwefs, -a long Billed Fowl. Errours indeed, in this i Vertue in Goodncfs or charity may be com- -mitted. The Italians have an ungracious ? Proverb, Tanto huoti cheval-nicnte , So good V tb^t he if good for nothing. And one of the* Do&ors of Italy, Nicholas Macchiavel, had J the confidence to put in writing, almodin f plain tearms: That the Chriflian Faith had 1 given up good men in prey, to thoje that are ty- H rannical andunjufl: which he fpake,becaufe r indeed there was never Law, or Seur Neighbors but the Portraiture. Sell all \thon haji.audgive it to thepoor.and follow we': ! but fell not all-thou haft, except thou cqme, :and follow me Vthat is, except thou have à 'Vocation, wherein thou may ft do as mircfr ;good with little means, as with great ? for :otherwifé, in feeding the Streams, thou drieft the Fountain. Neithéris there only tt \Habit of Goodnefs,directed by right reafont >but there is iri fomé men,even ‘inNature,â difpofition towards it } as onfthe other fide* fthere is a natural malignity. For there bé •that in their Nature do not affeftthe good :of others. The lighter fort rof malignity ftUrneth but to acrofnefs, or fro ward nefs, :oraptnefs to oppofe,or difficiIenefs,or the Hike 5 but the deeper fort to envy and meet Irnifchief Such men in other mens calamities, are as it were in feafon, and are ever :on the loading part} not fo good as thé I Dogs that licked Lazarus fores, but like jFlies, that are ftill buzzing upon any thing .[that is raw ; Mifanthropi, that make it their .jpra&ife to bring mentothe Bough, and yet D 3 have54 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejjays have never a Tree for thepurpofeinthein Gardens,as ’timon had. Such difpofitions are! the very errours of humane Nature 3 and yet they are the fitted Timber to make: great Politicks of: Like to knee Timber, that is good for Ships that are ordained; to be tolled, but not for building Houfes,,, that (ball ftand firm. The parts and fignsiM of Goodnefs are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to Strangers, it (hews he is; 1 a Citizen of the World j and that his heart -isnolfland cut off from other Lands, but ) a Continent that joyns to them. If he be compaffionate towards the affti&ions of others, it (hews that his heart is like the: noble Tree, thatis wounded itfelf,whenit:L gives the Balm. If he eafily pardons and remits offences, it Ihews that his mind is plan^ ted above Injuries, fo that he cannot be: Ihot. If he bethankfull for fmall benefits, , it Ihews that he weighs mens minds,and not! their traih. But above all, if he have Saint < Taul's perfe&ion, that he would with to be: an Anathema from Chrift, for the Salvation ! of his Brethren, it (hews much of a Divine :• Nature and a kind of conformity with] Chritf himfelf. onss Of 3sfobtlity. XIV. E will (peak of Nobility, Firft asa Portion of an Ejiatc, then as a Con-i dition of Particular Perfons, A Monarchy, ’ where there is no Nobility at all, is ever a t pure arid abfolu^e Tyranny, as that of the ? Turks, for Nobility attempers Soveraignty, ; and draws the eyes of the People fome-what afide from the tine Roy all. But for Democracies they need it not: and they are commonly more quiet,: and left fubjeft to Sedition,than wherethere are Stirps of Nobles „ For mens eyes are upon the bufinefs, and not upon the perfons > or if upon the perfons, it is for the bufinefs fake, as fittefty and not for flags and pedigree. We fee the Switzers laft well, notwithftanding their diverfity of Religion,J and of Cantons : for Utility is their Bdrid,and not Refpe&s. The United Provincesof the Low-Countries in their Government excel: for where there is an Equality, theConfultationsare more indifferent, and the payments(and tributes more chearful. A great and ^po- E4 tent56 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays tent Nobility addeth Majefly to a Monarch, but diminifheth Povv^r3 8c putteth Life 8c Spirit into the People, but prefleth their Fortune. It is well when Nobles are not too great for Soveraignty,, not for juftice, and yet maintained in that height, as the Info» lency of Inferiours maybe broken upon them, before it come on too fad upon the Majefly of Kings. A numerous Nobility cauf-eth Poverty and inconvenience in a State; for it isafurchargeof expence*and befides,’ it being of Neceflity that'many of the No-1 bility faM in time tobe weak in Fortune, it makctha kind of Difproportion between Honour and Mean s,- r As for Nobility ,in Particular, Pcrfons $ It is a reverend thing to.fee an ancient Cafllej or Building not in decay j or to fee a fair Timber Tree found and perf^d: how much more to behold jan; Ancient Nobte Family, which hath flood againfl the Waves and Weathers of.Tiijiei For New Nobility is but the Ad of Powers but Ancient Nobi-' lit] is the Ad of Time. Thofe that are firft raifed toNobility, are commonly more Ver-tuous, but lefs Innocent than their Def» cendantsj for there is rarely any Rifing, but by a commixture of good and evil Arts. But it is reafonthe memory of their Verges remain to thejr Pofterity5 and their faul tsOf Seditions and Troubles^ 57 faults dye with themfelves. Nobility of Birth commonly abatethlnduftry} and he that is hot induftrious,envieth him that is.Befides, Noble Perfons cannot go much higher, and he that ftandeth ataftay when others rife, can hardly avoid motions of Envy. On the other fide. Nobility extinguifheth the Paffive Envy front others towards them > beeaufe they are in pofiefiibn of Honour* Certainly Kings,.• that have able; Men of t\\e\fNobitity, < (hall find ea(e in employing them, and a better Aide into their bufinefs: for People naturally bend to them, as born in fome fort to command. Of Seditions 4nd Troubles. SHepherds of People had need know the Kalanders of T?mpejls in States which are commonly greateft when things grow to equality 5 as natural Tempeftsare great-eft about the JEcptino&ia. And as. there are certain hollow blafts of Wind, and fecret fwellings of Seas, before a Tempeft, fo are there in States. '-----lUe58 Sir Francis Bacon/ Fjjays ------lUe etiam ccecos infiare Tumultus S Ingrojpng, '] great Pajlurages§ and the like. For removing Difcontentments3 or at 4 leaft the danger of them, there 19 in every :: State (as we know") two portions of Sub’-' jetts^the Noblef and the Commonalty. When cone of thefeis Difcontent, the danger is not great* for common people are of flo$y emotion, if they be not excited by the great? cerfort} and the greater fort are offmall ' ftrength, except the multitude be apt and »iready to move of themfelves. Then this - is the danger, when the greater fort do but ■ wait for the troubling of the Waters a-emongftthe meaner, that'then they may i :declare themfelves. The Poets feign, that ' the reft of the Gods would have bound i Jupiter 5 which he hearing of, by the Counsel of Pallas,fent for Briarius with hishun-fdredhands, to come into his aid. AnEm-* :blem no doubt, to (hew how fafeit is for ^Monarchs to make fure of the good will nof common people, To give moderate liberty for Griefs and 1 ^Difcontentments to evaporate, (Co it be «without too great Infolency or bravery J ;:isafafeway. For he thatturneth the Hu-trmours back, and maketh the Wound bleed run wards, endangereth malign Ulcers, and pernicious Impoftumations, F TUf66 Sir Francis Bacon'/ Ejfays The part of Epimetheus mought well become Prowcthcw in the cafe of Difconterit- -tnents ? for there is not a better provifion i againft them. Epimctheus, when griefs and f evils flew abroad, at laft (hut the Lid, and : 'kept Hope in the bottom of the Veflel. Certainly the politick and artificial nou--ilfhingand entertaining of Hopes, and carrying men from Hopes to Hopes,is oneofthe 3 heft Antidotes againft the Poyfonof Dif--contcntweijts. And it is a certain fign of a & wife Government and Proceeding, wheni it can hold mens hearts by Hopes, when it) cannot by Satisfaction $ and when it can r handle things infuch manner, as no evil ! fhall appear fo peremptory, but that it hath fome out-let of Hope: which is the; lefs hard to do , becaufe both particular 3 Pei Ions and Factions are apt enough to r flatter themfelves, oratleaftto brave thatj which they believe not. Alfo the fore-fight and prevention, that t-therebeno likely or fit Head, whereunto » Difcontented Tcrfons may refort, and un---der whom they may joyn, is a known, but 3 an excellent point of caution. I under- -■ ftand a fit Head to be one that hath Great- J nefsand Reputation, that hath Confidence J with the Difcontented Party, and uponfr whom they turn their eyesj and that is -* thought 1Of Seditions and Troubles^ 6 j thought Difcontented. in his own parties iar$ which kind of perfons are either to .■be woij, and reconciled to the State, and ;that i$ a fall: and true manner 5 or to be fronted with fome other of the fame Par» ry that may oppofe them, and fo divide :he Reputation. Generally the dividing ,md breaking of all Factions andCoftibina* r:jons that are adverfe to the State , and fettingthem atdiftance, or at lead diftruff imong themfel ves* | is not one of the word .Remedies. For it is a defperate cafe, if .rhofe that hold with the proceeding of .:he State, be full of Difcord and Faction $ md thofe that areagainft it,be. Entire and .United* I ha ve noted, that fome Witty and fharp .Speeches, which have fallen from Princes, .save given fire to Seditions. Ctefardid him ,felf infinite hurt iq that Speech, Syllanefii* vitliterasy non pot nit dill are : for it did •utterly cut off that Hope, which men had .entertained, that he would at one time or other give over his Difratorlhip* Qalba .undid himfelf by thatSpeeeh, Legi dfinri-iitent) nonemi , for it put the Souldiers out of Hope of the Donative. Trobw like» wife by thatfpeech, Si yixere non opt# erit Atop Hus Roto an 0 itoperio militibus : /V j&eeeh of great defpair for the Souldiers ? t* 2 Artd86 Sir Francis Bacon’s Effays And many the like. Surely Princes had: need, in tender matter., and ticklifh times,* to beware what they fay } efpecially ini thefe (hort Speeches, which flie abroad-like Darts, and are thought to be (hot out of their fecret Intentions. For as for large; Difcourfes, they are flat things, and not?i fo much noted. Laftly, Let Princes againft all Event»; not be without fome great Perfon, one, i or rather more, of Military Valor near! Unto them, for the repreffing of Seditionsi in their beginnings. For without that,theie ufeth to be more trepidation in Court, upon the firft breaking out of Troubles, than1: Were fit. And the State runneth the danger of that, which ’Tacitus faith j Atqne habitus animorum fnity ut pejjimuw facinus i auderent pauciy p lures vcllent, o nines p at eren* -tnr. lBut let fuch Military Perfons be;, allured, and well reputed of, rather them) Famous and Popular, holding alfbgood j, correfpondence with the other great Men-L inthestate, or elfe the Remedy is worfef than the Difeafe.69 Of Atheifm. XVI. T Had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Atcorun, : than that this Uni verfal Frame is without a : mind. And therefore God never wrought 1 Miracle to convince Athdfm , becaufehis ) ordinary Works convince it. It is true, t that a little Philofophy indineth Mans i mind to Atheifm, but depth in Philofophy ! bringeth Mens minds about to Religion» 1 For while the mind of Man looketh upon 1 fecond Caufes fcattered, it may fometimes t reft in them* and go no further: but when i it beholdeth the Chain of themConfcde-i rate and Linked together, it mufts needs ‘ flye to Providence and Deity. Nay, even ) that School which is moft accufed of A-i theifin, doth moft demonftrate Religion z 1 That is, the School of Leucippus, and Democritus, and Epicurus. For it isathoufadd • times more credible, that four mutable Elements, and one immutable fifth Eflence, duely and eternally placed, need no God, J than that an Army erf'infinite final! jPor-f tions, or Seeds unplaced, fhould have • produced this order and beauty without F 3 aSir Francis Bacon*s Ejfays a Divine Marfhal. The Scripture faith, T& -Fool hathfaicl in his heart, There fs no Cod: I is notfaid, The Fool hath though} in his heart s So as he rather faith it by rote to himfelfii as that he would have, than that he can throughly believe it, or be perlwadedo it. For hone deny, there is a God> but thofe for whom it maketh that there were no God. It appeareth itvnothihg more.': that Atheifm is rather in the i/p,than in the Heart of Man, than by this j That Atheifr. will ever be talking of that their Opinion, as if they fainted in it within themfelves,^ and would be glad to be ftrength-ened by the confent of others’! Nay more, you fhallhave Atheifls ftrive to get: Difiiples, as it fareth with other Sefts. And* which is mofbof all, you fHall have: of them that will fu/Fer for Atheifm andi not recant^whereasif they did truly think, that there were no fuch thing a&God, why i Ihould they trouble themfelves Epicurus is charged, that he did but ■ difTemble: for his credits fake^ when he -affirmed,. There'were BleJJed Natures, but fuch as en- > joyed, themfelves, without having refpeft j to the Government of the World : where- ' in, they fay, he did temporize $ though i in fee ret he though^ there was no God. put certainly h£istraduced$for his Words ; *5 areOf Atheifm\ JI are Noble and Divine} Non Deos vulgi rie* gareprofanum, fed vulgi Opiniones Diis ap-plicare profanum. Flato. could havefaid no more. And although he had the confidence to deny the Adminijlration, he had not the power to deny .the Nature. The' Indians of the Wejl have natnes for. their particular gods, though they havenO name forced} as if the Heathens (hould hgve had the names, of Jupiter, Apollo.,' A4arsi &c. but not the word Deus } which fhews, that even thofe barbarous people have the notion, though they have notthe latitude and extent of it. So thatagainft Atheijlr the very. Savages take part with the very fubtileft Philosophers: The Contemplative Atheijt is rare: A Diagoras, a Rioh, a Lucian perhaps, and fome others y and yet they feem to be more than they are : For that all that impugn a received Religion or Su-perjiition, are bytheadverfe part branded with the name of Atheijls. But the great , Atheiils indeed are Hypocrites, which are ever handling Holy things, but without feeling 5 fo as they muft needs be cauterized in the end. The Caufes of Atheifme areDiviJions in Religion, if they be many : for any one main Division addeth Zeal to bothfides, but many Divifions introduce^ Atheifwe* Another is., Scandal of Prfc'fts^ F 4 6 when’72 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejftys when it is come to that, which Saint Ber* yard faith. Non eft jam dicere, ut populus, ftc facerdos: quia necftc populusy ut facerdos, A third is, Cuftom of Trophane Scoffing. in Holy Matterx, which doth by little and little deface the Reverence of Religion. And laftly , Learned times, efpecially with peace and profperity : for troubles 2nd adverfities do more bow Mens minds to Religion, They that deny a God> de* ftroy Mans Nobility: for certainly Man i s bf kin to the Beads by his Bodyand if he be not of kin to God by his Spirit, he is a bafe and ignoble Creature. It deftroys likewife Magnanimity, and the railing humane Nature: for take an example of a Dog, and mark what a generality and courage he will put on,when he finds him* felf maintained by a Man,who to him is in* dead of a God, or Meliornatura : Which courage is manifeftly fuch,asthat Creature without that confidence of a better Nature than his own, could never attain. So Man, whenhereftethand afliireth himfelf upon Divine prote&ion and favour, ga-theretha force and faith, which humane Nature in it felf could not obtain. Therefore as Atheifm is in all refpefts hateful, fo in this, that it depriveth humane Nature ©f the means to exalt it felf above humane Frailty.Of Superjtition; Frailty. As it is in particular Perfons, fo k is in Nations. Never wasthere fuch a Stitt for Magnanimity, as Rome. Of this State hear what Cicero faith, Quam volumus y licet, patres confcripti, nos amemus tamen nec numero Hifpanos^ nec robore Gallos, nec calliditate Panos, nec artibus Cracos» nec denique hoc ipfo hujus Gentis & Terrt .do-mefiico nativoque fenfu Italos ipfos & Lath nos'■) fed Pietate ac Religione^ atque hac una Sapientia, quod Deorum Immortalium JSfc~ mine, omnia regi gubernariqne perfpeximus ^ omnes Gentes Nationefquefuperavimus. Of Superflitiw, XVII. |T were betterto have no opinion ofGad I at all, than fuch an opinion as is unwor-I thy of him: For the one is Unbelief, the i other is Contumely $ and certainly super* \Jlitionisthe reproach of the Deity, Plutarch 1 faith well to that purpofe: Surely (faith I he) I had rather a great deal men Jhould fay^ 1 there teas no fuch man at all as Plutarch,than \ that they Jhouldftys that there was one Via* tarch,74 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays tarch, that would eat his Children as foon as they were horn 5 as the Poets fpeak of Sa- ■ turn. And as the Contumely is greater to- > wards God, fo the Danger is greater to- • wards Men. Atheifm leaves a Man to Senfe,, to Phylofophy, to Natural Piety, to Laws, t to Reputation j all which may be guides s to an outward Moral Vertue, though Re- • ligion were not: But Superjlition difmounts i all thefe, and erefreth an abfolute Monar- -chy in the minds of men. Therefore A- • theifm did never perturb States • for it: makes men wary of themfelves, as looking; no further: And we fee the times inclined . to Atheifm ("as the time of Auguftus C fed order. It was gravely faid by fome of: the Prelates in the Counfcl of Trent, wher§ j the Dodtrineof the Schoolmen bare great; fway, That the School-men were likjAjlrono-\ xnerfy which did feign Eccentrickj, and Epi- j cycles j and fuch engins of Orbs, to fave the | Phenomena 5 though they knew there were no { fuch things; And in like manner, that ]Ofsuperjlition. 75 the School-men had framed a number of fubtile and intricate Axioms and Theorem to fave the prafrife the Church. The Caufes of superjiition are, pleafing and fen-fual Hites ana Ceremonies: Excels of Outward and Pharifaical Holinefs: Overgreat 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 cannotbut breed mixture of Imaginations: And laftly, Barbarous Times, efpecially joyned with Calamities and.Difafters, Superjiition without avail is a deformed thing y for, asitaddeth deformity to an Apelobefo likeaMan : fothe fimilitude of Superjiition'to Religion makes it the more deformed. And as wholefome Meat corrupteth to little Worms: fo good Forms and Orders corrupt into a Number of petty Obfervances. There is a Super-flit ion, in a voidin ^Superjiition, when men think to do beft,if they go furtheft from the Superjiition formerly received. Therefore Care would be had, that (as it farethinill Purgings^the good be not taken away with the bad,which commonly is dohe}when the Peopleds the Reformer,76 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Efayt Of Trave. xvnr. TKw/,in the youngerSort,is a part of Education 5 in the elder, a part of Experience. He that Travelleth into a Country before he hath fome Entrance into the Language, goeth to School and not to 1ra* veL That young men Travel under fome Tutor, or grave Servant, I allow well, fo that he be fuch a one that hath the Language, and hath been in the Countrey before , whereby he may be able to tell them, what things are worthy to be feen in the Countrey where they go, what Acquaintances they are tofcek,wbatExer-cifes or Difcipline the Place yeildeth. For elfe young men (hall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a ((range thing, that in Sea-voyages, wKerethere is nothing to be leen but Sky and Sea, men (hould make Diaries i but in Land-Travel^ wherein fo much is to be obferved, for the mod part they omit it $ as if Chance were fitter to be regiftred than Obfervation. Let Diaries therefore be brought in ufe. The things to be feen and obferved are the Courts of Princes,Of Travel, 77 Princes, efpecially when they give Audience to Embalfadours : the Courts of Juftice, while they fit and hear Caufes* and fo of Confiftories Ecclefiaftick : the Churches and Monafteries,with the Monuments which are therein extant : the Walls and Fortifications of Cities and Towns j andfo the Havens and Harbors: Antiquities and Ruins : Libraries, Colleges, Difputations and Le&ures* where any are: Shipping and Navies : Houles and Gardens of State and Pleafure near great Cities: Armories, Arfenals, Magazines, Exchanges, Buries, Ware-houfes: Exercifes of Horfmanlhip , Fencing, Training of Souldiers, and the like: Comedies j fuch whereunto the better fore of Perfons do refort. Treafuries of Jewels and Robes: Cabinets and Rarities. And to conclude, whatfoever is memorable in the Places where they go. After all which the Tutours or Servants ought to make diligent enquiry. Asfor Triumphs, Mafques, Feafts, Weddings, Funerals Capital Executions, and fuch Shews, Men need not to be put in mind of them 5 yet are they not to be neglefted. If you will have a young man to put his Travel into a little room, and in (horttimeto gather much, this you muftdo. Firft, aj vvasfaid, he78 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays he muft have fome entrance into the language before he goeth. Then hemufthave fuch a Servant or Tutor as knowethjthe Countrey, as was likewife faid. Let him carry with him alfo fome Card or Book,de-fcribing the Countrey where he TraveUcth, which will be a good key to his Enquiry^ Let himkeepalfo a Diary.Lethim not flay long in one City or Town, more or lefs* as the Place defer veth, but not long: Nay,when he ftayeth in one City or Town, let him change his Lodging from one end and part of the Town to another which is a great Adamant of Acquaintance. Let him fequefter himfelf from the Company of his Country-men, and diet in fuch Places where there is good Company of the Nation where he TraveUcth. Let him upon his Removes from one Place to another, procure recommendation to fome Perfon of Quality, refiding in the Place whither he removeth, that he may ufe his Favour in thofe things he defireth to fee Or know. Thus he may abridge his Travels with much profit. As for the Acquaintance which is to be fought in Travel, that which is mod of all profitable,is Acquaintance with the Secretaries and employed Men of Embaffa^ dors 5 for fo in Travelling in one Country, he {hall fuck the experience of many. LetOf 'Travel. 79 : hin} alfo fee and vifit eminent Perfons, in r all kinds,which are of great Name abroad , : that he may be able to tell how the Life [ agreeth with the Fame. For Quarrels, : they are with Care and Difcretion to be l avoided : They are commonly for Mi-.ftrefles. Healths, Place, and Words. And let a Man beware, how he keepeth Company with Cholerick and Quarrelfome I Perfons,for they will engage him into their > own Quarrels. When a Traveller returneth fhome, let him not leave the Countries 1 where he hath Travelled, altogether be-1 hind him, but maintain a Correfpondence i by Letters with thofe of his Acquaintance »which are of moft Worth. And let his [Travel appear rather in his Difcourfe, than iin his Apparel or Gefture j and in hisDif-i courfe let him be rather advifed in his An-1 fwers, than forward to tell Stories: And I Jet it appear, that he doth not change his 1 Country Manners for thofe of Foreign I Parts, but only prick in fome Flowers of I that he hath learned abroad, into the I Cuftomes of his own Country.  Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejjay. Of Empire. XIX. TT is a miferable State of Mind , to have few things to defire, and many things to fear 3 and yet that commonly is the Cafe of Kings, Who being at the higheft, want matter of defire, which makes their minds more languiihing, and have many Reprefentations of Perils and Shadows, which makes their minds the lefs clear. And this is one Reafon alfoof that effed which the Scripture fpeaketh of 5 That the Kings heart is inferutable. For, multitude of Jealoufies, and lack of fome predominant defire that fhould marfhaland put in order all the reft, maketh any Mans Heart hard to find or found. Hence it comes likewife, that Princes many times make themfelves Defire, and fet their Hearts upon Toyes: fometimes upon a Building, fometimes upon ere&ing of an Order, fometimes upon the advancing of a Perfon, fometimes upon obtaining excellency in fome Art, or Feat of the Hand 3 as Nero for playing on the Harp, Domi-Of Empirèi St fiait foi* Certainty of the Hand with the * Arrow, Commodus for playing at Fence, \Caracalla for driving Chariots, and the like. This feemeth incredible unto thofe that know not the principal, That the mind Sof Man is more cheared and refrejhedby pro-if ting in fmall things, than by Jianding at a iftay in great. We fee alfo that Kings that "have been fortunate -Conquetours in their ifirft years, it being nòt poffible for them tei rgo forward infinitely, but - that they muft [have fome check or arreffin their fortunes, turn in their latter years to be Superfluous rand Melancholly i As did Alexander the ! Great, Diode fi an$ andin our memory \Charles the Fifth, and others : for he that iis ufed to go forward, and findeth a Stop, Talleth out of his own favour, and is not the thing he was. To fpeak now of the true Temper of lEmpire : It is a thing rare, and hard to >keep; for both Temper and Diftempet seonfifi of Contraries. But it is one thing ito mingle Contraries, another to enter-xhange them. The Anfwer of Apollonius :to Vejpacian is full of excellent Inftruâion y \yejpacian asked him. What was Nero’/ 0« Overthrow f He anfwered^ Nero could touch {and tune the Harp wed? but in Government \fometitfies he ufed to wind the pins too high, G fome-*82 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays fometises to let them down too low. And certain it is, that nothing deftroyeth Authority fo much, as the unequal and untimely enterchange of Power Prejjedtoo far, and Relaxed too much. This is true, that the Wifdom of all thefe latter Times in Princes Affairs, is rather fine Deliveries, and Shiftings of Dangers and Mifchiefs, when they are near, f than folid and grounded Courfes to keep » them aloof. But this is but to try Matte- « ries with Fortune: and let men beware,,; how they negleft and fuffer matter ofi Trouble to be prepared : for no man can r forbid the fpark, nor tell whence it may j come. The difficulties in Princes Bufinefsi: are many and great j but the greateftf. difficulty is often in their own mind. For itfi is common with Princes^ (faith Tacitus) toy will Contradictories. Sunt plerumque Re-gum voluntatcs vchementes, & inter fe con—: trarja. For it is the Solecifm of Power, to:: think to Command the End, and yet not i endure the means. Kings have to deal with their Niighbourss\ their Wives^ their Children, their Prelates3 or Clergy, their Nobles, their SecondNoble. j or Gentlemen^ their Merchants, their Com-v* mens, and their Men of War, And frorrni all thefe arife Dangers, if Care and Cir-ii CLiaifpeftion be not ufed. Fir ft, jOf Empire. 83, Firft, for their Neighbours: There can :* no general Rule be given (the Occafions care fo variable) fave one, which ever :>holdeth, which is. That Trinces do keep» Idue Centinel, that none of their Neighbors :do over-grow fo, (by incrcafingof Territory, by embracing of Trade, by Ap* nproaches ,or the like) as they become more .able to annoy them, than they were. (This is generally the work of (landing Counfels to forefee, and to hinder it. During that Triumvirate of Kings, King Henry f-he 8. of England, Francis the I. King of France, and Charles the 5. Emperour, there ;was fuch a Watch kept, that none ef the Three could win a Palm of Ground, but ilthe other Two would ftraight-wayes balance it, either by Confederation* or if need were, by a War, and would not ini •any wife take up Peace at Intereft. And ■the like was done by that League, ("whicli 1 Cuiccjardinc faith, was the Security of on of Crifpus, a young Prince, of rare to-1 wardnefs, by Conjhtntinus the Great, his' Father, was in like manner fatal to his Houfe y]Of Empire. ' 85 Houfe 5 for both Conflantinus and. Con-Jlanqe his Son dyed violent Deaths } and 1 Conjiantius his other Son did little better, who dyed indeed of Sicknefs, but after that Julian#* had taken Arm?, again (l him. The deftru&ion of pemetriw, Son to Philip the Second of Macedon, turned upon the Father, who dyed of {Repentance. And many like Examples there are, but few or none where the Fathers.had : good by fuch diftruft, except it were Where the Sons were up in open Arms againft them j as was Selymus the firft, againif Ba-jazet, and the three Sons, of Henry the Second, King of England. For their Prelates: When they are proud and great, there is alfo danger from them 5 as it was in the times ofAnfelmus and Thomas Beckft, Arch-Bifhops of Canterbury, who with their Crofters did almoft try it with the Kings Sword} and yet they had to deal with ftoutand haughty Kings} William Rufus'-) Henry the firft, and Henry the fecond. The danger is not fromAhe &tates but where it hatha dependance of forein Authority} or where the Church-men come in, and are ele&ed, not by the collation of the King, or particular Patrons, but by the People. For their Nobles: To keep them at a G 3 diftance86 sir Francis Bacon'sEfihys diftance it is not amifs, but to deprefs them may make a King more abfolute, but lefs fafe,and lefs able to perform any thing that he defires. I have noted it in myHiftoryof King Henry the feventh of England, who deprefled his Nobility 5 whereupon it came to pafs, that his times were full of Diffi-. eulties and Troublesj for the Nobility though they continued loyal unto him, yet did they not co-operate with him in his bufinefs 5 fo that in effedl he was fain to do all things himfelf. For their second Nobles: There is not much danger from them, being a Body difperfed. They may fometimes difcourfe high, but that doth little hurt. Befides they are a counterpoize to the higher Nobility, that they grow not too potent: And laftly,being the tnoft immediate in Authority with the common People, they do bell: temper popular Commotions. For their Merchants : They are Vena •porta 5 and if they flourirti not, a kingdom may have good Limbs, but will have empty Veins, and nourifh little. Taxes and Imports upon them,do feldom good to the Kings Revenue 5 for that he wins in the Hundred, he leefethinthe Shire 3 theper-ticular Rates being increafed, but the topi bulk of Trading rather decreafed, ForOf Counfel. 87 For their Commons: There is little dan-: ger from them, except it be where they have great and potent .Heads, or where you meddle with the point of Religion, or their Cuftomes, or means of Life. For their Men of War: It is a dangerous State, where they live and remain in a Body, and are ufed to Donatives, whereof we fee examples in the Janazaries and Pretorian Bands of Rome : ButTraynings of Men, and Arming them in feveral places, and under feveral Commanders, and without Donatives, are things of Defence, and no Danger. Princes are like to Heavenly Bodies, which caufe good orevil times 5 and which have much Veneration, but no Rejl. All Precepts concerning Kings, are in effect comprehended in thofe two Remembrances Memento quod es Homo, and Memento quodes Deus3 or Vice Dei j the one bridleth. their Power, and the other their Will. THe greateft truft between Man and Man is the truft of Gwing Counfel: For in other confidences Men commit the XX. G 4 parts88 . Sir Francis BaconV Ejfays parts of Life, their Lands, their Goods, their Children, their Credit, fome particular Affair:Butto fuch as they make their jCounfil/ours, they commit the whole, by how much the more they are obliged to all faith and integrity. The wifeft Princes need not think it any diminution to their Greatnefs, or derogation to their Sufficiency, to relye upon Counfel. God himfelf is not without, but hath made it one of the great Names of his blefled Son : T he Counfellour. Solomon hath pronounced, that in Counfel is Stability.Things will have their firfl: or fecond agitation * if they be nottofled upon the arguments of Counfel, they will be tolled upon the waves of For-tune, and be full of inconftancy, doing and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken man. Solomons Son found the force of Counfel^ as hisFatherfaw the. neceffity of it. For the beloved Kingdom of Goi was firft rent and broken by ill Counfef upon which Counfel there are fet for in-ftruttion the two marks, whereby Sad Counfel is for ever belt difcerned, that it Was young Counfel for the Perfons, and vi? plent Counfel for the Matter. The ancient times do fet forth in figure, both the incorporation, and infeparable conjun&ion of Counfel with Kings, and theOf Qounfel. 89 i the wife and politick ufe of Counfel by * Kings'-» the one in that they fay 9 Jupiter did marry Metis, which fignifietfi Counfel, ^ whereby they intend that Sovereignty is f married to Counfel j the other in that which ' followeth, which was thus: They fay af-: .ter Jupiter was married to Metis.: (he conceived by him, and was with Child: but [Jupiter fuffered her. not to ftay till ihe brought forth, but eat her up , whereby he became him felf with Child, and was delivered of f alias Armed out of his Head j which monftrous Fable containeth afecret ' of Empire , how Kings are to make ufe of i their Counfel of State. That firft they nought to refer matters unto them, which is inhe firft begetting or impregnations but /whenthey are elaborate,moulded, 8c (hap-3 ed in the womb of their Counfel, and grow iripe, and ready to be broughtforth, that r then they fuffer not their Qouufel to go ( through with the refolutiori and dire&i- > on, as if it depended on them.5 but fake r the matter back into their own hands, and r make it appear to the World, that the [ Decrees and final Dire&ians (which, be-»caufe they come forth with Prudence and L Tower, are refembled to Pallas ArmecT)pro- > ceeded from themfelves: And not only | from their Authority, but (the more to addSir Francis Bacon*/ Effays add reputation to themfelves) from their Head and Device. Let us now fpeak of the Inconveniences of Connfel, and of the Remedies. The Inconveniences that have been noted in calling and ufing Connfel, are three : Firft, the revealing of Affairs, whereby they become lefs fecret. Secondly, theweak-ning of the Authority of Princes, as if they were lefs of themfelves. Thirdly, the danger of being unfaithfully Connfelled, and more for the good of them that Conn-fel, than of him that is Connfelled^ ox which Inconveniences, the Do&rine of Italy, and pra&ife of France in fome Kings times, hath introduced Cabinet Counfels j a Remedy worfe than the Difeafe. As to Secrecy: Princes are not bound to communicate all matters with all Connfellors, but extratt and feleft. Neither is it neceffa-ry, that he that confulteth what he fhould do, fhould declare what he will do. But let Princes.beware, that the unfecreting of their Affairs comes not from themfelves. And as for Cabinet Counfels, it may be their Motto 5 Plenus r 'tmarum funt: 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 ex- treamOf Counfel. 91 tream Secrecy> which will hardly go beyond one ortwoPerfonsbelicles the King: Neither are thofe Counfels unprofperous> for befides the Secrecy, they commonly go on conftantly in one Spirit of Diredion without diftradion. But then it muft be a prudent King, fuch as is able to grind with a Hand-mill $ And thofe Inward Conn cel-lours had need alfo be wife Men, and efpe-cially true and trufty to the Kings ends 5 as it was with King Henry the Seventh of England, who in his greateft bufinefs imparted himfelf to none, except it were to Morton and Fox. For weakning of Authority : The Fable (heweth the Remedy. Nay, the Majefty of Kings is rather exalted than diminiftied, when they are in the Chair of Counfel. Neither was there ever Prince bereaved of his dependencies by his Counfel, except where there hath been either an over-geatnefs in one Counfellor, or an over-ftrid combination in divers, which are things foon found and holpen. For the laft Inconvenience, that Men will Counfel with an Eye to themfe Ives : Certainly, Non inveniet fidem fuperterram^ is meant of the nature of times, and not of all particular perfons. There be, that are in nature, faithful, qnd fincere, and plain, and dired 3£2 Sir Francis Bacons Effays direct jnot crafty,and involved : LetFrin* as above all draw to themfelves fuch na-tures. Befides, Counfellors are not common- ' Iy fo united,but that one Counfellor keepeth Gentinel over another 5 fo that if any do Counfel, out of fafrion, or private ends, it commonly comes to the Kings Ear. But the bcfi: Remedy is, if Princes know their Councilors^ well as their Councilors know ' them: Trine ip if efivirtus maxima nope fuos. And on the other fide , Councilors fhould not be too fpeculative into their Soveraigns Perfon. The true compofition of a Counfellor js rather to be skill’d in their Mailers Bufinefs, than in his Nature 5 for then he is like to advife him,8c not to feed his humour. It is of lingular ufe to Princes, if they take the Opinions of their Counfel, both feperately and together. For private 1 opinion is more free, but opinion before . others is more reverend. In private, Men are more bold in their own humors, and in confort, Men are more obnoxious to o-thers humours: therefore it is good to take both. And of the inferiour fort, rather , in private, to preferve freedom, of the 1 greater, rather in confort, to preferve re-fpe&.It is in vain for Princes to take Counfel concerningOf Counfel. 93 concerning Matters, if they takeno Counfel likewife concerning Verjonsi for all Mat* ters are as dead Images $ and the life of the execution of Affairs refteth in the ’ good choice of Perfons. .Neither is ite-mough to confult concerning Perfons, Sc-: cttndum tetter a., as in idea or Mathematical Defcription, what the kind and charader of the Perfon fhould be, for the greatefl: errours are committed,and the mod judgement is (hewn in the choice of Individuals. It was truly faid, Optimi Cottfiliarii morttti j Books will fpeak plain, when Conttfellours blanch. Therefore it is good to be conver-fant in them, efpecially the Books of fuch as themfelves have been Adors upon the Stage. The Cottnfels at this day in mod places are but familiar meetings, where Matters are rather talked on than debated. And they run too fwift to the Order or Ad of Conn* fel. It were better, that in Caufes of weight, the Matter were propounded one day, and notfpoken till the next day. In node Conjilh/m. So was it done in the Commiffion of Union between England and Scotland, which was a Grave and Orderly Affembly. I commend fet days for Petitions: for it gives both the Suitors more certainty for their Attendance 5 and94- Sir Francis Bacon*/ Efiays it frees the meetings for Matters of EBate, that they may Hoc agere. tn choice of Committees for ripening Bufinefs for the Counfel, it is better tochufe indifferent Per-fons,than to make an Indifferency, by putting in thofe that are Brong on both (ides* I commend alfo Banding Commijftons} as for Trade, for Treafure, for War,for Suits, for fome Provinces: For where there be divers particular Counfels ^and but one Conn-felof State, ('as it is in Spain) they are in effed no more than Banding Commijfions^ favethat they have greater Authority. Let fuch as are to inform Counfels out of their particular ProfefBons (as Lawyers, Seamen, Mint-men , and the like,) be firB heard before Committees, and then, as oc-cafionferves, before theCounfel. And let them not come in multitudes, or in a Tri-bunitious mannerj for that is to clamor Counfels, not to inform them. A long Table, and a fquare Table, or Seats about the Walls, feem things of Form, but are things of Subfiance 3 for at a long Table, a few at the upper end in effed fway all the bufinefs } but in the other Form, there is more ufe of the Counfellors Opinions that fit lower. A King, when he prefides in Counfel, let him beware how he opens his own inclination too much in that which he propounded 3Of Delays, 95 rpoundeth 5 for elfe ConnfeUors will but take the wind of him,and inftead of giving Free Xomfel, fing him a Song of Placebo, Of Delays. XXI. FO R. T U N E is like the Market, where many times if you can ftay little, the Price will fall. Andagain, it is fometimes like Sybil/a‘s Offer, which at firft offereth the Commodity at full,then confumeth part and part,and ftill holdeth upthePrice.For Occasion fas it is in the Common VerfeJ turneth a bald Noddle, after fbe hathprejented her Lockj in Front, and no hold taken j or at leaft turneth the Handle of the Bottle firft to be received, and after the Belly, which is hard to clafp. There is furely no greater Wifdom, than well to time the Beginnings and Onfets of Things. Dangers are no more light, if they once feem light 5 and more Dangers have deceived Men, than 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 too96 Sir Francis Bacon s Pjj^ys too long, it is odds he will fall afleep. On the other fide, to be deceived with two long Shadows, (as fome have been, when the Moon was low, and (hone on their Enemies back,) andfo to (hoot off before the time j or to teach Dangers to come on, byoverearly Buckling towards them, is another extream. The Rjpenefs orlln-ripenefsof the Occafion(aswefaidJ) mud ever be well weighed 5 and generally it is good to commit the beginnings of all great A&ions to Argus with his hundred eyes, and the ends to Briarius with his hundred hands 5 firfl: to Watch, and then to Speed. For the Helmet of Pluto, which maketh the Politick Man go invifible, is Secrecy in the Counfel, and Celerity in the Execution. For when things are once come to the execution, there is no Seerecy comparable to Celerity 5 like the motion of a Bullet in the Air, which flyeth fo fwift, as it outruns the Eye. Of Cunning. XXII. WE take Cunning for a Sinifter or Crooked Wifdom. And certainly thereof Cunning: 9/ dhere is great difference between a Cunning Man, and a Wife Man, not only iti ooint of Honefty, but in point of Ability* There be that can pack the Cards, and jjret cannot play well: fo there are fome r:hat are good in Canviffes and Factions, ~hat are other wife Weak Meta. Again* it is one thing to underftand Perfons, and another thing to underftand Matters; for many are perfeft in mens Humors, that are not greatly capable of the real part of Bufi-nefs, which is the Conftitution of one that aathftudied Men more then Books. Such men are fitter for Pradlife $ than for Counsel : and they are good but in their own Alley, turn them to new men, and they nave loft their Aim : fo as the old Rule j:o know a Fool from a Wife man $ Jllitte nmbos nudos ad ignotos, videbis, doth icarce hold for them. And becaufe thefe Running Men are like Haberdafhers of final! \Wares,it is not amifs to fet forth their (hop. It is a point of Cunning^to wait upon him$ rwith whom you fpeak, with your eye* as (the Jefuites give it in precept: For there imay be many W ifemen, that have fecret -Hearts,and tranfpafent Countenances. Yet [this would be done With a demure Abating tof your Eye fometimesjas the Jefuites alfo Ido u(& Ad.' H98 sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays Another is, that when you have any I thing to obtain of prefent difpatch, you 1 entertain and amufe thè party with whom c you deal,with fome other Difcourfe,that he f be not too much awake to make Obje&i- -ons. I knew a Counfellor and Secretary, that 4 never came to Queen Elizabeth of England \ with Bills to fign, but he would always i firffc put her into fome Difcourfe of Eftate, 5 that fhe might the lefs mind the Bills. The like furprize may be made by mo- * ving things, when the party is in haft, and 1: cannot ftay to confider advifedly of that : is moved. If a Man would crofs a Buftnefs, that he t doubts fome other would handfomely and 1 effe&ually move, let him pretend to wilh t it well, and move it himfelf in fuch fort i as may foyl it. The breaking off in the midft of that,,, one was about to fay,as if he took himfelfl up, breeds a greater Appetite in him with t whom you confer to know more. And becaufe it works better, when any .. thing feemeth to be gotten from your by Queftion, than if you offer it of your 1 felf} you may lay a Bait for a Queftion, <. by fhewing another Vifage and Countenance than you are wont, to the end, to c giveoccafion for the party to ask, whatj the IOf entitling. 99 • he matter is of the Change 5 As Nehem~ <'h did j And I had not before that time been 'id before the King. lathings that are tender and unpleifing,' t is good to break the Ice by fome whofe words are. of lefs weight, and to referve ,he more weighty voice to come in as by nhance,fo that he may be asked theQuefti-»n upon the other Speech 3 ' as Harcijjus did n relating to Claudius the marriage of Mfejjalina and Silius. In things that a Man would not be feet* rti himfelf, it is a point of Cntmivgto borrow the name of the World, as to fay 3 i'he Worldfays 3 or, 7here is a (peeeh abroad. I knew one.; that when he wrote aLetr ntr, he would put that which wasmoft ma? serial in the Pojlfeript, as if it had been a Jymatter. I knew another, that when he came to aavefpeech, he would pafs over that he intended moft, and go forth, and come aack again and fpeak of it, as a thing that ae had almoft forgot. • Some procure themfel ves to be furprized it fuch times, as it is like the party that ■ ‘hey work upon will fuddenly come upon • !hem, and to be found with a Letter in their "land, or doing fomewhat which they are 'not acuftomed 3 to the end they may be op- H 2 pofedlOo Sir Francis Bacon / Ejjays pofedof thofe things, which of thcmfelvcs ] they aredefirousto utter. It is a point of Cunnings to let fall thofe Words in a mans own Name, which he would have another man learn and ufe, and thereupon take advantage. I knew two that were Competitours for the Secretaries Place in Queen Elizabeths time, and yet kept good Quarter between them-felves, and would conferr one with another upon theBufinefs} and one of themr faid, That to be a Secretary in the Decli~: tiation of a Monarchy, was a ticklilh thing* and that he did not affeft it: the other ftraight caught up thofe Words, and dif-1 courfed with divers of his Friends, That; he had no reafon to defire to be a Secreta-r ry in the Declining of a Momrchy. Tht j firft man took hold of it, and found meanr it was told the Queen^ Who hearing of f Declination of a Monarchy ^ took it fo ill, au Ihe would never after hear of the other*: Suit. There is a Cunnings which we in Englan d call, The Utrningof the Cat in the Van ^whicr is, when that which a man fays to another he layes it as if another had faid it to himr and to fay truth, it is noteafie, when fiichd matter pafl'ed between two, to make it ap r pear from which of them it firfl: movi v and began.Of Cunning. 101 It is a way that fome men have to glance Land dart at others, by juftifying thetnfel ves by Negatives j as to fay, This I did not: . As Tigellinus did towards Burrhus j So non \diverfos Jpes, fed incolumitatcm Impcratorjs ef/npliciter fpettare. Some have in readinefs fo many Tales , and Stories, as there is nothing they would rinfinuate, but they can wrap it into a Tale, .which ferveth both to keep themfelves rmore in Guard, and make others carry it »with more Pleafure, It is a good point of Cunningy for a man :rofhape the Anfwer he would have in his own Words and Propofitions 5 for it makes _the other party flick the lefs. It is flrange, how long fome men will (ye in wait to fpeak fomewhat they defire ;:o fay, and how far about they will fetch, and how many other matters they will oeat over to come near it j it is a thing of great Patience, but yet of much Ufe. Afudden, bold, and unexpe&ed Question, doth many times furprize a man, and lay him open : Like to him, that having Changed his Name, and walked in Pauls, another fuddenly came behind him, and nailed him by his true Name, whereat '.Iraightwayes he looked back. But thefe fmall Wares, and petty Points H 3 ofib2 Sir Francis Bacon V Ejfays 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 Min pafs (oYtVjfe. Bur certainly fome there are, that know the Reforrs and Falls of Bufinefs, that can* not fink into the Mam of it: Like a Houfe that hath convenient Stairs and Entries, but never a fair Room. Therefore you fhall fee them find out pretty Loofes in the Conclufion, but are no ways able to examine- or debate Matters: and yet com* monly they take advantage of their Inability, and would be thought Wits of di* re&iort. Some build rather upon theabu-fingof others, and (*as we now fayj Tutting trices upon them; than upon foundnefs of their own proceedings. But Solomon faith, Truclens advert! t adgrcjjusfuos, Stul-tus divertit ad dolos. Of IVifdom for a Mans felf. x X111. A hi Ant is a wife creature for it felf, but f it is a fhrewd thing in an Orchard or $ Garden. And certainly Men that are great j Lovers of Lhemfelves, waftethe Publick., Divide sOf Wifdomfor a Mans Self. 103 I Divide with reafon between Self-love and l. Society, and be fo true to thy Self as thou cf be not falfe to othersjei’pecially to thy Kins; ; and Country. It is a poor Center of a mans i A&ions, Himfelf. It is right Earth* for j that only Hands fad: upon his own Center, ■? whereas all things that have Affinity with | the Heavens, move upon the Center of a-! nother which they benefit. The referring j of all to a Mans Self is more tolerable in ^ a Soveraign Prince } becaufe Themfelves z are not only Themfelves 5 but their Good z and Evil isatthe peril of the publick For-1 tune. But it is a defperate Evil in a Servant r to a Prince, ora Citizen.in a Republic!*, i For whatfoever Affairs pafs fuch a mans 1 hands, he crooketh them to his own ends, / which mull needs be often Eccentrickto t the ends of his Mailer or State : There-t fore let Princes or States choofe fuch Ser-' vants as have not this mark $ except they i mean their Service fhould be made but the ; acceffary. That which maketh the effeft t more pernicious, is, that all proportion is [ loll , it were dif-proportion enough for the I Servants good, to be preferred before the i Mailers $ but yet it is a greater extream, / when a little good of the Servant fhallcar-1 ry things again!! the great good of the Ma-1 fters. And yet that is the cafe of bad officers, H 4 Treafurers,104 Sir Francis Ytacori s Fffays Treafurers, Ambafiadors, Generals, and pther falfeand corrupt Servants, which fet a Byafs upon their Bowl, of their own petty ends and envies, to the overthrow of their Mafters great and important Affairs. And for the moft part, the Good fuch Servants receive, is after the model of theirownfortune ; but the Hurt they fell for that Good, is after the model of their Mafters fortune. And certainly it is the nature of extream Self-Lovers, as they will fet an Houfe on fire, and it were but to roaft their eggs: And yetthefe men many times hold credit with their Mafters, be-caufe their ftudy is but to pleafe them, and profit Thewfelves $ and for either re-fped they will abandon the good of their Affairs. Wifdom for a Mans Self is in many branches thereof a depraved thing. It is the Wif-dom of Rats, that will be fure to leave the Houfe fome time before it fall. It is the Wifdom of the Fox, that thrufts out the £dd^r,who digged andmaderoom for him. It is the Wijaom of Crocodiles, that fhed tears when they would devour. But that which is fpecially to be noted, is, that thofe which (as Cicero fays of Fost/pey) are, $ui amantes fwc riyali, are many times unfortunate. And whereas they have all theirOf Innovations, 105 ’theirtimefacrificed to The mfe Ives, they become in the end Themfelves Sacrifices to the Inconftancy of Fortune, whofe wings they thought by their Self-Wifdom to have pinnioned. Of Innovations. XXIV. AS the births of living Creatures at firft are ill fhapen, fo are all Innovations, which are the births of Time. Yet not-•; withftanding, as thofe that firft bring Honour into their Family, are commonly rr more worthy than moft that fucceed: So :the firft Prefident (if it be good ) is fel-cdome attained by imitation. For 111 to a mans nature, asitftands perverted, hath ia natural motion, ftrongeft in continuance: g But Good, as a forced motion, ftrongeft £ at firft. Surely every Medicine is an Innova-tion j and he that will not apply new Re-nmedies, muft expefl: new Evils: for Time dis the greateft Innovator. And if Time o of courfe alter things to the worfe, and 7 Wifdomeand Counfel (hall not alter them il to the better, what (hall be the end ? It si is true , that what is fetled by cuftome, thoughto6 Sir Francis Bacons Ejfaj/s though it be not good, yet at leaft it is fit. And thofe things which have longgoneto-gether, are as it were confederate withini themfelves, whereas new things peice not fowell: But though they helpby their utility, yet, they trouble by their Inconformi-ty. Befides, they are likeJlrangers, more admired, and lefs favored. All this is true, if time flood ftill 5 which contrariwife moveth fo round, that a froward retention of cuflom is as turbulent a thing, as an Innvoation : and they that reverence too much old times, are but a fcorn to the new. It were good therefore, that Men in their Innovations, would follow the example of Time it felf} which indeed Inno~ vateth greatly, but quietly,and by degrees, fcarceto be perceived: for otherwife what-foever is new, is unlooked for 5 and ever it mends fome, and pairs other : And he thatisholpen, takes it for a Fortune, and thanks the Time} and he that is hurt,for a Wrong, and imputeth it to the Authour. It is good alfo, not to try experiments in States, except the neceflity be urgent, or the utility be evident} and well to beware, that it be the Reformation that draweth on the Change. and not the defire of Change thatpretendeth the Reformation. | Andlaflly, that the Noveltyy though it be notOf Difpatch• toy not re)etted,yet beheld for a fufpeft: And as the Scripture faith, That we make aJland upon the ancient way, and then look, about and difcover what is the Jlraight and right way, and Jo to walkin it. Of ‘Difpatc xxv. AFfe&ed Difpatch is one of the moft dangerous things tobufinefs that can be. It is like that which the Phyficians call Tre-digejiion^ or Hajly Digejlion, which is fure to fill the Body full of crudities, and fecret feeds of Dileafes. Therefore riieafure not Difpatch by the times of fitting, but by the advancement of the bufinefs. And as in Races,it is not the large Stride, or high Lift that makes the Speed : So in Bufinefs, the keeping clofe to the matter, and not taking of it too much at once, procureth Difpatch. It is the care of fome, only to come off fpeedilyfor the time, or to contrive fome falfe periods of bufinefs , becaufe they may feem Men of Difpatch. But it is one thing to abbreviate by contraftmg, another by cutting off; and bufinefs fo handled at feveral fittings orio8 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejfays or meetings, goeth commonly backward or forward in an unfleady manner. I knew a Wifeman^that had it for a by-word,when he fa w men haften to a Conclufion $ Stay a little, that we may make an end the[ootier, Oirthe other fide, True Difpatch is a rich thing. For Time is the meafure of Bufinefs, as Money is of Wares j and Bufinefs is bought at a dear hand , where there is fmall Difpatch. The Spartans and Spaniards have been noted to be of fmall Difpatch, Mivtnga laMuerte de Spagnay Let my Death come from Spain, for then it will be fure to b e long in coming. Give good hearing to thofe that give the firft Information in Bufinefs, and rather direct them in the beginning, 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 be more tedious while he waits upon his memory, than he could have been,if he had gone on in his own courfe. But fome-times it isfeen, that the Moderator is more troublefome than the A&or. Iterations are commonly lofs of time 5 but there is no fuch gain of time, as to iterate often thestate of the guetfionj for it chafeth away many a frivolous Speech as it is coming forth. Long and curious Speechesof Difpatch. 109 Speeches are as fit for Difpateh, as a Robe :or Mantle with a long train is for a Race. Prefaces, and Paffages, and Excufations, 'and other Speeches of reference to the iPerfon, are great waders of time, and 1 though they feem to proceed of modefty, l they are bravery. Yet beware of being too r material, when there is any impediment orobftru&ion in mens Wills, for pre-occupation of mind ever requireth preface of Speech, like a fomentation to make the unguent enter. Above all things, Order, and Dijlribu-tion, and Singling out of Tarts is the life of Difpatch, fo as the Dijlribution be not toofubtile, for he that doth not divide, will never enter well into bufinefs: and he that divideth too much, will never come out of it dearly. To choofe time, is to fave time, and an unfeafonaole motion is but beating the Air. There be three parts of Bufinefs j the Preparation, the Debate or Examinations and the Tcrfebtion^ Whereof if you look for Dijpatch, let the middle only be the work of many, andthefirfl: andlaft the work of few. The proceeding upon fomewhat conceived in writing, doth for the moft part facilitate Difpatch : for though it Ihould be wholly rejected, yet that Negative is more pregnant of di- , re&ioo,HO sir Francis BaconV Effays rettion, than an Indefinite^ Afhes are more generative than Dull, Of Seeming Wife, XXVI. ÏT hath been an opinion, that the French are wiferthen they Teem, and the Spaniards feem wifer then they are. But howfo-ever it be between Hâtions,certainly it is fo between Man and Man. For as thtApoflle faith of Godlinefs, Having a pew of Godli-nefs, but denying the power thereof } fo certainly there are in points of wifdom and fufficiency, that do nothing or little very folemnly $ Magno conaUtnugas. It is a ridiculous thing, and fit for a Satyr, to per-fons of judgment, to fee what (hifts thefe Formalifts have,.and what profpe&ives to make Superficies to feem Body, that hath depth and bulk. Some are fo cloferefervedj as they will not fhew their Wares, but by a dark light, and feem always to keep back fomewhat : And when they know within themfelves, they fpeak of that they do not well know, would neverthelefs feem to others, to know of that which they may not well fpeak. Some help themfelves wiOcvOf Stenting Wije. fix ■ with countenance and gefture, 'and are wife by Signs 5 asCuero faith of Pifi, that when he anfwered him, he fetched one IdF his Brows up to his Forehead, and bent :the other down to his Chin: Refpondes, al-tero ad Frontent fublato0 altera ad Afentum tdeprejfo fupercilio, crndilitatem tiln nonpla-sere. Some think to bear it, byfpeakinga great .word, and being peremptory 5 and goon, and take by admittance that, which .:they cannot make good. Some, whatfoevet as beyond their reach, will feem to defpife . or make light of it, as impertinent or curious, andfo will have their Ignorance feem 'Judgment. Some are never without a i difference, and commonly by amufingmen with a fubtilty, blanch the matter 5 of whom A. Gellivs fa it h^Homimtm delirum qui 'verborttm rninnUk ret urn frangit pondera. Of which kind alfo Plato in his Protagoras bring-eth in Prodicu* in fcorn, and maketh him :makea Speech, that confifteth of diftinfti-tonsfrom the beginning to the end. Generally fuch men in all deliberations find eafe >to beof the Negative fidc,and affeft a credit to objeft and foretell difficulties : For when Propofitionsare denied, there is an tend of them} but if they be allowed,it re-{qui'reth a new work 5 which falfe point of rwifdom .is the bane of buiinefs. To conclude,112 Sir Francis Bacon'* Efiays elude, there is no decaying Merchant, or inward Beggar, hath fo many tricks to uphold the credit of their Wealth, asthefe empty Perfons have to maintain the credit of theirfufficiency. SeemingWife Menm&y make (hift to get opinion, but let no man choofe them for employment* for certainly you were better take for buflnefs a man fomewhat abfurd, than over-formal. Of Friend XX V IT. IT had been hard for him that fpake it* to have put more truth and untruth together in few words, than in that Speech, Whofoever if delighted in folitude, if either a wilde Beajl, or a God. For it is moft true, that a natural and fecret hatred, and aver-» fation towards Society in any Man, hath fomewhat of the favage Bead * but it is moft untrue, that it (hould have any character at all of the Divine Nature, except it proceed not out of a pleafure in Solitude, but out of a love and defire to fe-quefter a mans felf fora higher convention* fijeh as is found to have been falfe-, ly and feignedly in fome of the Heathen* asOf Friendf)ip. I13 vas Epimenides the Cdndian,Numa the Roman, ' Empedocles the Scicilian, and Apollonius of ? 'Ey Ana 5 and truly and really in divers of (the ancient Hermits, and Holy Fathers of r(the Church. But little do men perceive v what Solitude is, and how far it eXtendeth : ifor a Crowd is not Company, and Faces l are but a Gallery of Pidiures, and Talk but a TinckJingCpmbal, where there is no Love; fTheLatine Adageiiieeteth with it alittle, ^ Magna Civitas, magnafolitndo 5 becaufeiri ta great Town Friends are fcattered, fo that :there isnotthat fellowfhip, fcrthenioff :part, which is in lefs Neighborhoods. But we may go further, and affirm mod truly, that it is a meet and miferable folitudettf /« Want Friends, without which the World is :buta Wildernefs: and even of thisSenfe^ Italfo of solitude, whofoeverin theFrameof : his nature and Affedtions is unfit for Friend* .'Jhip. he taketh it of the Beaft, and not ::from Humanity. A Principal Fruit of Friendjhip is, the dEafe and Difcharge of the Fulnefs and 1!Swellings of the Heart, which Paffions of ^all kinds do Caufe arid enduce. Weknow1 ’IDifeafes of Stoppings and Suffocation*? ■;are the mod dangerous in the Body, and ditisnotmuchathefw'ife in the Mind 5 You i may take Sdrad to Open the Liver, Steel Jt id114 Sir Francis Bacon / Efiayt to open the Spleen, Flower of sulphur for i the Lungs9 Cajloreum for the Brain 3 but 1 no Receipt openeth the Heart, but a true j Ftiepd, to whom you may impart Griefs, ( Joys, Fears, Hopes, Sufpitions, Counfels, ? and whatfoever lieth upon the Heart, to < opprefs it, in a kind of Civil Shrift or Con- -feflion. It is a flrange thing to obferve, how " high a Rate Great Kings and Monarchs do < fet upon this Fruit of Friendjhip wherof we f fpeak , fo great, as they purchafe it many i times at the hazard of their own Safety and 1 Greatnefs. For Princes, in regard of the r diftanceof their Fortune from that of their 7 §ubje&s and Servants, cannot gather this 2 Fruit except (to make Themfelves capable r thereof^ theyraife fome Perfons to be as ? it were Companions, and almoft Equals to < themfelves which many times forteth to f Inconvenience. The modern Languages 1 give unto fuch Perfons the name of Favo rities or Trivadoef, as if it were matter ofl Grace or Converfation. But the Roman t name attaineth the true Ufe and Caufe.f' thereof, naming them Participcs Cur arum 5.$ for it is that which ty eth the knot. And we ? fee plainly that this hath been do.ne? not3 by weak and Paflionate rrinces only, but J by the Wifeft, andmoft Politique that ever j? reigned :Of Friettdjhip. 115 reigned: Who have oftentimes joyned to themfelves fome of their Servants, whom . both themfelves have called Friends, and fallowed others likewife to call them in the fame manner ufing the word which isrecei-ved between private men. L. SyUa, when he commanded Rome, :raifed Pompey (after furnamed the Great') jto that Height, that Pompey vaunted him-Telf for SyUa's Over match: for when he .bad carried the Confuljkip fora Friend of . his againft the purfuit of SyUa, and that :'SylIa did a little refent thereat, and began )to fpeak great, Pompey turned upon him . again, and in effect bad him be quietj For .that more men adored the Sun rifing , than ,\the Sun fetting. With Julius Decimvs, Brutus had obtained that Intereft, as he fee (him down in his Teftament, for Heir in ./Remainder after his Nephew. And this was :fthe Man that had power with him, to draw ihim forth to his death. For when Ctfined to a place, but where Friendjhip is, hall Offices of Life are as it were granted :to him, and his Deputy : for he may ex-sercife them by his Friend. How many ^things are there, which a man cannot with >tany face or comelinefs, fay or do himfelf} ■ \ A man can fcarce alledge his own merits »with modefty, much lefs extoll them : A -man cannot fometimes brook to fupplicate 3 or beg.; and a number of the like. But all '1 thefe things are graceful in afriends mouth, -»which are bluff ing in a mans own. Soa-3 gain, a mans Perfon hath many proper ■] Relations, which he cannot put off. A 1 man cannot fpeak to his Son, but as a Fa-lther$ to his Wife, but as a Husband 3 to d his Enemy, but upon tearms: Whereas a b a Friend may fpeak, as the Cafe requires, and not as it forteth with the Perfon: But 7 to enumerate thefe things were endlefs: I :{have given the Rule, where a man cannot t fitly play his<>wn part: If he have not a •. Friend, he may quit the Stage,124 Sir Francis BaconV Ejfays Of Expence. XXVIII. PIches are for fpending, and fpending] for Honor and good A&ions: There-: fore Extraordinary Expence muft be limited: by the worth of the occafion. Yor Voluntary Vndoing may be as well for a mans* Country, as for the Kingdom of Heaven, butt Ordinary Expence ought to be limited by at mans Eftate, and governed with fuch re- -gard, as it be within his compafs, and not j fubjeft to deceit and abufe of Servants, f and ordered to the beft (hew, that the t Bills may be lefs than the Eftimation a- • broad. Certainly, if a man will keep but :i of even hand, his Ordinary Expences ought 1 to be but to the halfof his Receipts. And if * he think to wax Rich, but to the third | part. It is no bafenefs for the greateft to defcend and look into their own Eflate. , Some forbear it, not upon negligence a- ; lone, but doubting to bring themfelves in- j to melancholly, in refpeft they (hall find it brokenjbut Wounds cannot be cured without fearching. He that cannot look into thisownEftate at all, had need both choofe | well thofe whom he employeth,and change ! themOf Exp c nee. 125 them often, for new are more timorous, and lefs fubtile. He that can look into his Eftatebutfeldom, itbehovehhim to turn all to certainties. A man had need;, if he be plentifull in fome kind of Expence, tobeasfaving again in fome other: As if he be plentifull in Dyet, to be favingin Apparel : If he be plentiful] in the Hall, ~ to be faving in the Stable 5 and the like. For he that is plentifull in Expences of all kinds, will hardly be preferved from decay. In clearing of a mans Eftate, he may as well hurt himfelf,in being in toofudden, as in letting it run on too long. For hafty Selling is commonly as difadvantageable aslntereft. Befides, he that clears at once will relapfe s for finding himfelf out of {freights, he will revert to his cuftomes: But he that cleareth by degrees, induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his Mind, as upon his Eftate. Certainly, who hath a State to repair, may not defpife fmall things: and commonly it is lefs difhonourable to abtidge petty Charges, than to ftoop to petty Gettings. A man ought warily to begin Charges, which once begun will continue $ but in matters that return not, he may be more magnificent. •/126 Sir Francis Bacon’s Ejjays Of the true Greatn of King- doms and EJlates. XXIX. THe Speech of Themijloctes the Athe- -man, which was haughty and arro- -gant, in taking fo much to himfelf, had I been a grave and wife obfervation and J cenfure, applyed at large toothers, Defi- ■ red at a Feaftto touch a Lute, hefaid, He 1 could not fiddle, but yet he could make a finall Town a great City. Thefe words (holpen a little with a metaphor) may exprefs two differing abilities, in thofethat deal in bu-finefs of Eftate. For if a true Survey be taken of CounfellorsandStatefmen, there may be found (though rarelyj thofe which . can make a small state Great, and yet cannot fiddle: As on the other fide, there will be found a great many that cmfiddle very cuuningly, but yet are fo far from being able to make a Sniall state Great, as their Gift lyeth tlfe other way, to bring a Great and Flourifhing Eftate to ruine and de- 1 cay. And certianly thofe degenerate Arts and Shifts, whereby many Coun-fellours and Governours gain both favour with their Matters, and eftimation with C 1, the Vulgar? deferve no better name than '' ' wA* IOf Kingdoms and Efiates. 127 Fiddling, being things rather pleating for the time, and gracefull to themfelves only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the State which they ferve. There are alfo (no doubt) Counfellours and Go-vernours which may be held fufficient (N6-* gotiispares) able to manage Affairs ,and to keep them from rrecipices, and manifeft Inconveniencies, which neverthelefs are far from the ability to raife and amplifie an Eftate in power, means, and fortune* But be the Workmen what they maybe, let us fpeak of the Work 5 That is; the true Greatnefs of Kingdoms and Ejiates, and the Means thereof. An Argument fit for Great and Mighty Princes to have in their hand, to the end, that neither by over* meafuring their Forces, they leefe themfelves in vain Enterprifes , nor on the Of therfide, by undervaluing them, theyde-r fcend to fearful and pufilIanimousC0#»ye£f* The Greatnefs of an Eftate in Bulk and Territory, doth fall under meafure 3 and the Greatnefs of Finances, and Revenue, doth fall under computation. The Poput lation may appear by Mufters, and the Number and Greatnefs of Cities and Towns by Cards and Maps. But yet there is not any thing amongft Civil Affairs, more fubjett to errour, than the right valuationP * 8 «S/r Francis Bacon*/ ^S)'/ luation, and true judgment, concerning I the Powerand Forces of anEftate. The Kingdom of Heaven is compared not i to any great Kernel or Nut, but to a Grain % ofMuflardfecd, which is one of the leaft. 3 Grains, but hath in it a Property and Spi- -rit haftily to get up andfpred. So are there : States great in Territory, and yet not apt 3 ' to Enlarge or Command j and fome that : have but a fmall dimenfion of Stem, and 1 yet apt to be the Foundations of great : Monarchies. Walled Towns, Stored Arfenals and j Armouries, Goodly Races of Horfe, Char-riotsof War,Elephants, Ordnance. Artil- ■ lery, and the like: All this is but a Sheep in a Lions Skin, except the breed and difpolition of the People be ftout and warlike. Nay, Number ( it felf) in Armies importeth not much, where the People is , of weak courage : For, (as Virgil faith ) It never troubles a Wolf how many the sheep be. The Army of the Perjians, in the Plains of Arbela, was fuch a vafteSeaof People, as it didfomewhat aftonilh the Comman* ders in Alexanders Army 5 who came to him therefore,and wilhed him tofet upon them by night } but he anfwered, He would not pilfer the ViCfory : And the defeat was eafie. i When Jigranes the Armenian, being encam- fOf Kingdoms and Ejtates. , 1^9 '.ped up on a Hill with 400000. Men, differed the Army of the Romans, being ‘ lot above 14000. marching towards him, * le made himfelf merry with it, and faid, ' fonder Men are too many for an AmbajJage, indtoofewfor aFigl.t: Bnr before the Sun 'net, he found them enough to give him ::he Chafe with infinite (laughter Many ire the examples of great odds between .Slumber and Courages fo that a man may ‘~ruly make a judgment, That tie principal point of Greatnefs in any State,ls-to have 11 Race of Military men. Neither is Mo-ny the Sinews of War, ( ns it is trivially* faid) where the Sinews of Mens Aroma. ;3afe and Effeminate People are failing. •Tor Solon faid well to Crcefits, (when in Indentation he (hewed him his Gold') Sir, *f any other come, that hath better Iron than •vott, he will be Majler of all this Gold. Therefore let any Prince or State think fober'y his Forces, except his Militia of Na-* rives be of good and valiant Souldiers. :And let Princes on the other fide, that •nave Subje&s of Martial difpofition , iinow their own ftrength, unlefstheybe Dtherwife wanting unto themfelves. As for Mercenary Forces, ( which is the Help rn this Cafe) all examples fhew*, that rvhatfoever Eftate or Prince doth red up-K, on130 ‘ sir Francis BaconVEjjays on therti, lie mayJpread his Feathers for d ] . time^ bnthe will mew them foon after. Thp/BleJJing of Judas and ifiachir will ! never'Meet, That the fame Feople or Nation s fould he both the Lions whelps and Ajje be-tween burthens: Neither will it be, that 1 a People over-laid with Taxes , fhouldj ever become Valiant and Martial. It is i true, that Taxes 'levied by Confentort the State, do abate mens Courage lefs, as i it hath been feen notably in the ExercifesL of the Low-Conntrics j and in fome degrees2 in theSahfidies of England: for you mufti note, that we fpeak now of the Heart, and) ’hot of the Purfe. So that although thci fame Tribute and Tax> laid byConfent, ok by Tmpofing, be all one to the Purfe, yeli it Works diverfly upon the Courage : fc~. that you may conclude, That no Feople, H yer-charged with Tribute^ is fit for Empire. Let States that aim at Greatnefi0 take: heed how their Nobibity and Gentlemen del multiply too faft. For that maketh thu the Common Subject grow to be a Peafantn. and bafe Swain,driven out of Heart,and iki effeft but a Gentlemans Laborerreven as you may fee in Coppice Woods. If you leavejoua Staddlestoo thicks yon fhall never have clea%\ *Vnderwoodfitt Jhrubs and Bufijes.SoinCouns treys, if the Gentlemen be too many, thd Common:\Of Kingdoms and Ejiafei. tfi omtnons will be bafe: and ybu will bring to that, that not the hiirldred Poll will e fit for an Helmet 3 efpecially as to the '1fantry^ which is the Nerve of anArrriy 3 id fo there will be great Population; and ttle Strength. This which I fpeak of,hath ieen nowhere better feeri, than by cotti-uring of England and France 3 >yhereof ngland, though farr lefs in Territory and copulation, hath been neverthelefs ' an v.ver-match 3 in regard the Middle FedpU r England make good Souldiers, which nePeafentso? France do riot. And herein ^e device of King llenry the Seventh, whereof I have fpoken largely in the 'rjlpry of his Life) was Profound and Mmirable in making Far'mes and Houfes i Husbandry, of a Standard 3 that is, hintained with fuch a Proportion of rind Unto them, as may breed a fubjeft 1 live in Convenient Plenty, and no rrvile Condition 5 and to keep the tough in the hands of the Owners and 5t meer Hirelings. And thus indeed you Ull attain to Virgtls Cha rafter which he ires to Ancient Italy: '——^Terrd potens Armijque atque ubere Glebe. ft 2 \ Neither132 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Eftays Neither is that State ( which for am 1 thing I know, isalmoft peculiar to England, t and hardly to be found any where elfe, exr: cept it be perhaps in Poland) to be paflec , ' over 5 I mean the State of Free-Servant s and Attendants upon Noblemen and Gentle \ men, which are no ways inferiour to th I Teomanry for Arms : And therefore, oih of all Queftion, the Splendour and Magi nificence, and great Retinues, andHofpi} tality of Noblemen and Gentlemen receiveo into Cuftome, doth much conduce untri, Martial Greatnefs , Whereas contrariwife) the Clofe and Referved Living of Nobleme \ and Gentlcmenycaufeth a Penury of Military Forces, By all means it is to be procured, thsf the Trunck, of Nebuchadnezars Tree c. Monarchy3 be great enough to bear thl; Branches, and the Boughs; that is, Thsi* the Natural subjects of the Crown or State! bear a fufficient Proportion to the Stran ger SnbjeCls that they govern. Therefore all States that are liberal of Naturalization towards Strangers, are fit for Empire, Frr to think that an Handfull of People ca.: with the greateft Courage and Policy i the World, embrace to large extentc ■ Dominion, it may hold for a time, butrJ'. will fail fuddenly.The Spartans were a nitr PeopTOf Kingdoms andEfiates• 133 People in point ofNaturaliziation, whereby, while they kept their Compafs, they flood firm 5 but when they did fpread, and their Boughs were become too great for their Stem, they became a Wind-fall up-con the fudden. Never any State was in this Point fo open to recieve Strangers m-j to their Body, as were the Romans ^ there-S fore it for ted with them accordingly : for ithey grew to the greateft Monarchy. Their mianner was to grant Naturalization, { which they called Jus Civitatis) and to ’grant it in the higheft Degree 3 that is, not (Only Jus Commercii, Jus ConmtbU, Jus H others from Tyranny and Oppreffion, and t the like. Letitfuffice, That no Eftate ex-[ pe for they take place in the ftouteft Natures: As in the example of Henry the Seventh of England, there was not a more Sufpicious Man, nor a more Stout: And in fuch a compofition they do fmall hurt. For commonly they are not admitted , but with examination whether they be likely or no 5Of Sufpicion. i45 t? jut in fearful Natures they gain ground too •j Taft. There is nothing makes a Man sufpeft *. mich,roore then to know little } and there-:i 'ore Men (hould remedy Sujpicion^by pro-* :uring to know more, and not to keep their !Sufpicions in fmother. What would Men - iave?Do they think thofe they imploy and leal with are Saints > Do they not think hey will have their own ends, and be truer o themfelvs then to them?therefore there s no better way to moderate Sufpicions q account upon fuch Sufpicions as true, j .nd yet to bridle them as falfe. For fo far t . Man ought to make ufe of Sufpicions,as to u m)vide,as if that (hould be true that he Suf . e8s, yet it may do him no hurt, sufpicions i :hat the mind of it felf gathers are hut Buz-? . tes,bnt Sufpicions that are artificially non* . ifhed,and put into Mens heads by the tales, .. end whifperings of others,have Stings.Certainly the beft means to clear the way in ..this fame Wood of Sufpicions, is franckly © communicate them with the Party that ae Sufpc&s j for thereby he (hall befure ’ to know more of the truth of them then ae did before j and withall, (hall make ,.ihat Party more circumfpeft, not to give . anther caufe of sufpicion. But this would , :ot be done to Men of bafe Natures % :"or they, if they find themfeyes ones L, SufpeUe^146 sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays J Sttfpeffed, will never be true. The Italian, fay, Sofeetto liccntia fede j as if Sufpiciot did give a Pafport to Faith : But it ough. rather to kindle it, to difeharge itfelf. Of Difcourfe. XXXII. SOmein their Difcourfe defire rather com mendation of Wit,m being able to hoik all Arguments, than of Judgment in dili cerning what is true: As if it were a praiCi to know what might be faid, and non what fhould be thought. Some have cei3 tain CommonPlaccs, and Themes, wherer. in they are good, and Want variety 3 whica kind of Poverty is for the moll part tedb. ous, and when it is once perceived, rid b culous. The honorable!!: part of TalUk isto give the Occafion, and again, tomci derate and pafs to fomewhat elfe$ fc3 then a Man leads the Dance. It is good 7 Difcourfe and Speech of Converfation, C vary and intermingle Speech of the prefers occafion with Arguments, Tales witi Reafons, asking of Quedions {with tellinn of Opinions, and Jet!: with Earned: Febof Difcourfe. 147 t is a dull thing to Tire, and as we fay; i iow 3 to Jade any thing too far. As for [eft, there be certain things which ought 0 be priviledged from it $ namely, Religion, Matters of State, Great Perfons, my Mans prefent Bufinefs of importance, itndany Cafe that deferved pitv. Yet there ne fomethat think their Wits have been a Jeep, except they dart outfomewhat that s piquant, and to the quick: That is a vain khich would be bridled. rFarce Fuer & forties ntcre Lorn. And generally men ought to find the., iifference between Saltnefs and Bitternefs. Certainly he that hath a Satyrical Vain, as e maketh others afraid of his Wit, fo e had need be afraid of others Memory. lie that Queftioneth piuch , fhall learn uuch, and content much 5 but efpecially :f he apply hisQueftions to the (kill of the Jettons whom he alketh: For he (hall give aem occafion to pleafe thcmfelyes in peaking , and himfelf (hall continually lather knowledg. But let his Queftions jot be troublefome 5 for that is fit for a iofer : And let him be fure to leave other den their turns to fpeak, ISfay, if there 1 any that would reign, and take up all L ? the148 Sir Francis Racon s Ejjays 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 Galliards. If you diffemble fometimes your knowledge of that your are thought to know, you fhall be thought anothei time to know that you know not. Speech of a Mans felf ought to be feldome, anc Well chofen. I knew one was wont to fay in fcorn, He muf needs be a Wife Man, hr Jpeaks fo much of himfclf: And there is bu\ one cafe, wherein a Man may commenci himfelf with good Grace, and that is, iri commending Vertue in another} efpecialljl if it be fuch a Vertue whereunto himfeSt pretendeth. Speech of touch toward) othersfhould be fparingly ufed: ForDi/i courfe ought to be as a Field, without ccnrr ing home to any Man. I knew two Noblemen of the Weft part of England, whereof thd theone was given to Scoff, but keptever Royal Cheer in his Houfe : The other would afk of thofe that had been at th i others Table, Tel/ Truly ^ was there never 1 Elout or dry Blow given :To which the Guete would an fwer. Such and fuch a thing pajjed i The Lord would fay, I thought he rvouli\ mar a good Dinner. Difcrction of Speech i morethan Eloquence j and to fpeak agreeable to him with whom we deal, is more tha ; tOf Plantations.. 149 to fpeak in good words, or in good order. A good continued Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, (hews flow-nefi* 3 and a good Reply, or fecond Speech without a good fetled Speech , (heweth Shallownefs and Weaknefs, as we fee in Beads, that thofe that are weak-eft in the Courfe, are yet nimbleft in the Turn 3 as it is betwixt the Greyhound, an;forImay juftly account new Plantations to :ibe the Children of former Kingdoms. I like . a Plantation in a pure Soyl, that is, where People are not Difplanted, to the end, to iPlant in others 5 for elfe it is rather an Extirpation, then a Plantation. Planting of tCountriesis like Planting of Woods 3 for L 3 youtjjo sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays you muffc make account to leefe almo.fi Twenty years Profit, and expert your Re! com pence in the end. For the principal thing that hath been thedeftru&ionof mot Plantations, hath been the bate and hath drawing of profit in the firftyears.Ttistrue Speedy Profit is not- to he negle&ed, as fa as may (land with the Good of the Planta» tion^ but no further. It is a fhameful apt unbleffed thing, totake theScumofPea pie 5 and wicked condemned Men, tobi the People with whom you Plant : AnV not Only fo, but it fpoileth the Plantation « for they will ever live like Rogues, anr not fall to work, but be lazy, and do mili chief, and fpend Vi&uals, and be quickl’ Weary 5 and then certifie over to thei; Countrey to thedifcreditof the Plantation The People wherewith you Flatit, ougt4 to be Gardners, Plough-men, Laborepi Smiths, Carpenters, Joyners, Filher met' Fowlers, with home few Apothecaries; Surgeons, Cooks, and Bakers. In a Counts of Plantation, firft look about what kind c Vi&ual the Countrey yields of it felf t Hand > as Chefnuts, Walnuts, Pine-Af pies, Olives, Dates, Plums, Cherries, Wile Honey, and the like, and make ufe c them. Then confider what Vidlual, or F culent things there are, which grow fpeecOf Plantations. 151 ly, and within the year j asParfnips, Carters, Turnips, Onipns, Raddifli, Arti-ehpkes of jferufakn/^ Jkfaiz^ and the like. For Wheat, Barley, find Oats, they ask too much labor: But with Peafe and Beans you may begin, both b^caufe they ask-ljefsla-bor, apd becaufe t^ey ferve for kleat, as well as for Bread. jAnd of flicq like wife cometh a great increpfe, and it is^a kipd of Meat. Above all.there ought to bebrought (lore of Bisket, Oat-meal, Flower, Meal, and the like, in the beginning, till Bread may be had. For Beads or Birds , take cheifly fuch as are lead fubjed to’Difeafes, and multiply faded 5 as Swine,. Goats, Cocks, Hens, Turkeys, Geefe, Houfe-Doves, and the like. The Vidua), in plantations ought to be expended, alrnod as in a befieged Town ^ that is, with certain Allowance 5 and let the main part of the Ground employed to- Gardens, or (Corn, be to a common dock, and to bp laid in, anddoredup, and then delivered put in Proportion, befides fome Spots of Ground that any particular Perfon will manure for his own private ufe. Confide? l ike wife what Commodities, the Soy], -where thp Plantation is, doth naturally yield , tljat they may fome way help to defray ...the charge of the plantation r So it be pot, as L 4 wassir Francis BaconV Effajs Wasfaid, to the untimely Prejudice of the main bufinefs 5 as it hath fared with Tobacco in Virginia. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much, and therefore Timber is fit to be one.If there be Iron lire, 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. Grow* ingSilk likewife, if any be, is a likely commodity. Pitch and Tar, where ftore of Firsand Pines are, will not fail. So Drugs, and Sweet Woods,where they are, cannot but yeild great profit. Soap Allies like wife, and other things that may be thought of. But moyl not too much under Ground} for the hope of Mines is very uncertain, and ufeth to make the Tlanters lazy in other things^ For Government, let it be in the hands of one affifted with fome Counfel} and let them have Commiffion to exercife Martial Laws with fome limitation. And above all, Let Men make that Profit of being in the Wildernefs, as they have God always, and his fervice before their eyes. Let not the Government of the Plantation depend upon too many Counfellors and Undertakers in the Countrey that Plant-tth} but upon a temperate number 5 and let thofe be rather Noblemen and Gentle- men?Of Plantations. 15 3 men, than Merchants 3 for they look ever to the prêtent Gain.1 Let there be Freedoms for Cuftom, till the Plantation be of Strength 3 and not only Freedom from Cuftom, but Freedom to carry their Commodities, where they may make théir beft of them, except there be fome fpecial caufe of Caution. Cram not in People, by-fending too faft, Company after Company, but rather hearken how they wafte, and fend Supplies proportionably 5 but fo, as the number may live well in the Plantation and not by furcharge be in penury. Tt hath been a great endangering to the health of fome Plantations, that they have built along the Sea and Rivers in marifti and unwholefome Grounds. Therefore,though you begin there to avoid carriage , and other like difcommodities, yet build (till rather upwards from the Streams , than along. It concerneth likewife the health of thé rlantationfhzt they have good ftore of Salt with them, thaï they may ufe it in their Vi&uals , when it fhall be neceffary. If you Plant where Savages are, do not onely entertain them With trifles and gin-gles, but ufe them juftlÿ and gracioufly, with fufficient guard neverthelefs 3 and do not win their favor by helping them to invade their Enemies, but for their defence it isi$4 AW* Francis Bacon / Ejfays is not ?tmifs. And fend oft of them over to the Country that riant, that they may fee a better condition than their own, and commend' it when they return. When the Plantation, \ grows to t ftrength, then it is time to riant with Women as well as with Men , that the Plantation may fpred into Generations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the finfulleft thing in the World to forfake or deftitute a Plantation once in Forwardnefs b for befidesthedif-honor, it is guiltinefs of Blood of many commiferable Perfons. Of ‘Riches. xxxiv. (Cannot call Riches better than the baggage of Vertue. The Roman word is better, Impedimenta, for as the Baggage is to an Army,fo is Riches to Vertue. It cannot be fpared, nor left behind, but ithin-dreth the March : Yea, and the care of it fometimes lofethor difturbeth the Vi&ory. Of great Riches there is no real ufe, except it be in the Diftribution, the reft is but conceit :Of Riches. 15$ conceit: So faith Solomon y where much fry there are manytoconfume it 5 and what hath the owner, but the fight of it with his eyes £ The Perfonal Fruition in any ManCanpot reach to feel great Riches: There is a Cu-ftody 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 Princes are fet upon little Stones and Rarities ? And what works of O dentation are undertaken, be-caufe there might feem to be fome ufe.of great Riches ? . But then you will fay, they may be of ufe to buy Men out of dangers or troubles : As Solomon faith. Riches are as a jlrong Hold in the Imagination of the Rich Man. But this is excellently exprefs-ed. That it is in Imagination, and not airways in Fatf : For certainly great Riches have fold more Men than they have bought out. Seek not proud Riches fuch as thou maid get judly, ufe foberly , didribute chearfully, and leave contentedly : Yet have no Abdradl nor Friarly contempt of them, but didinguidi, as Cicero faith well of Rabirius Toft hum vs , Injludio rei ampliji-cand£ apparebat, non Avariti£ pr^edam, fed Infrumentum Bonitati, quart, Hearken al-fo to Solomon, and beware of hady gathering of Riches : <%uife&inat ad Divitias, non156 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays nonetitinfons. The Poets feign, that when Tlutus CWhich is Riches) is feilt from Jupiter, he Iimp3, and goes flowly , but when he is ferit from Pluto, he runs, and is fwift of foot , meaning, that Riches gotten by good means, and juft labor, pace flowly: But when they come by the death of others (as by the courfe of Inheritance, Tefta-ments, and the like) they come tumbling upon a Man. But it might be applied like-wife to Pluto, taking him for the Devil 5 for when Riches come from the Devil (as by Fraud, and Oppreflion, and unjuft means) they come upon Speed. The Ways toinrichare many, and moft of them foul. Parfimony is one of the beft, and yet is not innocent 5 for it withholdeth Men from Works of Liberality and Charity. The Improvement of the Ground \s the moft Natural obtaining of Riches , for it is our Great Mothers Bleffing, the Earths, but it is flow 5 and yet where Men of great wealth do ftoop to Husbandry, it multi-plieth H/rAer exceedingly. I knew a Nobleman in England,that had the greateft Audits of any Man in my time : A great Grader, 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 number of the like points of Husbandry iOf Riches. 157 fo as the Earth Teemed a Sea to him in re-fpett of the perpetual Importation; It was truly obferved by One, that himfelf came very hardly to a little Riches , and very eafily to great Riches} for when a Mans ftock is come to that, that he can expeft the Prime of Markets, and overcome thole bargains, which for their greatnefs are few Mens Money, and be partner in the Induftriesof Younger Men, he cannot but encreafe mainly. The Gains of ordinary Trades and Vocations are honeft, and furthered by two things , chiefly 3 by Diligence, and by a good Name , for good andfair dealing. But the Gains of Bargains are of a more doubtfull Nature, when Men lhall wait upon others Neceffity, broke by Servants and Inftruments to draw them on, put off Others cunningly that would be better Chapmen, and the like pra&ifes which are crafty and naught. As for the Chopping of Bargains, when a Man buys, not to hold, but to Tell over again, that commonly grindeth double, both upon the Seller and upon the Buyer, sharings do greatly enrich,if the Hands be well cho-fen that are trufted. Vfury is thecertaineft means of Gain, though one of theworft^ as that whererby a Man doth eat his Bread, InJudore vultus alieni: and befides, doth plough15$ Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays plough upon Sundayes. But yet, certain though it be, it hath Flaws $ for that the Scriveners and Broakers do value unfound Men to fer ve their own turn. The Fortune, in being the firfl in an Invention , or in a Priviledge, doth caufe fometimes a won*? derful Overgrowth in Riches 5 as it was with the firft Sugar Man in the Canaries:> therefore if a Man can play the txuzLogici-an, to have as well Judgment as Invention, he may do great Matters, efpecially if the Times be fit. He that refteth upon Gains Certain, (hall hardly grow to great Riches j and he that puts all upon Adventures, doth oftentimes break, and come to Poverty: It is good therefore to guard Adventures with Certainties that may uphold Ioffes. Monopolies and Coemtion of Wares for Refale, where they are not reftrained, are great means to enrich, efpecially if the Party have intelligence what things are like to come into requelt, and to (lore him-felf before-hand. Riches gotten by service, though it be of the belt R.ife, yet when they are gotten by Flattery, Feeding Humours, and other Servile Conditions, they may be placed amongft the Word. As for fifhing for Teji aments and Executorjhips, ( asTacitus faith of Seneca, Te ft ament a & Orbos tanepuam Indagine capi ) it is yet worfe.of Riches. 159 worfe. By how much Men fubmit them-felves to meaner perfons, then in service Believe not much them that feem to defpife of Riches 3 for they defpife them that defpair of them, and none worfe when they come to them. Be not Penny-wife 5 Riches have Wings, and fometimes they Fly away of themfelves 3 fometimes they muft be fet Flying to bring in more. Men leave their Riches either to their kinred, or to the Publick 3 and moderate Portions profper beffc 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 elta-blifhed in Years and Judgment. Likewife glorious Gifts and Foundations are like Sacrifices without Salt, and but the Painted Sepulchres of Alms^ which foon will putrid fie and corrupt inwardly: Therefore mea-fure not thine advancements by quantity, but frame them by meafure 5 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. OfSir Francis Bacon’/ Ejjizys 160 Of ‘Prophecies. xxxv. I Mean not to fpeak of Divine Prophecies, nor of Heathen Oracles, nor of Natural Predi&ions, but onely of Prophecies that have been of certain Memory, and from hidden Caufcs. Saith the PythoniJJa to Sauf To morrow thou and thy Son flail be with me. Homer hath thefe Verfes, At Domjfs JEne£ cunBis dominabitur Oris *!Et Nati Natorum0 & qui nafcenturab illis. A Prophecy, as it feems, of the Roman Empire ; Seneca, the Tragedian, hath thefe Verfes, v - Venient Annis Secula feris quibus Oceanus Vincula rerum laxet, & ingens Pateat Tellus, Typhifque novos Detegat Orbes $ nec ft Terris Vtima Thule : A Prophecy of the Difcovery of America; The Daughter of Polycrates dreamed, thatf Of Prophecies. i6t Jupiter Bathed her Father,8c Apollo Anointed him 5 And it came to pafs that he was Crucified in an open Place, where theSuri made his Body run with Sweat, & the Rain wafhed it. Philip of Mace don dreamed he fealed up his Wives Belly 5 whereby he !did expound it that his Wife (hould be barren: But Arijlander the Soothfayer told ihim his Wife was ivith Child, becaufe »Men do not ufe to »Seal Veffels’ that are :empty; > A - Phantafme that appeared to 'M. Brutus in his Tent, faid to him, Philips *pis iteriim me videbis. Tiberius faid to Galba, iTu quoque, Galba degujlabis Imperium. In Wefpaczans time there went a Prophecy in the -Eatf, that thofe that {hould come forth of (Judea (hould Reign over the World; /Which though it maybe, was meant of our ISaviour, yet Tacitus expounds it of Vifpa^ 'dan. Domitian dreamed the night before rhe was (lain 5 that a Golden Head was 'growing out of the Nape of his Neck; * And indeed the Succeffion that followed rhim for many years made Golden Times, \Henry thefixthof England faid of Henry the Teventb, when he was a Lad and gave him ) Water, This is the Lad that full enjoy the ICrown, for which we flrwe. When I was in \France, I heard from one Doctor Pena, that :;the §>ueen Mother9 who was given to cu-162 Sir Franc'15. Bacon’/ Efiays rious Arts, caufed the King her Husbands, i Nativity to be Calculated under a falfe 4 Name: And the Aftrologer gave'a Judg-'• ment, that he fhould be killed in a Duel} i at which the Queen laughed , thinking * her Husband to be above Challenges and I Duels: But he was (lain upon a Courfe at j Tilt, the Splinters of the Staffe of Mon- * gon/ery going in at his Beaver. The trivial 1 Prophecy that I heard when I was a Child, < and Queen Elizabeth was in the Flower ofd her Years, was 5 When Hen/pe is fpun, England’/ done» Whereby it was generally conceived, that after the Princes had Reigned, which had the principal Letters of that Word Hen/pe, ( which were Henry, Edward, '• Mary, Philips and Elizabeth, ) England ' Ihould come to utter Confufion* which thanks be to Cod is verified in the Change of the Name} for that the Kings Style is now no more of England, but of Britain, There was alfo another Prophecy, before the Year of 88. which I do not well underload :Of Prophecies■. 163 There Jhall be feen upon a day, . Between Baugh and the May^ The Blackj?leet of Norway. When that is conte and gone, England build Houfesof Linte and Stòrie, For after Wars fall yon have none. It was generally conceived to be meant *of the spanifh Fleet that came in 88. Fòt rthat the King of Spains Sirname, as they fay, is Norway. The Prediction of Kegià-wontanusy oBogtffimus oUavus mirabilis Annts* Nas thought likewise accomplilhed, it? the fending of that great Fleet, being; the greateft in ftrength, though not in dumber , that ever fwam upon the Sea. dsfor Cleons Dream, I think itwas-ajefti t was, That he was devoured of a long Oragon $ and it was expounded of a Ma» ìer of Saufages that troubled him exceed-•jigly. There are numbers of the like ktnda ifpecially if you include Dreams and Pr'c* "actions of Afirology, But I have fet dowri’ »aefefewonly of certaincredit forexam-■>le. My judgment is, that they ought all ) be defpifed, and ought to ferve but for Vinter talk by the Fire fide : Though, ddien I fay Defpifed, I mean it as for Be-M 3 lisf*164. Sir Francis Bacon5/ Ejsays liefj for otherwife,the fpreding or publifh ing of them is in no fort to be Difpifedj fc they have done much mifchief. And I fe many fevere Laws made to fupprefs them That, that hath given them grace, an . fome credit, confifteth in three things; Firft, That Men mark when they hit! and never mark when they mifs 5 as the do generally alfo of Dreams, The fecon is, That probable Conjectures, or obfcui Traditions, many times turn themfelvr; into Prophecies, while the Nature of Mari which coveteth Divination, thinks it n: peril to foretel that, which indeed the< do but colledt : As that of Seneca's Verfil For fo much was then Subjed to Demort ftration, that the Globe of the Earth ha. great Parts beyond the Atlanticfa whic i might be probably conceived not to be a; Sea: And adding thereto, the Traditia> in Plato's Timeus, and his Atlantic us, might encourage one to turn it to a Tr < ditfzon. The third andLaft (whichis tk: Great one ) is, That almoft all of them being infinite in number, have been Ini poftures , and by idle and crafty Brai/i meerly contrived and feigned after tin: Event paft. <Of Ambition. xxxvi. AMbition is like Choler, .which is an Humor that maketh Men Aftive, ,'Earneft, full of Alacrity, and Stirring, if it i be not flopped : But if it be flopped, and cannot have his way, it becometh Aduft, :md thereby Malign and Venomous. So 'Ambitious Men, if they find the way open :’or their Rifing, and Drill get forward, they nre rather Bufie than Dangerous 5 but if rrhey be checkt in their defires, they become fecretly difcontent, and look upon Men ind Matters with an Evil Eye, and are beft bleafed when things go backward, which s the worft property in a Servant of a t?rince or State. Therefore it is good for iVinces , if they ufe Ambitious Men , to dandle it fo, as they be ftill Progrefiive, ind not Retrograde 5 which becaufe it cannot be without inconvenience, it is good not to ufe fuch Natures at all. For ftheyrifenot with their Service, they will ake order to make their Service fill with them. But fince we havefaid it were good :iot to ufe Men of Ambitious Natures, except it be upon neceffity, it is fit wefpeakin M 3 what%66 Sir Francis Bacon’/Ejfays what cafes they are of neceflity. Good) Commanders in the Wars muft be taken.r be they never fo Ambitious $ for the ufe ole their Service difpenceth with the reft : and to take a Soldier without Ambition, i;i to pull off his Spurs. There isalfo grea’t ufe of Ambitious Men, in being Skreens tc: Princes in matters of Danger and,Envy * for no Man will take that part, except h«r belike aSeeldDove, that mounts ana mounts, becaufe he cannot fee about himr There is ufe alfo of Ambitious Men,\n puli ling down the greatnefs of any Subje& that over-tops ? as Tiberius ufed Macro iii 'pulling down of Scjanus. Since therefor i they muft be ufed in fuch cafes, there refti eth to fpeak how they are to be bridled) that they may be lefs Dangerous. There i lefs Danger of them, if they be of mea^ Birth, than if they be Noble 5 and if the :-be rather harlh of Nature, than Gracior and Popular 5 and if they be rather new raifed, than grown cunning, andfortifie: in their Greatnefs. It is counted by fome r-weaknefs in Princes to have Favorites $ bu,\ it is of all others thebeft remedy again Ambitious Great Ones. For when the wa v of pleafuring and difpleafuring lieth by thr. Favorite, it is impoftible any other (houl be Over-great. Another means to curb then .Of Ambition. 167 is to ballante them by others as prOud as they^ But then there muO: bè fomèmiddle Counfeîldrs to keèf) things fteady y for withotitthat Bdllaft the Ship will foui too tnuch. At the leaft, A Prince may animate and intire fdrne meaner l^erfons, to be as it were Scourges to Ambitious Men. As for the having of them obnoxious to ruine, if they be of fearful Natures, it may do well * but if they be Stout and Daring, it may precipitate their Defigns, and prove Dangerous. As for the pulling of them down, if the Affairs require it, and that it may not be done with fafety fuddenIy,theonly way is, the interchange continually of Favors and Difgraces $ whereby they may not know what to expeft, and be as it were in a Wood. Of Ambitions, it islefs harmful the Ambition to prevail in great things, than that other to appear in every thing, for that breeds confution, and marrs bufi-nefs. But yet it is lefs Danger, to have an Ambitious Man (Yirring in bufinefs , than great in dépendances. He that feeketh to be eminent amongft able Men , jhkth.a great task ^ but that i£ ever good'for the Publicit y but he th'at plots to be t'hè only Figure àmongfl: Ciphers, is the dèçàÿ of an whole Age. Honor hath three things in it : The Vantage Ground to do gbod, M 4 the16$ Sir Francis Bacon / Ejfays the approach to Kings and Principal Per-fons, and the railing of a Mans own Fortunes. He that hath the bell: of thefe Intentions when he afpirethj is anhoneft Man o and that Prince that can dilcernof thefe Intentions in another that afpireth, is a wife Prince. Generally let Princes and States chufe fuch Minifters as are more fenfibleofDuty, thanof Riling $ and fuch as love Bulinefs rather upon Confcience, than upon Bravery 5 and let them difcern a bufie Nature from a willing Mind, Of Mas/^s and Triumphs. XX XVII. THefe things are but Toys, to come amongfl: fuch ferious Obfcrvations. But yet, fince Princes will have fuch things, it is better they Ihould be graced with Elegancy,than daubed with Coh. Dancing to Song , is a thing of great State and Pleafure. I underhand it, that the Song be in Quire, placed aloft, and accompanied with fome broken Mufick, and the Ditty fitted to the Device. .AUingin Song, e-fpecially in Dialogues, hath an extreamOf Maskj and Triumphs. 169 igrood Grace : I fay Aiding, not'Dancing* ;(Tor that is a mean and vulgar things) and :the Voices of the Dialogue would be ftrong and manly, (aBafe, and a Tenor,no Treble, ) and the Ditty High and Tragical, mot Nice or Dainty. Several Quires placed one over againft another, and taking the Voice by Catches, Anthem-xvife, give great Pleafure. lurning Dances into Figure is a childifli curiofity ; and generally let it be noted, that thofe things which I here fet down, are fuch as do naturally take the : Senfe,and not refpeft petty Wonderments. I It is true, the Alterations of Scenes, fo it be ; quietly, and without noife, are things of : great Beauty and Pleafure j for they feed and relieve the Eye, before it be full of the fame Objeéh Let the Scenes abound with Light, fpecially Coloured and Varied , and let the Maskers , or any other that are to come down from the Scene, have fome motions upon xhtScene\t felf, before their coming down i for it draws the Eye ftrangely, and makes it with great Pleafure to defire to fee that it cannot perfectly difeern. Let the Songs be Loud and Chcarfuf and not chirpings or Pulings. Let the Mujtck likewife be sharp and Loud and Well placed. The Colours that (hew bed by Candle-light, are White, Carnation, . .. andIJò Sir Francis Bàcoh*/ Ejjays and a kind of Sea-water Grèeti 3 and Oeì or spang^ as they are of rio grèat Cfcify ;J fo they are of tnoft Glory; As for Rich 1 Embroidery ^it is loft,and riòt difcèrhèd. Let ’ the Suiti of the Masters be graceful} arid Ff fuch as become the Perfori when thè Vizar$ f are off, not after examples of known Attires 3 Turks, Soldiers, Marrinérs, and " the like. Let Anti-matkj not be long, they have been commonly of Fools, Satyrs, Baboons, Wildmen, Anticks, Beafts, Spirits, Witches, Ethiops, Pigmies, Tur-quets, Nymphs,Rufticks, Cupids, Statua s moving, and the like. As for Angels, it is \ not Comical enough to put them in Anti- . titaskj 3 and any thing that is hideous, as Devils, Gyants, is on the other fide as unfit. Butcheifly, let the Mutici^ of thèm be Recreative, and with fome ft range Changes. Some fweet Odors fuddenly * coming forth, without any drops falling, are in fuch a Company, as there is Steam and Heat, things of great pleafure and re-frefhment. Double Maskj, one òfMén, ' another* of Ladies, addeth State and Variety. But all is nothing, except the Koom be kept clear and neat. For Jufts, and Turneys, and Barriers, the Glories of them are cheifly in the Chariots, wherein the Challengers make their Entry, ] fpeciallyOf Nature in Men. 171 specially if they be drawn with ftrange Beafts, as Lions, Bears, Camels, and the dke , or in the Devices of their Entrance, or in Bravery of their Liveries, or in the goodly Furniture of their Horfes and Armor. But enough of thefe toys. Of J\(ature in Me XXXVIII. Nature is often Hidden, fometimes Overcome, feldom Extinguifhed. Force maketh Nature more violent in the Return , DoCtrine and Difcourfe maketh Nature lefs importune : But Cuftomonly doth alter and fubdue Nature. He that feeketh ViCtory over his Nature , let him not fet himfelf too great, nor too fmall Tasks, for the firffc will make him De-je&ed, by often Failings, andthefecond will make him a fmall Proceeder , though by often Prevailings. And at the firft, let him practice with Helps, as Swimmers do with Bladders or R.u(hes } but after a time let him praCtice with difadvantages, as Dancers do with thick Shooes: For it breeds great Perfection, if the Pra&ice be172 Sir Francis Bacon / Ejfays be harder than the life. Where Nature ismighty, and therefore the Vi&ory hard, the Degrees had need be i Firft, to ftay and arreft Nature in time, like to him that wouldfay over the Four and twenty Letters when he was Angry, thentogolefs in quantity : As if one fhould in forbearing Wine, come from drinking Healths to a Draught at a Meal, and laftly todif-continue altogether : But if a Man have the Fortitude and Refclution to en-franchife himfelf at once, that is the beft 3 Opt in/us ille anitni vindex, l upon humane Nature, refteth upon Societies well Ordained and Difciplined: for Commonwealths and good Governments j do nourifh Vertue Grown, but do not much mend the Seeds. But the mifery is, that the mod effe&ual Means are now applied to the Ends leaft to be defired.î/7 Of Fortune. XL. jT cannot be denied, but outward acci-S dents conduce much to Fortune: Favor, (Opportunity, Death of others, Occafiori .tatting Vertue. Butcheifiy the mould of a Mans Fortune is in his own hands. Faber ■yuifque Fortunæ fuœ0 faith the Poet. And the moft frequent of External Caufes is, \:hat the Folly of one Man is the Fortune of amodier. For no Man profpersfo fudden-(:y, as by others Errors. Serpens ni ft Serpentent eomcderit non fit Draco. Overt and Apparent Vertues bring forth Praife 5 but there be Secret and Hidden Vertues that oring forth Fortune. Certain Deliveries of a Mansfelf, which have no Name. The ■ Spanijh Name, Defemboltura, partly exprefs-eth them, when there be not Stands nor Heftivenels in a Mans Nature, but that the .Wheels of his Mind keep way with the Wheels of his Fortune. For ioLiifi (after Jie had defcribed Cato Major , in thefe iwords , In illo viro^ tantum Robor Corporis Animi fuit0 ut quocunque loco natm effet^ Fortunam fibi faff urns videretur ) fall et lï oponthat that he had, Verfatile In gen inns. N There-178 Sir Francis Bacon / Ejfays Therefore if a Man look (harply and attentively^ (hallfee Fortune: For though } (he be blind, yet (he is not invifible. The < > Way of Fortune is like the Milken Way in r theSkie, which is a Meeting or Knot of a number of fmall Stars j notfeen afunder, ; but giving Light together : So are there a 1 number of little, and fcarce difcerned Ver- -tues, or rather Faculties and Cuftoms that I make men For tun ate.The Italians note fome of them,fuch as a Man would little think :: When they (peak of one that cannot do a- * mifs,they will throw in into his other Con- -ditions that he hath, Toco di Matto. And 1 certainly, there be not two more Fortunate ?• Properties , than to have a Little of the r-Foolytmd not Too much of the Honefl, There- -fore extream Lovers of their Countrey, or s Mahers, were never Fortunate, neither can r they be. For when a Man placethhis* thoughts without himfelf, hegoeth not his ? own way. An hahy Fortune maketh an r Enterprifer and Remover 5 (the French t' hath it better, Enterprenant, or Remnant ) ( but the exercifed Fortune maketh the able ! Man. Fortune is to be Honored and Re- • fpe&ed, and it be but for her Daughters, \ Confidence, and Reputation: For thofe two « Felicity breedeth 5 the firft, withinaMans < fdf, the later in others towards him. All J Wife IOf Fortune. 179 /Wife men to decline the Envy of theif /Dwn Vertues, ufe to aferibe them to Pro-iVidence and Fortune 5 for fo they may the :oetter aflame them : And befides , it is Greatnefs in a Man to be the Care of the Higher Power. So Cafar faid to the Pilot nn the Tempeft, Cafarem portas, &FortH-\tam ejus. So Sylla chofe the Name of Fe-•Jx, and not of Magnus. And it hath been noted, that thofe that aferibe openly too nuch to their own Wifdom and Policy, rmd Vnfortunate. It is written, That Timo-iheus the Athenian, after he had, in the Account he gave to the State of his Government , often interlaced his Speech, And in this Fortune had no part, never proffered in any thing he undertook afterwards. Certainly there be, whofe Fortunes ure like Homers Verfes , that have a Slide itnd Eafinefs more than the Verfes of other 3oets 5 as Plutarch faith of Timoleons For± \une, inrefpedtof that of Agefilaus, or F-aaminondas: And that this fhould be, no iloubt it is much in a Mans felf, "sir Francis Bacon’/ jEjfay. Of Vfurj. XL I. 7k. M Any have made witty Inve&ives:. I againft Vfury. They fay, That it is u pity the Devil (hould have Gods part,, which is the lithe. That the Vfurer is the • greateft Sabbath-breaker, becaufe his: Plough goeth every Sunday. That the.; Vfurer is the Drone that Virgil fpeakethri of: Ignavum fucos pccus a precfepibus arcent. That the Vfurer breaketh the firft Law that: • was miide for Mankind after the Fall }• which was, In fudore vultus tui comedes pa-* 71 cm tiium^ not Infudorevultus alieni. That .t Vfurers (hould have Orenge-tarvny Bonnets becaufe they do Judaize. That it is againft I Nature, for Money to beget Money, ancb the like. I fay this only. That Vfitry is ac Concejftmpropter duritiem cordis : For lìncei there muft be Borrowing and Lending,^ and Men are fo hard of Heart, as they willjj not lend freely, Vfury muft be permitted*! Some others have made Sufpicious and.' Cunning Propofitions of Banks, difcoveryj HOf Vfury. l8l * of Mens Eftates, and other Inventions 5 i but few have fpoken of Vfury ufefully. It is good to fet before us the Incommo-> (lities and Commodities of Vfury, that the good maybe either Weighedout, or Cul-i led out ? and warily to provide , that while we make forth to that which is I better, we meet not with that which is worfe. The Difcommodities of Vfury are, Firft, That it makes fewer Merchants $ for were t it not for this Lazy Trade of Vfury0 l Money would not lie (till, but would in i great part be employed upon 'Merchandi-l fing, which is the Vena Porta of Wealth t in a State. The fecond , That it makes f poor Merchants 5 for as a Farmer cannot l husband his Ground fo well, if he fit at a ^ great Rent: So the Merchant cannot drive fhis Trade fo well, if he fit at great Vfury. 'The third is incident to the other two; 3 and that is, The decay of Cuftomsof Kings ) or States, which Ebb or Flow with Mer-3 chandizing. The fourth, That it bringeth i theTreafure of a Realm or State into a few 1 hands ’•> for theVfurer being at Certainties, e and others at Uncertainties, at the end of Jthe Game moft of the Money will be in Ithe Box > and ever a State flourifheth,when Wealth is more equally fpred. Markets would fwallow them quite up. Air for Mortgaging or Pawning, it will littleJi mend the matter 3 for either Men will noji*Of vfury. 183 take Pawns without Vfe^or if they do,they will look precifely for the Forfeiture. I remember a cruel Monied Man in the Countrey that would fay, The Devil take this Vfury’\t keeps us from Forfeitures of Mortgages and Bonds- The third and laft isx That it is a vanity to conceive, that there would be ordinary borrowing without profit 5 and it is impoffible to conceive, the number of Inconveniencies that will enfue, if borrowing be cramped r Therefore, tofpeakof the abolifhingof Vfury is idle. All States have ever had it in one kind, or rate or other 5 fo as that opinion muft be fent to Vtopia. To fpeak now of the Refor matt on and Reiglement of Vfury, how the Difcommodi-ties of it may be befl: avoided,and the Commodities retained. It appears by the bal-lance of Commodities and Difcommodities of Vfury, two things are to be reconciled: The one, that the Tooth of Vfury be grinded, that it bite not too much : The other, that there be left open a means to invite Monied Men to lend to the Merchants, for the Continuing and Quickning of Trade. This cannot be done, except you introduce two feveral forts of Vfury, a lefs and vl greater. For if you reduce Vfury to one lowrate3it will eafethe Common Borrower, N 4 but184 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays but the Merchant will be tofeekfor Money» And it is to be noted., that the Trade of Î Merchandize,being the moft Lucrative,may \ bear Vfury jit a good R ate > other Contrats z not fo. To ferve both Intentions, the way \ would be chiefly thus.* That there beTwo c liâtes of Vfury y the one Free and General I For all, the other under Licence only to < Certain Terfons and in Certain Places of Mer-chandizing, Firffc therefore. Let Vfury in î general be reduced to Five in the Hundred, and let that Rate be proclaimed to be ; Free and Current y and let the State fhut it : felfout to take any penalty for the fame, , This will preferve Borrowing from any ■ general Stop or Drynefs. This will eafe • infinite Borrowers in the Country. This ; will in good part raife the Price of Land, . becaufe Land purchafeth at Sixteen years ; purebafe, will yield fix in the Hundred, and fomewhat more, whereas this Rate oflnterefl: yields but Five; Thisbyreafon will Encourage and Edge Induftrious and Profitable Improvements, becaufe many will rather venture in that kind , than take Five in the Hundred, efpecially having been ufed to greater profit. Secondly, Let there be Certain Perfons Licenfed to Lend to known Merchants, upon Vfury, at aOfVfory. 185 a High Rate s and let it be with the Cauti* pns following. Let the Rate be, even with the Merchant himfelf, fomewhat :more eafie, than that he ufed formerly to pay: for by that means all Borrowers (hall have fome eafe by this Reformation, be he Merchant, or whofoever. Let it be no iBank or Common Stock, but every man 'be mafter of his own Money. Not that I altogether miflike Banks, bat they will hardly be brooked, in.regard of certain Tufpicions. Let the State be anfwered Tome fmall matter for the Licenfe, and the reft left to the Lender^ for if the Abatement be but fmall, it will no whit difcou-rage the Lender. For he, for example, that took before Ten or Nine in the Hundred, will fooner-defcend to Eight in the ■Hundred, than give over his Trade of go from Certain Gains to Gains of Hazard. Let thefe Licenfed Lenders :be in Number Indefinite,but reftrained to ;certain principal Cities and Towns of Merchandizing, for then they will be hardly able to colour other mens moneys in the 1 Country, fo as the Licence of Nine will not i fuck away the current Rate of Five s for no no man will Lend his moneys far off, nor put them into unknown hands. If it be objected, That this doth in a forti86 Sir Francis BaconV Efays fort Authorize Vfury, which before was in fome places but permiffive: The An-; fwer is, that it is better to mitigate Vfury by Declaration^ than to fuffer it to Ragei by Connivence. Of Youth and Age. XL 11. A Man that is Toung in Tears, maybes Old in Hours, if he have loft noi> time, but that happeneth rarely. General—, ly Touth is like the firft Cogitations, noti fo Wife as the fecond for there is a Touthi-in Thoughts as well as in Ages: And yeti, the Invention of Toung Men is more lively' than that of Old, and Imagination* ftream:.. into their minds better, and, as it were, ;-more Divinely. Natures that have much 1-heat, and great and violent defires and per- *. turbations, are not ripe for Aiftion till they \ have palled the Meridian of their years 5; As it was with Julius Crffir, and Sepimius _ Severnif, of the latter of whom it is faid,, Juventutem egit Erroribus, into Fur or i bus 1 ylenam 5 and yet he was the ableft Emperor * almoft of all the Lift. But repofed Na- * tures aOf Youth and Ago I 87 itures may da well in Youth, as it is feen in AuguJlusCafar, Cofmus Duke of Florence, Gajlon de Fois, and others. On the other fide, Heat and Vivacity in Age is an excellent Compofition for bufinefs. Young Men are fitter to invent than to judge, fitter for Execution then for Counfel , and fitter for new projefts than for fetled bufinefs. for the Experience of Age in things that fall within the compafs of it, direð them, but in new things abufeth them. The Errours of Young Men are the ruine of bufinefs, but the Errours of Aged Men amount but to this, that more might have been done or fooner. Young Men in the conduft and mannage of A&ions embrace more than they can hold, ftir more than they can quiet, fly to the end without confideration of the means and degrees, purfue fome few Principles which they have chanced upon abfurdly, care not to innovate, which draws unknown Incon-veniencies. life extream Remedies at firft, and that which doubleth all Errours, will not acknowledge or retraft them, like an unready Horfe, that will neither Stop nor Turn. Men of v^eobjeft too much, confult too long , adventure too little, repent too foon, and feldome drive bufinefs home to the full period, but conr tent188 Sir Francis Bacon’sEffays tent themfelves with a mediocrity of Suo cefs.Certainly it is good to compound Em- \ floymerits of both } for that will be good for the Prefect,becaufe the vertues ofeither Age may correct the defe&s of both, & good for Succefiion, that Young Men may be Learners, while Men in Age are a&ors. And laftly,good for Extern Accident sjaeczuteAuthority fol-lowetho/d Men, and Favor and Popularity Youth. But for the moral part perhaps Youth will have the preheminence, as Age hath for the politick. A certain Rabbin upon the TextJCour Young Menfallfee viflons anclyour Old Men Jhall dream dreams, inferreth, that YoungMen-xxe admitted nearer to God than Old, becaufe Vifion is a clearer Revelation than a Dream. And certainly the more a Man drinketh of the World, the more it intoxicateth } and Age doth profit rather in the powers of Underftanding, than in the Vertues of the Will and Affe&ions. There be fome have an Over-early Ripe-nefs in their years, which fadeth betimes: Thefeare firft fuch as have brittle Wits,the Edge whereof is foon turned} fuch as was Uermogenes the Rhetorician, whofe Books are exceeding Subtil, who afterwards waxed Stupid. A fecond fort is of thofe that have fome natural Difpofitions which have better grace in Youth than in Age 5Of Beauty. Age 5 fuch as is a fluent and luxurient Speech, which becomes Youth well, but not Age : So Yuliy faith of Hortenfius, idem tna-nebat, neque idem decebat. The third is, of fuch as take roo high a drain at the fir A, and are magnanimous more than Tra6t of years can uphold : As was scipio Affricant#, of whom Livy faith in effeft, Vltima primis cedebant. TErtue is like a rich Stone, bed plain fet 3 and furely, Vertue is bed in a Body that is comely, though not of delicate Features,and that hath rather Dignity of Prelence, than Beauty of Afpeft. Neither is it almofl feen that very Beautiful Terfons are otherwife of great Vertae, as if Nature were rather bufie not to err * than in labor to produce Excellency $ and therefore they prove accomplilhed, but not of great Spirit, and dudy rather Behavior than Vertue. But this holds not al ways, for Augujhts Cafar, Titus Vefpaffanus, Philip le Belle of Prance, Edward the Fourth of England, Alcibiades of Athens, ifmael the Of "Beauty. XLIII. Sophy19O Sir Francis VjacdnsEjfays Sophy of Vetfia, were all high and great Spirits, and yet the mod Beautiful Men of their times. In Beautythat of Favor is more than that of Colour^ and that of decent and gracious Motion, more than that of Favor. That is the bed part of Beauty which a Pi&ure cannot exprefs, no nor the fird fight of the Life. There is no excellent Beauty that hath not fome drangenefs in the proportion. A Man cannot tell, whether Apelles, or Albert Durer^ were the more T rider 5 whereof the one would make a Perfonage by Geometrical Proportions,the other by taking the bed Parts out of divers Faces to make one excellent. Such Perfonages I think would pleafe no body, but the Painter that made them. Not but I think a Painter may make a better Face than ever was,but he mull do it by a kind of Felicity, fas a Muficianthat maketh an excellent Air in Mufick) and not by Rule. A Man (hall fee Faces, that if you examine them part by part,you (hall find never a good, and yet all together do well. If it be true, that the principal part of Beauty is indecent motion, certainly it is no marvel, though Pcrfons in Tears feem many times more amiable, Pulchrorum Au-tumnusFulcher j for no Touth can be comely, but by pardon, and confidering the Touth) as to make up the cornelinefi, Beauty isOf Deformity. 191 is as Summer-Fruits , which are eafie to corrupt, and cannot laft, and forthemoft part it makes a difloluteï0»f/j, and an Jge, a little out of countenance ; but yet certainly again,if it light well,it maketh Ver-tues (bine, and Vices blufh. Eformed Terfons are commonly even with Nature ; for as Nature hath done ill by them, fo do they by Nature, being for the moft part (as the Scripture faith ) Void of "Natural Jjje&ion, and fo they have Revenge of Nature. Certainly , there is a confent between the body and the mind, and where Nature erreth in the one, lhe ventureth in the other 5 Vbipeccatin uno, pcriclitatur in altero. But becaufe there is in Man an Ele&ion touching the Frame of his mind, and a Neceffi-ty in the Frame of his body, the Stars of of natural Inclination are fometimes cb-fcured by the Sun of Difcipline and Ver-tue : Therefore it is good to confider of Deformity, not as a Sign which is more deceivable, but as a Caufe which feldom failethof theEffeft. Whofoever hath any Of ‘Deformity. xliv. thingjQ2 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Efiays thing fixed in his Perfon that doth induce Contempt., hath alfo a perpetual Spur in himfelfto refcueand deliver himfelf from Scorn. Therefore all DeformedFerfons are extream bold. Frfl, as in their own Defence, as being expofed to Scorn, but in procefsof Time, by a general Habit. Alfo it flirreth in them induftry, and efpeci-ally of this kind, to watch and obferve the Weaknefs of others,that they may have fomewhat to repay. Again, in their Superiors, it quencheth Jealoufie towards them, asPerfons that they think they may at pleafure defpife^ and it layeth their Competitours and Emulatours afleep, as never believing they fhould be in poffibili-ty of Advancement, till they fee them in Pofleflion $ fo that upon the matter, in a great Wit, Deformity is an advantage to Rifing. Kingsinancient times( andatthis prefent in fome Countries) were wont to put great Trufi: in Eunuchs j becaufe they that are envious to all, are more obnoxious and officious towards one. But yet their Trufi towards them hath rather been as to good Spials, and good whifperers,than good Magiflratesand Officers. And much like is the Reafon of Deformed Ferfons. Still the ground is, they will if they be of Spirit, feek to freethemfel ves from Scorn, whichOf Building. 9 which mu ft be either by Vertue or Malice 5 and therefore let it not be marvelled if fometimes they prove excellent Perfonss as was Agefdaus, Zanger the Son of Soly-many jEfip, Gafca Prefident of Pern, and Socrates may go likewife amongfl: them, with others. O f Building. XL V. TT Oufes are built to live in, and not to I I look on : Therefore let life be preferred before Uniformity, except where .1 both maybe had. Leave the goodly Fa-i bricks or Houfes, for Beauty onely, to the Enchanted Palaces of the Poets, who build 1 them with fmall Coft. He that builds a I fair Houfe upon an ill Seat, committeth I himfelf to Prifon. Neither do I reckon it ; an ill Seat onely where the Air is unwhole-r ifome, but likewife where the Air is unt 1 equal j As you (hall fee many fine Seats jfet upon a knap of Ground, environed • with higher Hills round about it, where--j by the Heat of the Sun is pent in \ and |the Wind gathereth as in Troughs 5 fo as O yog194 W Francis Bacon s Effays you (hall have, and that fuddenly, as great 1 Diverfity of Heat and Cold, as if you i dwelt in feveral Places. Neither is it iU I jAjy onely that maketh an ill Seat, but ill I Ways, ill Markets 5 and if you will con- -fultwithiJdomu5) ill Neighbors. I fpeak J not of anymore : Want of Water, Want 1 of Wood, Shade and Shelter, Want of 1. Fruitfulnefs, and mixture of Grounds of i< feveral Natures, Want of Profpeft, Want f of level Grounds, Want of Places at fome near Diftance for Sports of Hunting,Hawk^* * ing, and Races, Too near the Sea, too e remote,having the Commodity of Naviga- * ble Rivers, or the Difcommodity of their Overflowing 5 Too far off from great Ci- -, ties, which may hinder Bufinefs, or too«:, near them which Lurcheth all Provifions, t:, and maketh every thing dear: Where ai. Man hath a great Living laid together,t and where he is fcanted. All which , ast~ it is impoflible perhaps to find together, *. fo it is good to know them, and think off. them, that a Man may take as many as he 1. can 5 And if he have feveral Dwellings,., that he fort them fo, that what he watiteth r. in the One, he may find in the Other. . LmmUm anfwered Totnpey well, whowhenv he faw his Stately Galleries and Rooms fo f large and lightfome in one of his Houfesy^ faid/IOf Building. 1^5 /faid, Surety an-excellent Place for Summer, \but how do you in Winter? Lucnllus anfwe-:»red, Why do you not think^me as wife as feme Fowl are, that ever change their abode to+ Wards the Winter ? To pafs from the Seat to the Hoafe it 'ifelfj we will do as CiceraAoth in the Orators Aft, who writes BooksDeOrator e, and \ Book he entitles Orator$whereof the for* mer delivers the Precepts of the dirt, and :he Latter the Pcrfe&ion. We will therefore •iefcribe a Princely Palace, making a brief model thereof. For it is ftrange to fee now rn Europe fuch Huge Buildings, as the Va* scan, and Efcurial, and fome others be, imdyetfcafce a very fair Room in them. Firft therefore I fay you cannot have a oerfeft Palace, except you have two fevc* ial Sides 5 a Side for the Banket, as is fp'o-•xen of in the Book of Hejler, and a fide tor the Houfhold j the one for Feafts and' Triumphs, and the other for Dwelling, l under ftand both thefe Sides to be not on-y Returns, but Parts of the Front, and to be uniform without, though feverally Partitioned within, and to be on both >ides of a great and /lately Tower in the ;aidfl: of the Front, that as it were joyn« ahthem together one either hand.I would *ave ouithe fide of the Bankpt in frontI $6 Sir Francis BaconV EjJays one onely Goodly Room above Stairs, of ' fome fourty foot high, and under it a Room for a Drcjfwg or Preparing Place at times of Triumphs. On the other Side, * which is the Houfiold Side, T wifh it divi-ded at the firft into a Hal/ and a Chappely ( with a Partition between ) both of good Bate and bignefs, and thofe not to go all the length,but to nave at the further enda Winter and a Summer ParlerJjoth fair 5 and under thefe Rooms, a fair and large Cetter ' funk under Ground 5 and likewife fome Privy Kit chins, with Butteries and PantriesJ. and the like. As for the Tower, I would have it two Stories, of eighteen foot high apiece abovethe two Wings, and goodly Leads upon the Top, railed with Statuas p interpofed, and the fame Tomr to be divided into Rooms, as (hall be thought fit y. the Stairs likewife to the upper Rooms,let ï them be upon a fair open Newel, and finely • railed in with Images of Wood, caft into a : brafs Colour, and a very fair Landing ; Place at the Top. But this to be, if youi 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 5 for the fteam of it will come ; upas in a Tunnel. And fo much for the: Front, onely I underftand the Htfighth oftOf Building. 197 the firft: Stairs to be fixteen Foot which is the Heighth of the Lower Room. Beyond this Front is there to be a fair Court, but three fides of it of a far lower Building than the Front. And in alj the four Corners 'of that Court fair Stair-Cafes, caft into Turrets on the outfide; and not within the Row of Buildings felves. But thofe Towers are not to be of the height of the Front, but ratherpro-portionable to the lower Building. Let the Court net be Paved, for that ftriketh up a great Heat in Summer, and much Cold in Winter j but onely fome Side-Alleys, with a Crofs, and the Quarters to Craze being kept Shorn, but not too near Shorn. The Roto of Return on the Banquet Sides 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 equal diflaoce, and fine Coloured Windows of feveral Works. On the Houfhold Side, Chambers of Prefence and ordinary Entertainments, 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, O 3 and.y Sir Francis Bacon*/ Effays and Warm for Winter. You (hall have fometiraes fair Houfes fo full of Glafs, that one cannot tell where to become to be out of the Sun, or Cold : For Inbowed Win* dor»s I hold them of good ufe 5 (in Cities indeed Vpright do better, inrefpe&of the Uniformity towards the Street ) for they be pretty Retiring Places for Conference 5 and befides, they keep both the Wind and the Sun off: For that which would ftrike almoft through the Room, doth fcarce pafs the Window. But let them be but few, four in the Carton the Sides onely. Beyond this Court let there be an /«• ward Court of the fame Square and Heighth, Which is to be environed with the Garden on all fides j and in the infide Cloiftered Upon all fides j upon Decent and Beautiful Arches, as high as the firfi: Story.. On the Vndcr Story towards the Garden, let it be turned to a Grotta3 or place of Shade Or Eftivation j and onely have opening and Windows towards 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 Wo\\ of Statuas inthemidftof this Courts and to be Paved as the other Court was. Thefe buildings to be for Privy Lodgings on both Sides , and the End for Privy Galleries: WhereofOf 'Building, 199 Whereof you muft fore-fee that one of them be for an Infirmary if the Prince or . any fpecial Perfon fhould be Sick, with Chambers^ Bed Chambers, Antioamera^ and Recamera joymng to it: Thi9 upon the fe-cond Story. Upon the Ground Story a fair Gallery, Open upon Pillars } and upon the third Story likewife, an Open Gallery upon Pillars, to take the Profpeft and Frefhnefs of the Garden. At both «Corners of the further Side, by way of Return, let there be two Delicate or RichC*-binets, daintily Paved, Richly Hanged , Glazed with Chrifialline Glafi, and a Rich . Cupolam the midft, and all other Elegancy thatmay bethought upon. Inthe^p-ptr Gallery tool with that there may be, if the Place will yield it, fome Fountains running in divers Places from the Wall, with fome fine Avoidances. And thus much for the model of the Palace, fave that you muft have, before you come to the Front, three Courts: and a Green Court Plain, with a Wall about it} a Second Court of the fame, but more Garnifhr ed, with little Turrets, or rather Embel-liQiments upon the Wall } and a Third Court, to make a Square with the. Front but not to be Built, nor yet Enclofed with a Naked Wall, but Enclofed with Tarrafies, O 4 Leaded2C0 Sir Francis l&acon'sEjJajf Leaded aloft, and fairly Garnifhed on the three Sides $ and Cloyftered onthein-fide with Pillars, and not with Arches below. As for offices, let them ftand at d-iftance with fome Low Galleries, to pafs from them to the Palace it felf* Of far dens. X l v i. GOD Almighty firft Planted a Garden5 and indeed it is the pureft of Humane pleafures. It is the greateft refrefh-ment to the Spirits of Man 5 without which Buildings and Palaces are but Grofs Handy-works. And a Man (hall ever fee, that when Ages grow to Civility and Elegancy, Men come to Build Stately, fooner than to Garden Finely: As if Gardening were the greater Perfe&ion. I do hold it in the Royal Ordering of Gardens, there ought to be Gardens for all the Moneths in the Tear, in which, feverally, things of Beauty may be then in feafon. For December Sind January, and the latter part Novem- ber, you muff take fuch things as are green all Winter5 Holly, Ivy, Bays, Juniper, Cyprefs Trees, Eugh, Pine-Apple Trees,Of Cardens, 201 Trees, Fir-Trees, Rofemary,; Lavender, Perriwinckle the White, the Purple, and the Blew, Germander, Flags, Qrenge-Trees, Lemon-Trees, and Mir-tles, if they be ftoved, and fweet Marjoram warm fet. There followeth for the latter part of January February, the Mezerion Tree, which then Bloflfomes, 'Crocus Vernus, both the Yellow and the [Gray, Prira-Rofes, Anemones, the Early Tulippa, Hyacynthus Orientalis, Cha-rcnairis,Frettellaria. For March there comes »Violets, fpeciallythe Single Blew, which inre Earlieft , the Yellow DafFadil , the Dazy, the Almond-Treein Bloffome, the [Peach-Tree in Bloffome, the Cornelian-Tree in Bloffome, fweet Briar. In April Tollow, the double White Violet, the Wall-Flower, the Stock Gilly-Flower, the Couflip, Flower-de-Lices, and Lillies of allNatureSjRofemary-Flowers^the Tulippa, the Double Piony, the Pale DafFadil, the French Hony-Suckle, the Cherry-Tree in Bloffome, the Dammafin and Plum-Trees in Bloffome, the White Thorn in Leaf, the Lelack-Tree. In May and June come Pinks of all forts, fpeci-ally the Blufh Pink, Rofes of all kinds , except the Mufk, which comes later, Ho-ny-Suckles Strawberries, Buglofs, Colum-2»2 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Efiays bine, the French Mary gold, Flos Africa nus, Cherry-Tree in Fruit, Ribes, Figi'1 in Fruit, Rafps, Vine-Flowers, Lavendeb in Flowers, the Sweet-Satyrian with tfil: White Flower, Herba Mufcaria , Liliuc.v; Convallium, the Apple-Tree in Bloffonm In July come Gilly-Flowers of all Vario:“ ties, Mulk-Rofes, the Lime-Tree iii BIofTom, Early Pears and Plums in Fruits Ginnitings, Quadlings. In Augufl com«:: Plums of all forts in Fruit, Pears, Apri-i r cocks, Barberies, Filbeards, Mufk, Mee? Ions, Monks*hoods of all Colours. Irj September comes Grapes, Apples, Poppeisv of all Colours, Peaches, Melo-Cotones.*: Nedarines, Cornelians, Wardens, Quin-r ces. In October, and the beginning of No— member, come Services, Medlars, Bullifes ; Rofes Cut or Removed to come late, Hoi—1 lyokes, and fuch like. Thefe particulars! are for the Climate of London: butmy*r meaning is perceived, that you may have? VerPerpetuum, as the place affords. And becaufe the Breath of Flowers is i far Sweeter in the Air, ( where it comes t and goes, like the Warbling of MufickJ * than in the Hand,therefore nothing is more j fit for that Delight, than to know what be the Flowers and Plants that dobeft perfume the Air. Rofes Damafk and Red are FlowersOf Gardens 2 ©3 ^’lowers of their Smells, fo that you may valk by a whole Row of them, and find nothing of theirSweetnefs, yea, though t be in a Mornings Dew. Bayes likewife '‘Held no Smell as they grow , Rofemary '‘»ittle, nor Sweet-Marjoram. That which itbove all others yields the Sweeteji Smell rn the Air, is the Violet, fpecially the White double Violet, which comes twice lyear, about the middle of April, and hbout Bartholomerv-tide. Next to that is the vMufk-Rofe, then the Strawberry Leaves Hying with a moft excellent Cordial Smell. Then the Flower of the Vines, it is a lit-(tle Duft, like the Duft of a Bent, which grows upon the Clutter in the firft com-iingforth. Then Sweet-Briar, then Wall-Flowers, which are very delightful to be Tetundera Parlour, or lower Chamber • .Window. Then Pinks and Gilly-Flowers, Tpecially the matted Pink, and Clove • 'Gilly-Flower. Then the Flowers of the 1Lime-Tree. Then the Hony-Suckles , To they be fomewhat afar off. Of Bean-d Flowers I fpeak not, becaufe they are 1 Field-Flowers. But thofe which perfume ithe Air moft delightfully, not pajfjed by 5 as the reft, but being Trodden upon and j)CruJhed, are three, that is, Burnet, Wild-f Time, and Water-Mints. Therefore you are2©4 «S'//* Francis Bacon5/ Ejfays are to fet whole Alleys of them, to have»! the Pleafure when you walk or tread. j For Gardens, (fpeakingof thofe which I are indeed Prince-like, as we have done^! of Buildings ) the Contents ought not well 1 to be under Thirty Acres of Ground, and to be divided into three parts, a Green in the j entrance , a Heath or Defart in the going I forth, and the Main Garden in the? midft, j befides Alleyes on both Sides. And I like j welt, that four Acres of Ground be Affigned to the Green, fix to the Heath, four and four to either Side, and twelve to the Main Garden. The Green hath twopleafures 5 the one, becaufe nothing is more pleafant to the Eye then green Grafs kept finely (horn} 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 1 the Green $ therefore you are of either Side the Green to plant a Covert Alley upon | Carpenters Work, about twelve foot in Heighth, by which you may go in (hade into the Garden. As for the making of Knots of Figures , with Divers Coloured f Earths, (Of Gardens. 205 >3 Earths, that they may lye under the Win-y dows of the Houfe, on that Side which the O Garden (lands, they be but toys, you may fee as good fights many times in Tarts. 0 The Garden is bed tobe fquare, encom-{ pafied on all the four Sides with a Stately v Arched Hedge: the Arches to be upon Til- 1 lars of Carpenters Work , of fome ten foot high , and fix foot broad, and the i. fpaces between of the fameDimenfion with the Breadth of the Arch, Over the Arches letthere be an Entire Hedge, of fomefour foot high, framed alfo upon Carpenters Work, and upon the Vpper Hedge, over every Arch a little Turnet, with a Belly, enough to receive a Cage of Birds 5 and over every space between the Arches fome other little Figure, with broad Plates of Round Coloured Glaß gilt, for the Sun to play upon. But this Hedge I intend to be raifed upon a Bankl, not deep, but gently * dope, of fome fix foot, fet all with Flotvers, Alfo I underdand, that this Square of the Garden,{hould not be the whole bredth of 1 the Groundnut to leave on the either fide Ground enough for diverfity of Side Alleys , unto which the two Covert Alleys of the Green may deliver you j but there mud be no Alleys with Hedges at either end of this great Inclofitre: not at the Higher End,206 ■ fiir Francis Bacon sEJJays for letting your prQfpeft upon this fair Hedge from the Green, nor at the Further Endt for letting your profped from the* the Hedge through the Arches upon the Heath. For the ordering of the Ground within the Great Hedge, 1 leave it to Variety of Device, Advifing neverthelefs, that what-foever form you caft it into} firft it be not toobufie, or full of Work $ wherein I, for my part, do not like Images cut out in Juniper , or other Garden-ftujfe , they be for Children. Little low Hedges, Round like Welts, with fome pretty Pyramids, I like well: And in fome places Fair Columns upon Frames of Carpenters Work. I would alfo have thz Alleys fpacious and fair. You may have Clofer Alleys upon the Side Grounds, but none in the Main Garden. I wilh alfo in the very middle a Fair Mounts with three Afcents and Alleys, enough for four to walk abrcaft, which I would have to be perfeft Circles, without any Bulwarks or Imbofments, and the whole Mount to be thirty foot high, .and fome fine Banqueting Houfes with fome Chimneys neatly caft, and without too much Glafi. For Fountains^ they are a greait Beauty and Refrefhment, but /Va/j-marrall, and make the Garden uriwholefome , ain.d full. oiOf Gardens.1 007 . of Flies and Frogs. Fountains I intend to . be of two Natures, the one that sprinkjeth .. ox SpoutethWater^ the other n Fair Receipt of Water9 of fome thirty or forty foot fquare, but without Fifb, or Slime, or Mud. For 1 the firft, the Ornaments of Images Gilt, or .be finely paved,and with Images, thefides 'likewife 5 and withal Embellifhed with coloured Glafs, andfuch things of Luftre3 f Encompafled alfo with fine Rails of low i Statues. But the main point is the fame, ) which we mentioned in the former kind of i Fountain, which is, that the Water be in Per-\petualJMotion, Fed by a Water higher than 1 the P^/,and delivered into it by fair Spouts, i and then difcharged away under Ground 1 by fomeEquality of Bores, that it flay.lit-208 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays tie. And for fine Devices of Arching Wa- a ter without fpilling, and making it rife ir. i feveral Forms (of Feathers., Drinking* Glafles, Canopies, and the like, ) they be pretty things to look on, but nothing ta* Health and Sweetnefs. For the Health, which was the third part: of our Plot, I wifh it to be framed, as much 1 as may be, to a Natural WildneJ?, Trees IS would have none in it, but fome Thickets made only of Sweet-Briar, and Hony-Suckje^ and fome Wild-Vine amongft* and the» Ground fet with Violets , Strawberries,and: Vriptrofes: for thefe are Sweet, and prof-' per in the Shade. And thefe to be in thej Heath, here and there, not in any order.1 I Iikealfo little Heaps, in the Nature oft Mole-Hills (Tuch as are in Wild-Heaths) to: be fet, fome with Wild-Thyme, fome with r Pinks, fome with Germander, that gives s a good-flower to the Eye j fome with Pe- -riwinckle, fome with Violets, fome with j Strawberries,fome with Couflips,fome with j Dailies, fome with Red-fLofes, fome with i Lilium Convallium, fome with Sweet-Wil- f liams R,ed, fome with Bears-foot, and the & like;Low Flowers, being withall Sweet! and Sightly. Part of which Heaps, to be * with Standards,of little BnJljes, prickt upon > their top, and part without 5 thc Standards, \ to]- _ Of Gardens* 209 >1 tobeRofes, Juniper, Holly, Bear-berries ; ( but here and there, becaufe of the fmell it of their bloflome) Rcd- Currans, Goofe-, berries, Rofemary, Bayes, Sweet-Briar, rx and fuch like. But thefe Standards to be kept with Cutting, that they grow not out p of Courfe. For the Side Grounds, you are to fit them . with Variety of Alleys, Private, to give a rfull (hade, fomeof them, wherefoever the i-iSun be. You are to frame fomeof them , likewife for fhclter, that when the Wind :blows (harp, you may walk as in a Gallery. -.And thofe Alleys mud be likewife hedged tat both ends, to keep out the Wind, and jhefe Clofer Alleyx muft be ever finely Gra-‘.veiled, and no Grafs, becaufe of going wet. In many of thefe Alleys likewife, you are to fet Fruit Trees of all forts} as well upon the Walls, as in Ranges. And this would ■ibe generally obferved , that the Borders wherein you plant your Fruit-Trees> be fair and Large, and Low, and not fteep, and *fet with Fine Flowers, but thin and fparing-ly, left they deceive the Trees. At the End :of both the Side Grounds, I would have a Wount of fome pretty Height, leaving the vWall of the Enclofure breafthigh, to look .abroad into the fields. For the Main Garden, Ido not deny, but P there210 Sir Francis Bacon's Ejfajs there (hould be Tome fair Alleys, ranged on > both Sides with Fruit-Trees, and fome pretty Tufts of Fruit Trees , gnd Arbors withi Seats, fet in fome decent Order;, butthefe ' to be by no means fet too thick; but toi leave the Main Garden fo, as it be not clofe, i but the Air open and free; for as for shade'» I would have you reft: upon the Alleys of the> Side Grounds , there to walk, if you be> difpofed, in the Heat of theYear or Day r j but to make account, that the Main Garden* is for the more Temperate parts of the) Year; and in the Heat of Summer, for:: the Morning, and the Evening, or Over- < call: Dayes. For Aviaries, I like them not, exceptic they be of that Largenefs, as they maybe): Turfed, and have Living Plants and Eufhes. fet in them, that the Birds may have morer. fcope, and natural Neaftling, and that nooi Foulnef appear in the Floor of the Aviary,,r So I have made a Plat-form of a Princelyji Garden, partly by Precept,partly by Draw--: ing, pot a Model, but fome general Linessu of it, and in this I have fpared for no Coft,,‘i But it is nothing, for Great Princes, that fori« the mod part taking Advice with Work**!: men, with no lefs Cod, fet their things to-tc gether, and fometimes add statuas ancTr fuch things, for State and Magnificence.^;Of Negotiating,, 211 but nothing to the true pleafute of a Garden. Of Negotiating. XL VIL ÎT is generally better to deal by Speech, than by Letter > and by the mediation 3 of a Third, than by a mans Self. Letters! 3 are good, when a man would draw an Answer by Letter back again 5 or when it imay ferve for a mans Juftification after-; j wards to produce his own Letter, or where i it may be Danger to be interrupted or heard J by pieces. To Deal in Perfon is good, when ta mans facebreedeth Regard, ascommon-ily with Inferiours, or in tender Cafes, ri where a mans Eye, upon the Countenance ;of him with whom he fpeaketh, may give :him a Direction how far to go : And generally where a man will referve to himfelf iliberty either to Difavow, or to Expound* lln choice of Instruments, it is better to xhoofe men of a plainer fort that are like Jtodo that is committed to them, and to re* ^portback again faithfully the fucçefs, than :thofe that are Cunning to contrive out of212 Sir Francis Bacon'/ Ejfays other "riiens Bufinefs^fomewhat to grace ; themfelves,and will help the matter in Re- -port for Satisfaction Sake, life alfo fuch I Perfonsas affefr the bufinefs wherein they 1 are imployed, for that*quickneth much} < and fuch as are fit for the matter .* As bold 1 men for Expoftalation, fair fpoken men i for Perfwafion,crafty men for Enquiry and 1 Oblervation, froward and abfurd men for * bufinefs that doth hot well bear out it felf; i. Life alfo fuch as have been lucky, and pre- ■ vailed before in things wherein you have • employed them, for that breeds Confi- j dence,and they will ftriveto maintain their 1 Prefcription. It is better to found a Perfon i with whom one Deals afar off, than to fall 1 upon the point at firft 5 except you mean to < furprize him by fome fhort Queftion. It: is better 'Dealing with men in Appetite,than \ with thofe that are where they would be. \ If a man Deal with another upon Conditions, the Start of firft Performance is all,; which a man cannot reafonably Demand,, except either the nature of the thing be1: fuch which muft go before 5 orelfeamanj can perfwade the other Party that he fhall ? ftill need him in fome other thing} or elfei that hebexounted the honefter man. Alii Praftifers to Difcovcr^or to Work : Men Di]~> cover themfelvesin Truft, inPaffion, at un-I awares,)Of Followers and Friends ;213 awakes, and of neceffity., when they ivmdd have fomewhat done,and cannot find an apt Pretext. If you would Worked.n y rnan, you mud: either know Kis.nature and Taffi'ibhs, and folead him ; or his Erids, an# fo p'er-fwade l)ini} or his Weaknefs ahifDiTad-vantages,and fo aw him i or thofe tftat?lia ve Interefr in, him , and fo govern lurmr In Dealing"with cunning Perfons wernèfire-ver confider their Ends to inter prêt'their Speeches 5 and it is good to fay! little to them, and that which they leaftd&bk for. In a\\ Negotiations of Difficulty a:mabhiay not look to fowand reap at oncebü’tran ft prepare bufinefs, and fo ripen it by D6* grees. X L V III. Oftly Followers are not to be likdd, left while a man maketh hisTraVn'longer, he makes his Wings fhorter. I reckoned be coftly not them alone which charge the Purfe, but which are Wearifome and Importune in Suits, Ordinary Followers blight to challenge no higher Conditions than Of Followers and Friends P 3 Countenance214 Sir Francis Bacon’i Ejjays Countenance, Recommendation, and Protection from Wrongs. Fa&ious Followers are worfe to be liked, which follow not upon Affe&ion to him with whom they range themfelves, but upon Difcontent-jnent conceived againft fome other, where-* upon commonly enfueth , that ill Intelligence, that we many times fee between great Perfonages. Likewife glorious Followers who make themfelves as Trumpets of Commendation of thofe that follow, are full of Inconvenience, for they taint bufinefs through want of Secrecy, and they export Honour from a Man, and make him a return in Envy. There is a kind of Followers likewife which are dangerous, being indeed Efpials 5 which enquire the fecrets of the Houfe, and bear Tales of them toothers, yet fuch men, many times, are in great favour , for they are officious, and commonly exchange Tales, the FoU lowingby certain E&ates of men, anfwera-ble to that which a great Perfon himfelf profeffeth, (as of Souldiers to him th at hath been employed in the Wars, and the likeJ hath ever been a thing Civil, and well taken even in Monarchies, fo it be without too much pomp of popularity. But the tnofl Honorable kind of Followings is to be fallowed, as one that apprehendeth to advanceOf Followers and Friends. 215 vance Vertue and Defert in all forts of Per-fons. And yet where there is no eminent Odds in Sufficiency, it is better to take with the more Paflable, than with the more Able. And beftdes, to (peak Truth , in bafe times Aftive men are of moreufe than Vertuous. It is true, that in Government it is good to ufe men of one Rank equally 5 for to countenance fome extraordinarily , is to make them mfolent, and the reft difcontent, becaufe they may claim a Due. But contrariwife,' in favour to ufe men with much Difference andEledion, is good j for it maketh the Perfons preferred more thankfull, and the reft more officious, - becaufe all is of favor." 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 (hews Softnefs, and gives a freedom to Scandal and Difre-putation, for thofe that would not cenfure orfpeakillof a man immediately, will talk more boldly of thofe that are fo great with them,and thereby wound their Honor,yet to be diftra&ed with many is worfe j for it makes men to be of the laft Impreffion,and full of Change. To take advice of fome few Friends is ever Honorable $ for Look? ers on} many times, fee more than Camejlcrs, P 4 4nd.116 Sir Francis BaconV Efiays and the Vale heft difcovereth the Hill. There is little Friendlhip in the World, and leaft of all between Equals, which was wont to be ma^ufied* That that is, is between Superiour and Inferiour, whofe Fortunes may comprehend the one the other. Of Suitors. X LI X. Tfc & Any ill matters and proje&s are un-XV | dertaken, and private Suits do pu-trifie the publick Good. Many good matters are undertaken with bad minds I mean not onely corrupt minds, but crafty minds that intend not Performance- Some embrace Suits which never mean to deal ef-fe&ually in them} but if they fee there may be life in the matter by fome other mean, they will be content to win a Thank,or take a fecond Reward, or at leaft to make ufeinthemean timeofthe Suitors Hopes. Some take hold of Suits onely for an Occa-fion to crofs fome other} or to make an information, whereof they could not other-wife have apt Pretext, without care what become of the Suit when that Turn isfer-ved 5 or generally, to make other mens bufinefs, Of Suitor I. 217 bufinefs a kind of Entertainment to bring in their own. Nay, fome undertake Suits with a full purpofe to let them fall, to the end, to gratifie the adverfe Party or Competitour. Surely there is in fomefort a Right in every Suit 5 either a Right of Equity, if it be a Suit Controverfie} or a Right of Defert, if it be a Suit of Petition. If AfFettion lead a man to favour the Wrong Side in juftice, let him rather ufe his Countenance to compound the Matter, than to carry it. If Affe&ion leadamanto favour the lefs Worthy in Defert, let him do it without Depraving or Difablingthe better Deferver. In Suits which a man doth not well underhand , it is good to refer them to fome Friend of Trufl . and Judgment, that may report,whether he may deal in them with Honour j but let him choofe well his Referendaries, for elfe he may be led by the Nofe. Suitors arefodiftafted with Delays and Abufes, that plain dealing in denying to deal in Suits at firft, and reporting thefuccefs barely, and in Challenging no'more Thanks then one hath defended, is grown not only Honorable, but alfo Gracious. In Suits of Favour, the firft Coming ought to take little Place} fo far forth Confiderationmay be had of his trufl:, that'if intelligence of the Matter, could not218 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejfays not otherwife have been had, but by him*! Advantage be not taken of the Note, but} r the Party left to his other means, and iai fomefort Recompenced fo£ his Difcovery. ^ To be ignorant of the Value of a 'Suite is fimplicity; as well as to be ignorant i of the Right thereof, is want of Confai--i enee. Secrecy in Suits is a great mean n of Obtaining 5 for voycing them to be 3 in forwardnefs, may difeourage fomekind E of Suitors • but doth Quicken and I Awake Others $ but Timing of the: Suit is the principal. Timing, I fay not 3 onely in relpeft of the Perfon that Ihould 1 grant it , but in refpeft of thofe which i are like to Crofs it. Let a man in the choice of his mean, rather choofe * the Fitteli: mean , than the Greateft a mean j and rather them that deal in certain Things, than thofe that are General. . The Reparation of a Denial, is fome-times Equal to the firft Grant j if a man j Ihew himfelf, neither dejetted, nor dif-contented : iniquumpetas> ut JF.quumferas 5 is a good rule, where a man hath ftrength of Favour : But otherwife a man were * better rife in his Suit j for he that would have ventured at firft to have loft the Suitor, will not in the Conclufion lofe both the Suitor, and his own former favour. * Nothing IOf Studies, 21$ Nothing is thought lo eafie a requefl; to a great Perfon, as his Letter and .yet, if it Be not in a good Caufe, it is To much out of his Reputation. There are no worfe Inftru-ments than thefe general Contrivers of Suits $ for they are but a kind of . poyfon and infeftion to publick proceedings. Of Studies. _ . X; Q'Tudies ferve fbrt)elight,for Ornament, ^ and for Ability. Their cheif ufe for Delight, is in Privatenefs and Retiring 5 for Ornament, is in Difcourfe , - and for A-bility, is in the Judgment and: Difpofition ofBufinefs. Eor expert Men cah execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one 5 but the general Gouniels, and the Plots,and Marshalling of Affairs,cqme beft from thofe that are Learned. To fpend too much time 'mStudies, is Slothy to ufe them too much for Ornament, is. Affe&ation 5 to make Judgment wholly by their Rules, is the Humor of a Scholar. They perfect Nature, and are perfected by Experience^ for Natural Abilities are like Natural Plants; that need Proyning by study, and Studies220 Sir Francis üaconsEjfaj/s Studies themfelves do give forth Directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experie'ncje./Jrafty men contemn Studies, 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 Contradict and Confute ,nor to believe and take for granted, norto find Talk and Difcourfe, but to weigh andconfider. Some Book/are to be tailed, others to be fwallowed, and fome few to be chewed and digefted $ that is, fomeBookj are to be readonely in parts } others tobe read, but not curioufly 5 and fome few to be read wholly, and with Diligence and Attention. Some Book/ alfo may be read by Deputy, and Extracts made of them by others: But that would be onely in the lefs important Arguments, and the meaner Sort of Books-> elfe diftilled Books are like common diftilled Waters, flafhly things. Reading maketh ä Full man 3 Conference a Ready man} and Writing an Exact man. And therefore, if a Man Write little, he had need have a great Memory 5 if he Confer little, he had need have a pre-fent Wit 3 and if he Read little, he had need have much Cunning to feem to know that he doth not. Hiß ones make men Wife, PoetsOf Faftion. 221 Poets Witty, the Mathematichj Subtil, Natural Philofophy Deep, Moral Grave, Logick. and Rhetorick. able to Contend. Abeunt Stadia in Mores ; Nay, there is no Stand or Impediment in the Wit, but may be wrought out by fit Studies : Like as Dif-eafes of the Body may have appropriate Exercifes. Bowling is good for the Stone and Reins, Shooting for the Lungs and Breft, Gentle Walking for the Stomack, Riding for the Head, and the like. So if a Mans Wit be Wandring, let him Study the Mathematickj ; for in Demonftrations, if his Wit be called away never fo little, he muft begin again: If his Wit be not apt to diftinguifhor find differences,let him Study the Schoolmen j for they are Cymini fed ores. If he be not apt to beat over Matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illuftrate another, let him Study the Lawyers Cafes 5 fo every Defeft of the Mind may have a fpecjal Receipt. Of FaUion. LI. MAny have an Opinion not Wife; That for a Prince to govern his Eftate, or for a great Perfon to govern his Proceedings,222 sir FrancisBacon'/ Ejffojis Proceedings, according to the refpefr of Factions , is a principal part of Policy 3 whereas contrariwife, the cheifeft Wifdipni is, either in ordering thofe things which are General, and wnerein Men of feveral Factions do neverthelefs agree 5 or in dealing with correfpondence to particular per-fons one by one. But I fay not, that the confideration of Fa&ions is to benegleft-ed. Mean Men in their Riling muft adhere, but great Men that have Strength in them* (elves, were better to maintain themfelves Indifferent and Neutral: Yet even in beginners to adhere fo moderately, as he be a Man of the one Fa&ion , which is molt paffable with the other, commonly giveth beft way. The Lower and Weaker Fa&ion is the firmer in Conjun&ion $ and it is often feen, that a few that are Stiff, do tire out a greater number that are more Moderate. When one of the Fa&ions is extin-guifhed, the remaining Subdivideth : As the Fa&ion between Lucullus, and the reft of the Nobles of the Senate (which they called Optimates) held out a while agaicft the Fa&ion of Pon/pey and C vals.Thereforeitdoth much add to a mans Reputation, and is, (as Queen Ifabella (aid) Like perpetual Letters Commendatory, to have good Forms, To attain them, it almoft fufficeth nottodefpife them ; forfo • (hall a man obferve them in others: And let "him truft himfelf with the reft. For if he ilabour too much toexprefs them, he (hall llofe their Grace, which is to be Natural :and Unaffttted. Some mens Behaviour lis like a Verfe, wherein every Syllable is imeafured. How can a man comprehend great Matters, that breaketh his mind too much to fmall Obfervations ? Not to ufe ‘Ceremonies at all, is to teach others not to jufe them again $ and fo diminiftieth RejpeSt :to himfelf: Efpecially, they be not to be :omitted to Strangers, and formal Natures: ! But the Dwelling upon them, and Exalting :them above the Moon, is not only tedious, :but doth diminilh the Faith and Credit of ;him that fpeaks. And certainly, there is a ■Tiind of conveying of Effe&ual and Im-> jprinting Paftions amongft Complements, which is of Angular ufe, if a man can hit226 sir F rancis Bacon / Ejffaj/s upon it. Amongft a mans Peers, aman (hall be fure of Familiarity 5 And therefore it is good a little to keep State. A-mongfl: a mans Inferiors, one (hall be fure of Reverence 5 and therefore it is good a litte to be familiar. He that is too much in anything, fothathe giveth another occa-fion of Society , maketh himfelf cheap. To apply ones felf to others is good, fo it be with Demonftration , that a man doth it upon Regard, and not upon Facility. It is a good Precept generally in Seconding another, yet to add fomewhat of ones own : As if you would grant his Opinion, Içtitbewithfome Diftin&ion > ifyouwili follow his Motion, let be it with Condition 5 if you allow hisCounfel,let it be with alleaging further Reafon. Men had need beware, how they be too perfect in Complements : for be they never fo fufficient otherwife, their Envyers will be fure to give them that Attribute, to the Difad-vantageof theirgreater Vertues. It is lofs alfo in bufinefs, to be too full of Reflects,or to be too curious in obferving Times and Opportunities. Solomon faith, He that confldereth the Wind flail not Soroe, and he that looketh to the Clouds flail not Reap. A wife man will make more Oppertunities than he finds. Mens Behaviour (hould be likeOf Praife, 22 7 like their Apparel, not too Strait, or point Device, but free for Exercife or Motion, Of Traife M-.IL PRaife is the Refle&ion of Vertue, but itisasthe Glafsor Body which giveth the Reflexion. If it be from the common People, it is commonly Falfe and Naught, and rather followeth Vain Perfons than Vertuous. For the common People underhand not many excellent Vertues: The lowed Vertues draw Praife from them,the middle Vertues work in them Adonidimfcnt or Admiration, but of the higheft Vertues they have no Senfe or Perceiving at all but (hews and Species vertutibm (imiles ferve bed with them. Certainly Fame is like a River, thatbeareth up things Light and Swoln, and drowns things Weighty and Solid: But if Perfons of Quality and Judgement concurre, then it is, (as the Scripture faith) Nomen bonum injiar unguenti fragrantis. It filleth all round about, and will not eafily away: For the Odours of Oyntments are more durable Q* a than228 Sir Francis Ifaconh Ejfays than thofeof Flowres. There be fo many falfe points of Pratfc that a man may juftly hold it a Sufped. Some Praifes proceed meerly of Flattery, and ifhe'be an ordinary Flatterer, he will have certain common Attributes, which may ferve every man: If he be a cunning Flatterer, he will follow the Arch Flatterer, which is a mans felf: And wherein a man thinketh bed of himfelf, therein the Flatterer will uphold him mod: 5 but if he be an impudent Flatterer, look wherein a man is Confciousto himfelf that he ismodDefe&iveand is mod: out of Counrenace in himfelf, that will the Flatterer Entitle him to perforce, Spre-taConfeicntia. Some Praifes come of good wither and Refpe&s, which is a form due in Civility to Kings and great Perfons, Laudandopreecipere^ when by telling men what they are,they reprefent to them what they (hould be. Some men are praifed ma-licioufly to their Hurt, thereby to dir Envy and Jealoufje towards them, Tejfen/um genus inimicorum laudantium, infomuch as it wasa Proverb amongft the Grecians j that He that was praifed to his Hurt Jhould have a Vufe rife upon his Nofej as we fay. That a a Blifeer will rife upon ones Tongue that tells a Lye. Certainly moderate Praifes ufed V/ith Opportunity , and not Vulgar, isOf Fraije. 22p that which doth the good. Solomon faith He that praijeth hk Friend aloud, Fifing Ear• /7, /7 fl)all be to him no better than a Curje. Too much magnifying of Man or Matter, doth irritate Contradi&ion, and procure Envy and Scorn, To Fraije a mans felf cannot be Decent, except it be in rare Cafes y but to Fraije a mans Office or Pro* feffion , he may doit with good Grace, and with a kind of Magnanimity. TheC<*r-dinals of Room, which are Theologues , and Fryars, and School-men, have a Phrafeof notable Contempt andScornto-wards Civil bufinefs : For they- call all Temporal bufinefs, of Wars, Embaflages Judicature, and other Employments, shir-rerie, which is Under-Sheri fries, as if they were but Matters for Unaer-Sheriffs and Catchpoles : though many times thole Vnder-sherijferies do moregood than their High Speculations. • Saint fW, when he boafts of himfelf, he doth oft interlace, jfpea^ like a Fool \ but fpeaking of his Calling, he faith, Magnipcabo Jpftolatum meum.23§ Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays Of Vain (jlory. LI v. IT was prettily deviled of JEfopy The Fly fate upon the Axletree of the chariot-Wheel 3 and faid , IVhat a Duft do I raife .ui de contemnenda Gloria Libros fcribunt, Nomcn funm infiri-bunt. Socrates, Arijlotle, Galen were Men full of Ojlentation, Certainly Vain Glory helpeth to perpetuate a Mans memory , and Vertue was never fo beholding to Humane Nature, as it received his due at the Second Hand. Neither had the Fame of Cicero, Seneca , Tlinius Secundm born her Age fo well, if it had not been joyned with fome Vanity in themfelves j like unto Varnifh, that makes Seelings not onely 0,4 Shine,232 sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejfajs Shine, butLaft. But all this while, when I fpeak of Vain Glory, I mean not of that property that Tacitus1 doth attribute to Mucianus, Omnium qu£ dixerat, fecerat-Arte quadamOjlentator: For tnat proceeds not of Vanity, but of Natural Magnanimity and Difcretion : And in fome Perfons, is not onely Comely, but Gracious. For Excufations, Ceffions, Modefty it felf well Governed, are but Arts of ofientation. And amongft thofe Arts, there is none better than that which Tlinius Se-cundus fpeaketh of, which is to be liberal of Praife and Commendation to others, in that wherein a Mans felf hath any Perfection. For, faith Tliny very wittily, In tommending another, you do your felf Right : For he that you commend, is either Superior to youy in that yon com mend, or Inferior. If he be Inferior, if he be to be commended^ you much more : If he be Superior, if he be not to be commended, you much lejS Glorious. Men are the Scorn of Wife Men, the Admiration of Fools, the Idols of Parafites, and the Slaves of their own Vaunts. OfOf Honor and Reputation. LV. THe Winning of Honor is but the Revealing of aMansVertueand Worth without Difadvantage. For fome in their Actions do Woo and AffeCt Honor andfJe-putation , which fort of Men are common* ly much talked of, but inwardly little admired. And fome, contrariwife, darken their Vertue in thefhew 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 (hall purchafe more Honor, than by effecting a matter of greater Difficulty or Vertue, wherein he is but a follower. If a man fo temper his Actions, as in fome one of them he doth content e-very FaCtion or Combination of People, the Mufick will be the fuller. A Man is an ill Husband of his Honor that entreth into any ACtion, the Failing wherein may difgrace him more, than the carrying of it through can Honor him. Honor that is gained and broken upon another, hath the quickefi: Reflection , like Diamonds cut with234 5S Francis Bacon’/ Effays with Fafcets. And therefore let a Man n contend to excel any Competitors of his ;>r in Honor, in Out-(hooting.them, if he can,,.r in their own Bow. Difcreet Followers and h Servants help much to Reputation: Omnk v Tama a Domejlick emanat. Envy, which is n the Canker of Honor, is befl extinguilhed b by declaring a mans felf in his Ends, rather t to feek Merit than Fame ? and by attribu- -ting a Mans Succeffes, rather to Divine: Providence and Felicity , than to his own it Vertue or Policy. The true marshalling ofi: the Degrees of Soveraign Honor, arethefe. . In the firft place are, Conditores Imperiorum,.s Founders of States and Commonwealths ? < fuch as were Romulus, Cyrus ^ Ctffar, Otto• man, Ifmael. In the fecond place are,Leg*f- ► latores, Law-givers? which are alfo called }; Second Founders , or Verpetui Frincipes, becaufe they govern by their Ordinances v after they are gone ? fuch were Lycurgus, Solon, JuJlinian, Edgar, Alphonfus of Cajlile v the Wife, that made the Siete Patridas. In it the third place are Liberatores or Saha tores'? fuch as compound the longmiferies v. of Civil Wars, or deliver their Countreys y from Servitude of Strangers or Tyrants ? * as Augujlus Cdfar, Vefpafianus, Aurelianus,, “Theodoricus, King Henry the Seventh of : England? King Henry the Fourth of France. X Inir0f Honor and Reputation, f 235 In the fourth place are Propagatores^ or Fro-pugnatores Imperii 5 fuch as in Honorable Wars enlarge their Territories, or make noble defence againft Invaders. And in the laft place are Patres patria, which Reign juftly , and make the times good wherein they live. Both which lafl: Kinds need no Examples, they are in fuch num-: ber. Degrees of Honor in Subjefrs are : I Firft, Participes Curarumyhofe upon whom Princes do difeharge the greatefi: Weight of their Affairs , their Right Hands as we call them. The next are Duces Belli-, Great Leaders^ fuch as are Princes Lieutenants, and do them notable Services in the Wars. The third are Gratiofi, Favorites, fuch as need not this fcantling, to beSolace to the Soveraign, and Harmlefs to the People. And the fourth Hegotiis Pares, fuch as have great places under Princes, and execute their places with fufficiency. There is an Honor likewife which may be ranked a-mongft the Greateft, which hapneth rarely, that is, of fuch as Sacrifice themfilves to Death or Danger for the Good of their Countrey j as was M. Regulus, and the two Decii, 2 $6 Sir Francis Bacon3/Effayr Of fti die ature. LVI. TVdges ought to remember, that their Office is Jus dicere, 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 Church of Rome, which under pretext of Expofition of Scripture, doth not (tick to Add and Alter, and to pronounce that which they do not find j and by shew of Antiquity to introduce Novelty* Judges ought to be more Learned than Witty,more Reverend than Plaufible, and more Advifed than Confident, Above all things Integrity is their Portion and proper Vertue : Curfed (faith the Law) is he that removeth the Land Mark,* The Mif-layer of a Mccr Stone is to blame $ but it is the Unjufl: Judge that is the Capital Remover of Land Marks, when he defineth amifs of Lands and Property. One foul Sentence doth more hurt than many foul Examples 5 for thefe do but corrupt the Stream, the other corrupteth the Fountain. So faith Solomon, Fons tnrbatus, & Venacorrupta, cftjujlus cade ns in caufafua coram Adverfario. The Office of Judges mayOf “judicature. 237 may have reference unto the Parties that 'fite unto the advocates that pleads unto the Clerkj and Miniflers of justice underneath ithem, and to the Soveraign or State above \khem. Fir ft, For the Cattfes or Parties that fue. ..^ihere be (faith the Scripture) that turn ».Judgment into Wormwood j And furely there .. ue alfo that turn it into Vinegar 5 for In-. ijuftice maketh it bitter, and Delays make .:t four. The Principal Duty of a judge is :o fupprefs force and fraud, whereof force & the more pernicious when it is Open, i.'ind fraud when it is Clofe and Difguifed. -Add thereto Contentious Suits, which .nught to be fpewed out as the Surfet of -Courts. A judge ought to prepare his Way to a Juft Sentence, as God ufeth to prepare his Way by Raifing Valleys, and - Caking down Hills: So when there appeareth i»n either fide an high Hand, Violent Pro-. icution, cunning A dvantages taken. Combination,' Power, Great Counfel, then is -he Vertue of a Judge feen, to make Inequality Equal, that he may plant his jfudge-•vent as upon an even Ground, guiforti-ter emungit, elicit Janguinemj. and where the Wine-Prefsishard wrought, ityeilds a 3*arfh Wine that taftesof the Grape-Stone. hdges mud beware of hard Conftru&ions, and238 Sir Francis Baco n*/ Ejjays and drained Inferences, for there is now worfe Torture, than the Torture of Laws.;?' fpecially, in cafe of Laws penal 5 they;: ought to have care, that that which wa*r meant for Terror,b e not turned into Rigor,! and that they bring not upon the people : that Shower whereof the Scripture fpeak-; eth, Pluet fuper eos Laqueos : for penalr Laws prefledare a shower of Snares uponr the people. Therefore let Penal Laws, if r they have been Sleepers of long, or if they be grown unfit for the prefent Timesr be by wife Judges confined in the Execu-: tion, Judicis officium ejl0 utResitaTempo-ra Rerum^c. In Caufcs of Life and Deaths Judges ought ( as far as the Law permit-teth) in Jufticeto remember Mercy* and-to caft a fcvere Eye upon the Example,': but a merciful Eye upon thePerfon. Secondly, For the Advocates and Counfel that plead ^ Patience and Gravity of Hear- • ring isan Eflfential part of Juftice, and an : over-fpeaking Judge is no well-tuned Cym-> bal. 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 Quicknefs off Conceit in Cutting off Evidence or Coun— feltoo fhort, or to prevent Informations? by Queftions though pertinent. The5. part?!Of judicature. 39 parts of a judge in Hearing are four: To . direttthe Evidence 5 To moderate Length, d Repetition, or rmpertinency of Speech. * To Recapitulate, Sele&, and Collate the : material Points of that which hath been ' faid 5 And to give the Rule or Sentence, f Whatfoever is above thefe , is too much 5 i and proceeded] either of Glory and Wil-I lingnefs to Speak,or of Impatience to Hear, > or of Shortnefsof Memory, or ofwant-of ; a Stayed and Equal Attention.Ttisa ftrange 1 thing to fee, that the boldnefs of Advo-.* cates fhould prevail with Judges3 whereas they (hould imitate God in whofe Seat they : fit, who reprejjeth the Prefumtnous, andgiveth > Grace to the Modeji. But if is more ftrange, that judges (hould have noted Favorites 5 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 Can*• ^ fes are well Handled, and fair Pleaded j efpecially towards the Side which obtained] not 5 For that upholds in the Client the Reputation of his Counfel, and beat down in him the Conceit of his Caife. There is likewife due to the Publican Civil Repre-henfion of Advocates, where there appea-reth Cunning Counfel, Grofs Negled , Slight Information, Indifcreet Prefling, or an240 Sir Francis Bacon*s Ejfaj/s an Over-bold Defence. And let not th< Counjelat the Bar chop with the Judge, • noi j wind himfelf into the Handling of the Caufe anew^ after the Judge hath declared his Sentence : But on the other fide, let not the Judge meet the Caufe half way3 nor; give occafion to the Party to fay His Cpunfelor Proofs were not heard. Thirdly, For that that concerns Clerk*] and Mbiijiers, The Place of Jufiice is an Hallowed Place 5 and therefore not only the Bench, but the Foot-pace, and Pre~: cinfts, and Purprife thereof ought to be» preferved without Scandal andCorruption.a For certainly Grapes ( as the Scripture» faith J will not be gathered of Thorns or Thi-' files 5 nether can Jufiice yield her Fruit: with Sweetnefs amongft the Briars and! Brambles of Catching and Poling Clerkj i and Minifiers. The Attendance of Courts 1 is fubjeft to four bad Inftruments: Firft, t Certain Perfons that are Sowers of Suits z which make the Court Swell, and the j Country pine. The fecond fort is, Of ] thofe that engage Courts in Quarrels of: Jurifdidion, and are not truly Amici Curis, , but Parajhi Curts, in puffing a Court up 1 beyond her bounds, for their own Scraps and Advantage.rhe third fort is,Of thofe that may be accounted the Left Hands of CourtsOf judicature-. 241 >' Courts 5; Perfons that are full of Nimble 1 pnd Sinifter Tricks and Shifts whereby they ' pervertjthe plain and direft Courfes of ‘ Courts, and bring juftice into Oblique Lines and Labyrinths, And the fourth is, ThePoler andExafterof Fees, which jufti-| fies the common Refemblance of the Courts : of jfujizce to the Bujk^ whereunto while the flieep flies for Defence in Weather, he is fureto lofe part of his Fleece. On the other : fide, an Ancient Clerk* Skilfull in Prefidents, X Wary in Proceeding, and underftanding in the Bujinefs of the Court, is an excellent : Finger of a Court, and doth many times ■] point the way to the Judge himfelfl Fourthly, For that which may concern :the Soveraign and Efiate. Judges ought « above all to remember the conclufion of J the Roman Twelve Tables, Salus Populi Sit-1prerna Rexj and to know, That Laws, 3 except they be in order to that end, are d but Things Captious, and Oracles not well 1 Infpired. Therefore it'is an happy thing i in a State j when Kings and States do often > Confult withj«<%e/iand again,when Judges .) do often Confult with the King and State : ' The one, when there is a Matter of Law t intetvenient in Bufinefs of State j The » other, when there is fome Confederation > of State intervenient in Matter of Law, R For242 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays For many times the things deducëd td ‘judgement may be Mctim andTaum, when the Reafon and Confluence thereof may Trench to point of Ejlatê. I call matter of Efïate not only the Parts of Soveraignty, but whatfoever introduceth any great Alteration, or dangerous Prefident, or concerned manifeftly any great Portion of People. And let nO man\Veakly conceive, that Juft Laws and True Policy have any antipathy: For they are like Spirits and Sinews, that one moves with thé other. Let ‘judges alfo remember. That Solomons Throne was fupported by Lion^on both ftdes : Let them be Lions but yet Lions under the Throne ^ being Circumfpeft, that they do not Check or Oppofe any Points of Soveraignty. 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 theirOffice, a wife Ufe and Application of Laws 5 For they may remember what the Apojile faith of a greater Law than theirs, Nos feimus quia Lex bona modo quis ca ntatur Leoitime. Of243 Of Anger. L v 11. TOfeek to entinguifli Anger utterly, is but a bravery of the Stoicks. We { have better Oracles : Be Angry, but sinnot. . Let not the Sun go down upon your Anger. . Anger rauft be limited and confined, both iin Race and Time. We will firftfpeak, ! how the Natural Inclination and Habit ' To be Angry, may be attempted and calmed. ! Secondly, How the particular motions of . Anger may be reprefled, or at lead refrained from doing mifcheif. Thirdly, Howto raife ^«ger,orappeafe^/?gerin another. For the firft: There is no other way, but to Meditate and Ruminate well upon the Effe&s of Anger, how it troubles Mans Life. And the befttime to do this is, To look back upon Anger, when the Fit is throughly over. Seneca faith well} That Anger is likgRuine, which breaks it felf upon that it falls. The Scripture exhorteth us, To pojjejs our Souls in Patience. Who-foever is out of Patience, is out of Poffef-fion of his Soul. Men muft not turn Bees 5 —-Animafque in vulnere potmnt. R 2 Anger244 gW rrancis Bacon / EJJays Anger is certainly a kind of Bafenefs 5 as it appears well in the Weaknefs of thofe Subje&sin whom it Reigns, Children, Women, Old Folks, Sick Folks. Onely Men muft beware, that they carry their Anger rather with Scorn, than with Fear: So that they may feem rather to be above the Jn-jury, than below it, which is a thing eafily done, if a Man will give Law to himfelf in it. For the Second Point. The Caufes and Motives of Anger are cheifly three: Firft, to be too Senfible of Hurt: For no Man is Angry that feels not himfelf Hurt 5 and therefore tender and delicate Perfons muft needs be oft Angry: They have fo many things to trouble them,which moreRobuft Natures have little fenfe of. The next is, the Apprehenfion and Conftru&ion of the Injury offered, to be in the Circumftances thereof, full of Contempt. For Contempt is that which putteth an edge upon Anger, as much or more than the Hurt itfelf: And therefore when Men are Ingenious in picking out Circumftances of Contempt, they do kindle their Anger much. Laftly, Opinion of the Touch of a Mans Reputation doth multiply and fharpen Anger : Wherein the Remedy is, that a Man (hould have, KAsCcnfuIvowas wont to fay, Tclam HonorkOf Anger, 245 Crajjiorem. But in all Refrainings of Argcn it is the bed: Remedy to win Time, and to make a Mans felf believe that the Opportunity of his Revenge is not yet come 3 but that he forefees a time for it, and fo to dill himfelf in the mean time,and referve it. To contain Anger from Mifchcif, though it take hold of a Man, there be two things, whereof you mud have fpecial Caution : The one, of extream Bitternefl of Words, efpecially if they be Aculeate and Proper 3 for Communia. MalediÜa are nothing /0 much. And again, That in Anger a Man reveal no Secrets 3 for that makes him not fit for Society. The other, That you do not peremptorily break^ofm any bufinefs in a Fit of Anger 3 but howfoever you shew Bitter-nefs, do not Att any thing that is not Revocable. For Raifing and Appealing Anger is another : It is done cheifly by Chujing of Times 3 when Men are Frowarded and word Difpofed, to Incenfe them. Again, by gathering ("as was touched before) all that you can find out to aggravate the Con~ tempt 3 and the two Remedies are by the Contraries; The former, to take good Times, when fird to relate to a Man an Angry Bufinefs : For the fird Impreffion is much 3 and the other is. To fever as much R 3 as24 6 sir F rancis Bacon s Ejfays as may be the Conftru&ion of the Injury, from the Point of Contempt? imputing iti to Mifunderftanding, Fear, Paffion, 01 what you will. Of Vicifsitude of Things. L V III. C'olomon faith, There is no new thing upon ^ the Earth. So that as Tlato had an Ima-i gination mJlhat all Knowledge was but a Rejy-membrance : So Solomon giveth his fen-L tence , 7hat all Novelty is but Oblivion Whereby you may fee, That the River oc Lethe runneth as well above Ground, as be-i low. There is an abftrufe Aftrologer tha^ faith,' If it were not for two things that am, confiant, (The one is, That the'Fixed Stars ever fand at like dißance one from anothen > and never come nearer togethernor go further. aßtnder ? the other, That the Diurnal Motion, perpetually kcepeth Tisue ) no Individual would laß one moment. Certain it is, Thai the Matter is in a Perpetual Flux, anc*. never at a Stay. The great Winding-Sheet!, that bury all things in Oblivion, are two j. Vduges and Earthquakes. As for Confagra\ tionOf ViciJJitnde of Things, . 247 e tions and great Droughts, they do notroeer* ly Difpeople, but Dcdroy. Phaetons Car '.went but a Day : And the Three;Tears i Droughty in the time of Elias, was but particular, and left People alive. As for the igreat Burnings by Lightnings, which .are : often in theWejt Indies, they are but nar-:row. But in the other two Dedrudions, :by Deluge and Earthquake, it is further to :be noted, That the Remnant of People 1 which hap to be Referved, are commonly ilgnorant and Mountainous People, that jean give no'Account of the Time pad; 5 fo ithat the Oblivion is all one, as if none Ihad been left. If you confider well of the 1 People Of the Weft Indies, it is very pro-ibable, that they are a Newer, or Younger I People, than the People of the old World. \ And it is"much more likely , that the De-Iftrudion that hath heretofore been there, t was not by Earthquakes, Casth e Egyptian-I Pried told Solon, concerning thelflandof ! Atlantis, That it was fa allowed by an .Earth-} quake') but rather, that it jvas Defolated by j a particular Deluge : For Earthquakes are jfeldom in thofe Parts, But on the othe r j fide, they have fuch Vowring givers,as the \ Rivers of Ajia, and Ajjrich^, and Europe, | are but Brooks to them. Their Andes hke-Fwife or Mountains are far higher than R. 4 thofe248 Sir Francis Bacon*/ Ejjays thofe with us 3 whereby it Teems , that the Remnants of Generation of Men were in fuch a particular Deluge faved. As for the observation that Machiavil hath, That the JcalouJte of Seffs doth mudi extinguilh the Memory of things 3 traducing Gregory the Great, that he did what in him lay to extinguish all Heathen Antiquities. I do not find thatthofe Zeals do any great Effe&s, norlaft long 3 as it appeared in the Succeffion of Sabi-vian, who did Revive the former Antiquities. TheViciffitude or Mutations in the Superior Globe, are no fit Matter for this pre-fent Argument. It may be Plato's Great Tear , if the WQrld (hould lafi: fo long , would have Tome Effed 3 not in renewing the State of like Individuals, ffor that is the Fume of thofe, that conceive the Celeftial Bodies have more accurate Influences upon thefe things below, than indeed they have ) but in Grofs, Comets out ofqueftion havelikewife Power and EfFeft over the Grofs and Mafs of things; But they are rather gazed upon,and waited upon in their Journey, than wifely obfer-ved in their Effe&s, fpecially in their re-fpe&ive Effe&s $ that is, What kind of Comet for Magnitude, Colour, Verfion ofOf Vicifjttude of Things ', \ 249' the Beams, placing in the Region of Heaven, or Lading , produceth what kind of Effe&s. There 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 Countreyx, (I know not in what part} That every Five and thirty Years, the fame kind and fute of Years 4nd Weathers comes about again, as Great Froafts, Great Wet, Great Droughts, Warm Winters , Summers with little Heat, and th^ like; and they call it the Trinte, It is a thing I do rather mention, becaufe computing backwards, I have found fome Concurrence. But to leave thefe points of -Nature, and come to Men. The greated Vicijjitude of things amongd Men is, The Vicijjitude of Se&s and Religions: For thofe Orbs rule in Mens minds mod. The True Religionis built upon the Rock,^ the red are tod upon the Waves of Time. To fpeak therefore of the Caujes of new seffs , and to give fome Counfel concerning them, as far as the Weaknefs of Humane Judgement can give day to fo great Revolutions. When the Religion formerly received, is Rent by Difcords 5 and when the Holi-nefs of the Profeffors of Religion is Decayed250 Sir Francis Bacon’/ Ejfays eayed, and full of Scandal , and withal! the Times be Stupid Ignorant, and Barbarous, you may doubt die Springing tip of a New Sett, if »then alfo there thould arife any extravagant and ft range Spirit to makehimfelf Authour thereof; All which points held, wheu .Muhomci publifhed /his Law. IF a New Sett have not twp.properties , fear it not, for. it will not (preadi The one is. The Supplanting or the Op-pofing of Authority eftablifhed : FQrna-thing .is more , popular then that. The ptheriis, The giving Licenfeto Pleafures and Voluptuous Life. /For as for Speculative Here fie/3 (fuch as (Were in ' Ancient Times the Arrians, and now the Arminz-*ns/) though they wprk mightily ppoh Alens Wits, yet they do mot produce any great, alteration in States, except it be by the help .o-f Civil Occafions. There/be three manner .of-Plantations of New S 0s By the Power of Signs,and Maracles^by the Eloquence, und WifdomoF Speech ' and EerJwaftot?,and by the S',vord. For' Martyrdoms, I reckon them amoingft Miracles, becaufe they feem to exceed the ftrength of Humane Nature : And I may do the like of Superlative and Admirable Holinefof Life* Surely there is no better way to ftop the.Rifing of New Setts and Schifms3 than toOf Vicijjitude of Things, 251 to reform Abufes, to compound the final* ler Differences , to proceed mildly, and not with Sanguinary perfections 5 and rather to take off the .principal Authors by winning and advancing them, than to enrage them by Violence and Btt-ternefs. The Changes and Vicijjitude mWars are many, but chiefly in three things: In,tbe Seats or Stages of the War 3 in the Weapons, and in the Manner of the Conduct. Wars in Ancient Time, feemed more to move from Eajl to Weft : For the Ter fans, Ajfy-rians, Arabians,, Tartars, ( which are the Invaders) were all Eaftern People. Iris true, the Gauls were Weftern,but we read but of two Incurfions of theirs, the one to Gallo-Greecia, the other to Rowe. But Eaft and Wdi have no certain Points of Heaven, and no more have the Wars,either from the Eaft or Weft any certainty of OJb-fervation. But North and South are fixed, and it hath feldom or never beeu feen, that the far Southern People have invaded the Notthern , but contrariwife. Whereby it is manifeft, that the Northern Tratf of the World is in nature the more Martial Religion 3 be it in refpeft of the Stars of that Hemifphere, or of the great Continents that aveupQn the North, whereas the South■ 252 Sir Francis Bacon \r Ejjays South Party for ought that is known, is al«: moftall Sea $ or (which ismoft apparent^ of the Cold of the Northern Parts, which is;i that, which without Aid of Difcipline doth make the bodies hardeft, and the Courage warmeft. Upon the Breaking and Shivering of a great State and Empire, you may be lure to have Wars. For great Empires, while they ftand,do enervate and deftroy the forces of the Natives which they have fubdu-ed, refting upon their own Prote&ing forces 5 and then when they fail alfo, all goes to ruine, and they become a Prey. So was it in' the decay of the Roman Empire 5 and likewife in the Empire of Almaign, after Charles the Great, every Bird taking a Feather, and were not unlike to befall to Spain, if it Ihould break. The great Accejji-ohs and Unions of Kingdoms do likewife ftir up Wars. For when a State grows to an Gver-power, it is like a great floudthat will be fare to over-flow. As it hath been feen in the States of Romey Turkje, Spain, and others. Look when the World hath feweft Barbarous People , but fuch as commonly will not marry or generate, except they know means to live 5 ( as it is almofl: every where at this day, except Tartary) there is no danger of Inundations of PeopleOf tficijfitude of Things] 253 ble} but when there be great shoals of People, which go on to populate without fore-feeing means of Life and Suftentation, it is Df necefiity that once in an Age or two,they idifcharge a Portion of their People upon (Other Nations, which the ancient Northern Teople were wont to do by Lot,calling Lots what part Ihould flay at home, and what Ihould feek their fortunes. When a Warlike State grows Soft and Effeminate, they may Le fure of a War j for commonly fuch States are grown rich in the time of their Degenerating, and fo the Prey inviteth,and their bdecay in valor encourageth a War. As for the Weapons hardly falleth under ’Rule and Obfervation^yet we fee even they have Returns and Vicijfitudes. For certain it iis, that Ordnance was known in the City of ithe Oxidrakps in India , and was that which 1 the Macedonians called Thunder and Light-t ning,and Magick. And it is well known,that 1 the ufe of Ordnance hath been in China above ‘2000 years. The Conditions of Weapons, ; and their improvement are j Firft, The Fetching afar off, for that out-runs the • danger,as it is feen in Ordnance and Mussets. ; Secondly, The ftrength of the Percuffion, wherein likewife Ordnance do exceed all Arietations, and ancient inventions. The third is, The commodious ufe of them 5 as that254 tf/r Francis Bacon*!1 Ejjays^&c. that they may ferve in all Weathers, thati the Carriage may be light and manageable*' and the like. For the Conduit of thé War , at the firft! Men refted extreamly upon Number^ they^ did put the Wars likewifè upon Main Force* and Valor, pointing days for pitched fields*.; and fo trying it out upon an even Match, « and they were more ignorant in Ranging \ and Arraying their Battles. After they grew * to reft upon Numbers rather Competent than f Va ft, they grew to Advantages of Place, r Cunning DiverÇionss and the like , and they * grew more skilful in the Ordering of their * Battles. In the Tonth of estate Arms do flourifh $ î in the Middle Age of a State Learnings and | then both of them together for a time : In 1 the Declining Age of a State, Mechanical ’ Arts and Merchandize. Learning hath his Infancy when it is but beginning,and almoft Childilh 5 then his Youth, when it is Luxuriant and Juvenile , then his ftrength of * years, when it is folid and reduced 5 and laftiy, his Old Age, when it waxeth dry and exhauft. But it is not good to look too j long upon thefe turning Wheels of Vicijji-tude}\e(ï we become giddy. As for the Phi* logogy of them, that is but a Circle of Tales, and therefore not fit for this Writing. THE 1THE TAB L E.' Adverfty. ' ,1 1 Of Ambition, Of Anger. Page 17 16s 245 pf Atheifm. 69 Of Beauty. 189 pf Boldnef. 48 pf Building* 195 Pf Ceremonies andRefpeUs. 22-4 pf Counfel. 87 Of Cunning. 96 Pf Cujlom and Educationi 174 if Death. 5 Pf Deformity, 191 pf Delays, 95 pf Difcourfe. 146 Of Difpatch. 106 9f Empire, 8 Of Envy. 3* Of Expence. 124 Vf Faftion, 221 OfTHE TABLE. Of Followers arid Friends» 21:1 Of Fortune. Of Friendfiip. tla Of Cardens, 20CC Of Goodnefi, and Goodnefiof Nature. 5 ] j Of Great Place; 4:4. Of the true Grcainef of Kingdom ana Ejlates. I2<1 Of Regiment of Health. 14 4 Of Honor and Reputation* 23 $ Of Innovations. io: Of Judicature. 231$ Of Love, 3 »5 Of Marriage and Single Life. 2i< Of Masks and Triumphs. 16-: Of Nature in Men, 17 ^ Of Negotiating. 211 Of Nobility, 5 i Of Parents and Chi Idren, 2 ; Of Plantations. I4 J Of Praife. 221 Of Prophecies. l6<: Of Revenge. I i Of Riches. 15.; Of Seditions and Troubles. 5 f Of Seeming Wifi. i i Of Simulation and DijJimuUtion. 21 Of Studies. 211 Of Superflition. 7 sTHE TABLE. Gf Sufpicion. 144 Of Suitors. 21$ i Of Travel. 76 0/ Truth. I Of Vain Glory. 230 Of ViciJJitudeof Things; 245 OfVnity in Religion. 8 ! 0/ Vfury. 180 Of Wifdom for a Mans Self. 102 Of TouthandAge. 186 FINIS. $* •P T i •/ t V % * s •» *■* ; i h i. COLOURS O F GOOD* evil: A Fragment.I « e V- « f • è t i y * J a * \ ‘ w ♦ tgjl is Evil • and of Good What is grea ter. j: i and of Evil, N Délibératives, the Point » is what is Good, and what what is lefs. So that the Perfwaders Labor, is to make things appear Good or Evil, and that in higher or lower Degree • which as it may be performed by True and Solid Reafons, foitmay be re-prefented alfo by Colours, Populari-i ties, and Circumftances, which are of ifuchforce, as they (way the ordinary Judgment either of a weak Man,or of | a wife Man,not fully and confiderately ^attending and pondering the matter. IBelides their power to alter the nature ;of the Subje& in appearence,and fo to Head to Errour, they are of no lefs ufe :to quicken and ftrengthen the Opini-:ons and Perfwafions which are true : 'for Reafons plainly delivered, and al- S 3 waysways after one manner,efpecially wittS Fine and Faftidi^us Minds, enter bui i Heavily and Dully i whereas if they be Varied, and have more Life and r Vigor put into them by thefe Former 3nd Infinuations, they caufe a ftrong-; er Apprehenfion , and many timese fuddenly Win the Mind to a Refolu-J! tion. Laftly, To make a true and fafe> Judgment, nothing can be of greater Ufe and Defence to the Mind,thani! the Difcovering and Reprehenfion ofr thefe Colours, (liewing in what Cafes;; they hold, and in what they Deceive ^ which as it cannot be done, but out off a very univerfal Knowledge of the Na- • ture of thingsj fo being performed ,it; fo cleareth Mans Judgement and 1 Ele&ion, as it is the lefs apt to Slide ipto any Errour. CapitaPj|8j Capita Sedionum, quae in Boni Maliqne Colorum Tabula continentur. I. f~^Vi Ceeteree Partes, vet Sc&£,fecundas V J unanimiter deferunt , cum fngube principatum fibi vindicent , Melior reliquis videtur. Nam primas quaque expeto videtur jumere, fecundas autem ex vero & merito tribuere. > 2. Cujus excellentia, vel exup erant ia Melior , id toto genere Melius. 3. Quod ad Veritatem refertur, Majus e ft, quam quod ad Opinionem. Modus autem & probatio ejus, quod ad Opinionem pertinet, hac efl: Qyodquis, fi clam putaret fore, fa&u-rus non effet. 4. Quod rem integram fervat. Bonum: Quod (ine receptu efl, Malum. Namferecipere non pojje, impotentia genus efl j potentia au-tem Bonum. 5. Quod ex pluribus conflat, & diviftb ilibus, efl Majus, quam quod ex paucioribus, & Magis Vnum : Nam omnia,per partes confide-rata, majora videntur j quare & pluralitas S 4 partiumpartium Magnitudinem pro9 Je fert. Fortius autem operatur pluralitasp artium? fi Ordo ab-Jit : Nam inducit fimilitudinem Infiniti, impedit comprehenjionem. 6. Cujus privatio bonfa Malum .* Cujus privatio mala, Bonum. 7. vicinum, Bonum : Quod a Bono remotumM Malum. 8. Quod quis culpa fua contraxit3 Majus Malum : Quod ab externis imponitur3 Minus Malum. 9. 0/?m* C^* virtute noflra partum cjl^ Majus Bonum : Quod ab alieno beneficio, t/e/ ab indulgentia Fortuna^delatum ejl, Minus Bonum. 10. Gradus Trivationis major videtur 3 quam gradus Diminutionis 5 & rurfusgradus Inceptionis major videtur 3 ^//Vic and not onely in theatro, upon the Stage: though percafe it will be more ftrong by Glory and Fame 3 as an Heat, which is doubled by Reflection. But that denieth the suppofltiony it doth not reprehend the Fallax , whereof the reprekenflon is a Law, that Virtue' (fxxch as is joyned with Labour and ConflittJ would not be chofen, but for Fame, and Opinion 5 yet it folioweth not, that the chief Motive of the Ele&ion (hould not berealy and for it' felfb for Fame maybe onely caufa impulfi-vay the impelling or nrgingCaufe 3 and not can fa conflitucnSy or efficient the conjlitutingy or efficient Caufe. As if there were- two Horfcsy 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 ‘ Spur alfoo yet the latter; will be judged to to be th^.better Horfe: and the Forty, asto fay, Tufljy the life of this Horfe is but in the spury will not ferve as to a wife Judgement: for, fince the ordinary Juflrument of Horf-manfhip is the Spur,and that it is no matter ofImpediment ,or Bur the» the Horfe is not toOf Good and Evil. 7 be accounted the lefs of, which will not do well without the Spur, but rather the other is to be reckoned a Delicacy, than a Virtue. So Glory and Honour are the Spurs to Virtue : and, although Virtue would lan-guiftj without them, yet fince they be always at hand to attend Virtue, Virtue is not faid to be the lefs chofen for it felf 5 becaufe it needeth the Spur of Fame and Reputatiom And therefore that Petition , Nota ejus rei, quod propter Opinionem, & non propter Veritatem eligitur, hac eft 5 Quod quis, ft clam putaret fore, Jatfurus non ejfet, (That is, That the Mark of a Thing chofen for Opinion, and not for Truth-fake, is this, That one would not do it, if he thought it would not be known) is reprehended. 4. Quod rem integram fervat, Bonum : quod (ine receptu eft, Malum. Nam ft recipere non pofte, impotentia genus eft: potentia autem Bonum : That is, That, which keeps a Matter fafe and entire, is Good: but what is defiitute and unprovided of a Retreatfis Bad. For, whereas all Ability of Adfingis Good, not to be able to withdraw ones felf, is a kind of Impotency. T Hereof8 A table of the Colours Hereof AZfop framed the Fable of the two Frogs that confulted together in, the time of Drowth , (when many Piaffes that they had repaired to were dry) what was to be done: and the one propounded to go down into a deep W/3becaufeit was like the Water would not fail there > but the other anfwered, Tea, but if it do fail, botò ffallwe get up again. And the Reafon is, that Humane Aliions are fo uncertain, arid fub-je& to perils , as that feemeth the beji courfe, which hath mofl: paffages out of it. ; Appertaining to this Perfwafion, the Forms are, Tou Jhall engage your felf : on the other fide, tantum, quantum voles, Jumes ex fortuna j i. e. T ake what Lot you will • or, Tou fiali keep the matter in your own Hand. The Reprehenfon of it is, that Proceeding anc.t Refolving in all actions is neceffary. For, an he faith well. Not to refolve is to refolve and many times it breeds as many NeceJJz-i ties, andfcngageth as far in fome other fort; as to refolve. So it is but the covetous Man.: Difeafe tranfiated in power j for the cove j torn Man will enjoy nothing, becaufehe will have his full fore, and poffzbility to enjov the more, fo, by this Reafon, a Man (houlo execute nothing, becaufe he fhould be (till indifferent, and at liberty to execute any thing;Of Good and Evil. 9 thing. Befides Necejfity and this fame Jaffa ejialea, or, once having caft the Dice, hath many times an advantage >becaufe itawak-eth the powers of the Mind, and ftrengthe-neth Endeavour, ( Ceteris pares, necejfita-te certe fuperiores ijtis: j which are able to deal with any others, but Mafier thefe upon riecejjity, 5. 'ghto'd ex pluribus confiat, & divifbilibus, ejl Majus, quam quod ex pauci or ib/ts, & magis Unum : vam omnia, per partes confiderata, majora videntur 5 quare &'pluralitaspartium Magnitudinem pr<£ fe fert. Fortius autem operatur Pluralitas partium, fi Ordo abft: nam inducitfimilitudinem Infiniti , impedit comprehendo-nem , That is, That, which confifts of more parts, and thofe Divijible, is Greater, and more One, than what is made up of fewerj For All Things, whep they are looked upon piece-meal, feern Greater j whence alfo a Plurality oF Parts makes fhew of a Bulk confiderable. Which a Plurality-of Parts effects more ftrongly, if they be in no certain Order j for ic f 1 thenio A Table of the Colours then refembles an Infinity, and hinders the comprehending of them. THis Colour feemeth' palpable $ for it is not Plurality of Parts, without Majority of Parts, that maketh the Total Greater, yet neverthelefs, it often carries J the Mind away 5 yea,it deceiveth theSenfi% * as, it feemeth to the Eye a fhorter diftance 2 of IVay, if it be all dead and continued, than if it have Trees, or Buildings, or any v other Marksj whereby the Eye may divide 2 it. So when a great-moneyed Man hath di- -vided his Chefts, and Coyns, and Bags, he 2 feemeth to himfelf richer then he was.. And therefore the way to amplifie any thing \ is to break, it, and to make Anatomy of it in r feveral parts, and to examine it according j to feveral Circumjlances. And this maketh r the greater (hew, if it be done without \ Order, for Confufion maketh things mujler ■* more. And befides, what is fet down by v Orderj and Divifion , doth demonftrate ,. thatnothing \s left out, oromittedj butallx is there: whereas, if it be without Order both the Mind comprehendethleCs that which ” is fet down, and befides it leavetb a fuf- -plcion, as if more might befaid than is ex- -frejjed. This iOf Good and Evil. 11 This Colour deceiveh.if the Mind of him thatis to be perfwaded, doof itfclfover-conceive, orprejudge of the Great nefiofany thing i for then the breaking of it will make it feem lejs, becaufe it makes it to appear more according to the Truth. And therefore, if a Man be in Sicknefs, or Pain, the time will feem longer without a Clocks or Hour-glafs, than with it: for the Mind doth value every Moment ? and then the Hour doth rather fum up the Moments, than \ divide the Day. So in a deadvlain the Way feemeth the longer, becaufe the Eye hath pre-conceived it Jhorter, than the Truth : : and the frnjlrating of that maketh it feem donger,than the Truth. Therefore, if any 'Man have an over-great Opinion of any thing, then if another think j by breaking l it intofeveral Confiderations, he (hall make it feem greater to him, he will be deceived. ' ■ And therefore, in_fuch Cafes, itisnotfafe to divide, but to extoll the Entire [fill irige* t neral. Another Cafe , wherein this Colour de-:ceiveth, is, when the Matter broken, or dz-ivided, is not comprehended by the Sep.fe,or ? made at once in refpedt of the clifi raiding or jfcattering of it: and being Entire, andoot : divided, is comprehended. As an hundred Pounds in Heaps of five Pounds will T 3 . (hew12 A Table of the Colours fhew wore, than in one grofs Heap : fo as the Heaps be all upon one Table to be feen at once, otherwife not. As Flowers, growing Scattered in divers Beds, will fhew more, than if they did grow in one Bed : fo as allthofe Feds be within a Plot, that they be objed to View at once* otherwife not. And therefore Men, whofe Living li-eth together in one shire, are commonly counted greater-landed, thanthofe, whofe Livings are difperfed j though it be More , becaufe of the notice, and compreben-fon. A third Cafe, wherein this Colour de-ceiveth,which is not fo properly a Cafe, or Jteprehenfton, as is a counter Colour, being in effed as Urge as the Colour it felf is, Omni* compofitio indigenti# cujufdam videtur ejfe parti ceps.That Every Compofition feems to pertake of a certain Want: becaufe, if one Thing would ferve the turn, it were ever bcjl; but it is the DcfeU and Impcrfetiion of Things, that hath brought in that help to piece them up: asitisfaid, *Iukei®. 41,41. * Martha, Martha , atten- dis ad plurima, ununi faffi-eit: that is, Martha, Martha , thou art troubled about many things 5 one th^ng is fufficient. So likewife hereupon j€jbp framed the Fable of the Fox and the\of Good and Evil. I g the Cat: wherein the Fox bragged, what a number of jhifts and devices he had, to get from the Hounds ; and the Cat faid, he had but CM) which wits to climbs a Frees which in proof was better worthy than all the reft 5 whereof the Proverb grew, Malta novit Vulpes, fed fells unnm magnum. Reynard the Hounds to (cape had (hifts not fmall. Grimalkin onely one as good as all. And in the Moral of this Fable, it comes likewifeto pafs. That A good fare Friend h a better help at a pinch, than all the Stratagems and Policies of Mans own Wit. So it falleth out to be a common Errour in Negotiating s whereas Men have many Reaforis to induce or perfwade, they ftrive commonly to utter, and ufe them all at once^ which weakjteth them. For it argueth,as wasfaidja needinefs in every of the Reafons by it felt, as if one did not truft to anyofc them, but fled from one to another, helping hi'mfelf only with that. Et qua non profunt ftngnla, multa juvant. T 4 And14 A Table of the Colours And vohat help'd not alone before, Doth help full well, when joynd with more. Indeed, in a fet Speech in an Aftembly, it is expe&ed, a Man fliould ufe all his Reafons in the Cafe he handleth .* but in private Ter-fwaftons it is always a great Err our. A fourth wherein thisCa/^rmaybe reprehended, is in rcfpeft of that fame Vis unitafortior, the acknowledgedJlrength of an united Power j according to the Tale of the F RENC H King, who, when the Em-perour’s Ambajjador had recited his Mafter* Style at large, which confifteth of many Countreys and Dominions, the F R ENC H King willed His Chancellour, or other Mini-fter, to repeat over FR A NC E as many times, as the other had recited the feveral Dominions$ intending it was equivalent with them all, and more compacted and united. There is alfo appertaining to this Colour another Pointy why breaking of a Thing doth help it j not by way of adding a (hew of Magnitude unto it, but a note of Excellency and Rarity: whereof the Forms are, Where you fhallfind fetch a Concurrence ? Great, butOf Good and Evil. 15 not compleat: for it feems a lefs work of Nature, or Fortune, to make any thing in his kind greater than ordinary, than to make a flrange Compofition. Yet,if it be narrow-ly confidcred, this Colour will be reprehended, or encountered, by imputing to all 1 Excellencies in Compositions a kind of Pover-' ty, or ("at lead) a Cafualty, or Jeopardy: for from that, which is excellent in Greatnefs, fomewhat may be taken, or there may be a ; decay, and yet fujficiently left 3 but from 1 that, which hath his price in compofition, if you takeaway any thing , or any "part do fail, all is Difgrace. 6. Cujus Trivatio bona, Malum : cujus Privatio mala,Bonum. That is, That, whofe Privation (or , the Want of which) is Good, is in it felf Evil: that whofe Privation (or, the Want whereof) is an Evil, is in it felf Good. ^“I“''He Forms to make it conceived, that J that was evil, which is changed for the better, are j He that is in Hell,thinks there is no Heaven. Statis quercus 3 Acorns were good, till Bread was found, See. And on the other fide, the Forms to make it conceived, that16 A table of the Colours thatthat was good, which was changed for * the worfe, are 3 Bona magis carendo quand* fruendo ftntimus: that is, We understand i the Goodnefs of things more by wanting, than enjoying them. Bona a t ergo form ofijji-tna : i. e. Good things never appear in their 1 full Beauty, till they turn their Bacl$ and be 3 going away, See. The Reprehenfton of this Colour is, That! the Good or Evil which is removed, may be 3 efteemed good, or evil comparatively 5 and : not pofttively, or (imply. So that, if the: Privation be good, it follows not, that the : former condition was evil, but tejs good: : for theFlower or BloJJbme, is apojit&je Good j -although the remove of it, to give places to the Fruit, be a comparative Good. So in: theTaleof J?/bp,when the old fainting Man: intheheat ofthe day call down his Burthen,.} and called for Death 3 and, when Deaths came to know his will with him, faid,Itl was for nothing, but to help him up with hist Burthen again: it doth not follow, that! becaufe Death, which was the privation o£ of the Burthen, was ill 3’ therefore the Bur—■ then wasgood. And in this part the ordina-. ry Form of Malum necejfarium, a neceffaryf Evil aptly reprehended this Colour : for Pri- -patio mali necejfarii eft mala, the privation 1 of a necelTary Evil is Evil 3 and yet that doth 1Of Good and Evil. i j doth not convert the Nature of the Necejfary Evil, but it is Evil. : Again, it cometh fometimes to pafs,that there is an equality in the change of Privation , and (as it were) a Dilemma honi, of the good 5 or, Dilemma mali, of the evil 5 fo that the * Cor- * corrupt,* uni-c _ 1. ^ us eft gentratio ruption or one Good is a Gene- aiterius, ration of the other. Sorti pater aquus utrique eft: Both Chances the fame equal Parent have; And contrarily, the remedy of the one i Evil, is the occajion and commencement of 1 another *, as in Scylla andCharihdis. 7. §)uod Bono vicinum, Bonum: quod a Bonoremotum, Malum. That is, What is near to Good, is Good: What is at diftance fi^om Good,, is Evil. Q Uch is the Nature of Things,that Things ^ contrary, and dijlant in Nature and Quality j and alfo fevered, and disjoyned in place • and Things like, and confenting in Quality, are placed, and (as it were) quartered together \ for partly, in regard of the Nature,l 8 A Table of the Colours Nature, toj(pread, Multiply, and infdt in fi~ militude j and partly, in regard of the Na? ture, to breaks , expels and alter that, whichi is difagreeable, and contrary, moft things do:, either aßociafe, and draw near to themfelves the likßy or ( at lead ) ajjimilate to them? ■ felves that, which approacheth near them,. and dp alfo drive away, chafe0 and extermi- • nate their contraries. And that is thereafon \ commonly yielded, why the middle Region s of the Air fhould be coldeß 5 becaufe the ■ Sun, and stars, are either hot by dire& • Beams, or by reßeäion. The direti Beams \ heat the upper Region 5 the reflected Beams \ from the Earthy and Seas, heat the lower p Region. That which is in themiddeß}being ; further diftant in place from thefe two Regt- • ons of heat, are moft diftant in Nature, that: is coldeß, which is that : * Antiperiftaßs is a Phi- they term Cold) or hoty. lofophical Term Agnify- Per* Antiperiftafin,that : mg a repulfisn on every ■ - • y v, ' part,whereby either Hut m environing by Contra-or Cold is made more ries: which W^S pleaf-WPJ1 antly taken hold of by contrary. him, who faid, that an honeft Man in theß dayes muß needs be more honeft than in Ages heretofore, propter antiperißaßn 5 becaufe the Jhutting of him in the midß of Contraries mußOf Good and Evil. 19 > mufi needs nuke the honefter Jironger , and mere compaff in it felf. The Reprehén(ion of thisCW^aris: Firft, Many Things of Amplitude in their kind do (as it were3 Engrof to themfelves all, and leave that, which is next them, moft \deffitute. As the shoots, or Under-Wood, ’ that grow near a great and fpread Tree, is the mojl pyned and fhrubby Wood of the ì Field 5 becaufe thegreat Tree doth deprive and deceive them of the Jap and nourijhment 5 fo He faith well, Divitfc fervi maxime fervi, iThat Rich Mens Servants are the greateft ? Slaves : and the Compari fon was pleafant of {him, that compared Courtiers attendant i in the Courts of Princes, without great place 1 or office, to Faffing-days 5 which were next 1 the Holy- days 5 but otherwife were thè , leanejt days inali the Week. Another Reprehenfion is, that Things of Creatnejs and Predominancy, though they do not extenuate the Things adjoyning infub-fiances, yet they drown them, and obfcure them in Jhew and appearance. And therefore the Ajironomers fay $ that, whereas in all other Planets Conj unUion is the perfeffefi amity, the Sun contrariwife is good by Af-peU, but evil by Conjunction. A third Reprehenfon is, becaufe Evil&p-proacheth to Good, fometimes for concealment20 d Table of the dolours went, fometimes for prote&ion : and Good to Evil for converfion and reformation. So Hy-pocrifie dravveth near to Religion for Covert atid hiding'\t(e\f. Si- J vine Powers: Atque Deos atque Ajlra vocat crudeli&\ Mater: ■» The Gods and cruel Stars the Mother), doth charge. But, where the Evil is derived from a Mansr own fault, there all (trikes deadly inwards^ -andjfufiocateth. The Reprehenfion of this Colour is: Fir(t, in refpett of Hope: for Reforma-. tion of our Fault is in nofirapotefiate, oun own Power 3 but Amendment of our Fortunes (imply is not, Therefore Demofihenesinma—• nyof his Orations faith thus to the People s of Athens' 3 That, which havingregard to the y Time pad, is the worfe Point and Circumfiance 2 ■ of all the rejl 3 That, as to the Time to come, t. is the befi. What is that, Even this, That by your Sloth, Irrefolution, and Mifgovern- -ment) your Affairs are grown to this Declina- ~ tion and Decay* For, had youufed and or- ♦ deredyour Means and Forces to the befi, and 5 { Parts every way to the full 3 and not- • withfianding, matters fieould have gone backward in this mariner as they do: there had been no hope left of Recovery or Reputation. . - Butof Good and Evili 23 But [met it hath been onely by your own Errors, &c. SoEpiffetus in his Degrees faith. The worfi fate of Man is foexcuje extern Things, r better than that to accufi any mans felf, and I bejl of all to acctife neither. Another Reprehenfion of this Colour, is in ‘«refpedtof the well-bearing of Evils, whefe-, with a Man can charge no body, but him-ifelf, which maketh them thelejs. __Leve fit, quod benefertur onus r That Burthens light, that's On difcreetly laid. t And therefore many Matures, that are either extrcandy proud, and will take no Fault ■to them fives , or elfe very true, and cleaving ::o themfelves (when they fee the'blame of nny thing, that fills out/#, muft light upon ^hemfilves) have no other fidft, but to bear :t out well, and to make the leaf of it: For, as we fee, when fometimes a Fault is committed, and before it be known, who is to dame, much ado is made of it j but after, :f it appear to be done by a Son, or by a: Wife, or by a near Friend j then it \s hght made of: §0 much more, when a Man mu ft saky, it upon himfilf. And therefore it isf commonly feen, that Women, 'which marry V Husbands24 A Table of the Colours Husbands oF their own chuftng, again ft their 1 Friends confintsrf they be never fo ill-ufed, $ yet you (hall feldom fee them complain, but tj fet a good face cn it. 9, Quod opera & virfute nostra partum cjl, Majus Bonum : Quod ab alieno bene- - . ficio, vd ab indulgentia Fortune, dela- •* turn efl j Minus Bonum. That is. That, which is gotten by our ownPainsir andlnduftry, is a Greater Good ; that* which comes by another Man's Cour- '. tefie, or the Indulgence of Fortune,.e is a LeJJcrGood. /"TpTIe Reafons arc, Fir ft, The future Hope : Becaufeh in the favor of others, or the good Winds ok Fortune, we have no flate, or certainty $ ir e our Endeavors, or Abilities, we have. So as:,. •when they have purchased us one good For\ tune, we have them as ready, and hette-a. edged and environed- to procure another. The Forms be : Ton have iron this by Playy Ton have not oncly the Water j but you havs. the Receipt : Ten can make it again, if itb. loft, &£. ^ Next : Becaufe tliefe Properties, which, we enjoy by the benefit of others, carry with.Of Good and Evil» 2$ • them an obligation, which feemeth a kind of burthen: Whereas the other, which derive from ourfelves, are, like the freest Parents, ' Abfque aliquo inde redden do, without making any restitution. And, if they proceed froni Fortune, or Providence, yet they feem to c touch us fecretly with the reverence of the 'Divine Powers, whoCe Favors wetajle, and therefore work a kind of Religious Fear and Restraint: Whereas, in the^er kind, that xomesto pafs, which the Prophet fpeaketh, ~3.z,ek* Ltetantur, exultant, immolant plagis Cuts, & facrificant reti fuo : Men axe glad, :.:hey rejoyce,• they ojjer to their Toils, and \acrifice to their Nets. Thirdly, Becaufe that, which cometh unto us without our own Vertue, yieldeth not that Commendation and Reputation : For \Acsions of great Felicity may draw Wonder, DUt Praife lefs 5 as Cicero faid to Cafar, g>uuoa imitabde ejl, potentia quadam vulgatum ejl IVhat is imitable, is by a certain power madsv kn*n>n abroad. Thirdly]Of Good and Evil. 2j. Thirdly, Felicity commendeth thofe things which cometh without our own la-■"or : For they feem Gifts ^ and the others . eem Pennyworths. Whereupon rlutarch faith elegantly of the Ads of Timoleon, Ivho was to fortunate , compared with the Ads of Agejilaus and Epan/inondas^ That Shey were like Homers 5 they ran Jo caf lyytnd 0 well. And therefore it is the word we give into Voejie^ terming it a happy Vein 5 becaufe , facility feemeth ever to come from Happi-yejs. Fourthly, This fame prater Jpem, velprtc-ver expedatum, when things happen befides Hope or Expedation, it doth increafe the *rice and pleafure of many things , and this cannot be incident to thofe things that proceed from our own care0 and compajjing. IO. Gradus Trivationis major videtur, qttarn gradus Diminutionis: Et rurfus} gradus Inceptiovis major videtur, quant gradus Increment. That is, The Degree of Privation feeras Greater, than the Degree of Diminution: And again, the Degree of Inception ( or Beginning') feems Greater, than the Degree of Increafe. ITT is a Toption in the Mathematichy, that 11 There is no Proportion between Somewhat V 3 .........and28 A’tableof the Colours' and Nothing : Therefore the Degree of Nul- -lity o and Quiddity (or AB') feemeth j larger, than the Degrees of Increafe and De-i creafe. As to a Monoculous it is more to lofe: Eye, than to a Man that hath two Eyes\; So, if one have loft divers children, it is more grief to him to lofe the lafl, than all \ therefl } becaufe he is, fpes gregis, the hope > of his stock. And therefore Sibylla, when i (he brought her three Book/^nd had burned. two, did double the whole price of both they other j becaufe the burning of that had been j gradus privationis, a Degree of Privationv; and not Diminutionis, of Diminution. This Colour is reprehended: Firft, In thofe Things, the nfey and fif-m vice whereof refteth in EfficiencyK compee r tency,ox determinate quantity : As if a Man i 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; wantingI to want Ten killings more* So the 1 Decay of a Mans Ejlate feems to be ntofi \ touched in the Degree, when he firjl grows i behind, more than afterwards, when he i proves nothing worth. And hereof the com- -mon Forms are: Sera infundo parfl/nonia 5 ; or, It is too late to pinch, when the Purfe is aU\ the bottom 5 and;. As good never a, Whit, aii never the Better. It[bf Good and E vil. 2p It is reprehended alfo in refpeft of that a Sotjoa, Corrupt io umua gene ratio alierim '• That the Corruption of one thing, is the ^ Generation of another. So thatgradusPri-5. vationis, the Privative Degree is many times . left'matter '■> becaufe it gives the caufe and motive to fome neve courfe. As when De-mojlhenes reprehended the people for hcarkc \ning to the Conditions offered by* King 1 Philip, being not honorable , nor equal, he "{faith, they were but Elements of their sloth ^tnd Weakjtefs which if they were taken away, 'Necejfity would teach them jlronger refoluti-wns. So Doctor Hector was wont to fay to ftht Dames of London,when they complained, they were they could not tell how, but yet :ithey could not endure to taky any Medicine, ihe would tell them, their IVay was onely to •befields for then they would be glad to take lany Medicine. Thirdly, This Colour may be reprehended ffn refpeft that the Degree of Decreaje is mimefenjitive, than the Degree of Privation '■) for in the mind of Men, Gradus Dimi-\nutionis, the Degree of Decreaje, may work izw.avering between Hope znlfear, aid keep :theiMind in fif pence, icon jet ling, and ac-tcommadating in patience , and refutation. r.Hereof the canmaa Forms are: Better Eye oral, than always ^ Ma'ay^ or mir, V 4 ForA fable of the Colour* 50 For the Second Branch of this Colour, it depends upon the fame General Reafon .* Hence grew the Common place of extolling the beginning of every thing, Dimidiumfaffi, qui bene c<€pit0 habet. He hath hk Worhjnalf done, Who e'er hath well begun. This made the Ajlrologers (6 idle,as to judge of a Mans Nature and Dejlinyy by theCon-flellation of the Moment of his Nativity or Conception. This Colour is reprehended^ becaufemany Inceptions are but ( as Epicurus termeth them) Tentamenta, that is, Iwpcrfcdt Offers and Ejfays, which vatiifi^ and come to no fubfance, without any iteration} fo as, in fuch Cafes, the fecond Degree feems the wor-thief $ as the Body-horfe in the Cart^ that draweth more than the Fore-horfe. Hereof the common Forms are : The fecond Blow makes the Fray. The fecond Word makes the Bargain. Alter prjncipium dedit , alter mo duns' abjlulit, &c. The One began, the Other kept no Mean. Another Rcprehen(ton of this Colour, is in refpeftof Defatigation5 which makes Perfe- veranceOf Good and Evil. 31 verance of greater Dignity, than Inception: For Chance, or In&inB of Nature, may caule Inception 3 but fetled AjfeBion or Judgment, maketh the Continuance. Thirdly,This is reprehended in fuch things, which have a Natural Courfe and //*-flination, contrary to an Inception. So that the Inception is continually evacuated, and gets noftart, but there behoveth perpetua Inceptio, that there be always a Beginning 3 as in the common Forms: Non progredi, ell regredi. Not to go forward,»" to go backward. non proficit, deficit. He who makes no Progrefs, decays. Running againft an Hill 3 Rowing againjl the Stream, &c. For, if it be with the Stream, or with the Hill, then the Degree of Inception is more than all the reft. Fourthly,This Colour is to be underffcood of Gradus Inceptionis a potentia, ad aUum comparati, non gradus ab aUu ad Incrementum. Of the Degree of Inception, in compa-rifonof the Power with the A ft, not of the Degree from the A& to the Increafe. For otherwise, Major videtur gradus ab impotentia ad potentiam, quam a potentia ada&um: 'The Degree from Impotency to Potency Jeems greater, than from the Power to the Afr. FINIS. / % s i * * V / / 4 » f • • ft 4THE WISDOM OF THE Ancients. Written in Lathe by the Right Honorable Sir FRANCIS BACON Kt Baron of Verttlam, and Lord Chancellor of England. Done into EngliJJ) by Sir Arthur Gorges Kt„ Scutum invincibile fides. London 3 Printed by T*N. 1673. h! i * I V ► V Tkfi Ppeface. He Antiquities of the firfi Age (except thofe roe find in Sacred Writ ) were buried in Oblivion and Silence : Silence was fuc- ceeded by Poetical Fables > and Fables again were followed by the Records we now enjoy. so that the Myfieries and Secrets of Antiquity were disiinguified and feparated from the Records and Evidences of fucceeding times by the Vail of FiUion 5 which interpofed it felf, and came between tfroje things which pirified, and thofe which are extant. I fup-pofe fame are of opinion 3 that my purpofe is to write Toys and Irifies 3 and to ujurpe the fame liberty in applying, that the Poets af-fumed in faining^wbicbl might do (I confefj if I listed, and with more ferious contemplation intermix thefe things ^ to delight either my fclf in Atcditation}or others in Reading.NeitherThe Preface- a'm 1 ignorant how fickle and inconfiant d thing fi&ion is, as being fkbjctt to be drawn and wrefled any way , and how great the commodity of Wit and difeourje is 5 that is able to apply things well3 yet Jo as never meant by the firjl Authors. But l remember that this liberty hath been lately much abufed, in that many , to pur chafe the reverence of An-tiquity to their own inventions and fancies, have for the fitmc intent labored to wreff many Yoetical Fables : Neither hath this old and common vanity been ufed onely of late or now3 and then : For even Crifippus long ago did (as an interpreter of dreams) aferibe the opinions of the Stoikj to the Ancient Poets j and more fottijldy do the Chymicks appropriate the Fancies and Delights of Poets in the transformations of Bodies, to the experiments of their Furnace. All thefe things, I fay, I have fujficiently confidere d and weighed, and in them have fecn and noted the general levity and indulgence of Mens Wits above Allegories j and yet for all this I relinquijh not my opinion. For firjl it may not be, that the folly and loojhefi of a few Jhould altogether detract from the rejpett due to the Parables : For that were a conceit which might favor of pro-phanenefi and prefumption : For Religion it fclfThe Preface. (elf doth Jcmetjnrcs delight in fuch vails and Ji.adcws : So that who Jo exempts them ^ feems in a manner to interdill all commerce between things Divine and Humane. "But concerning humane Wifdcm, I do indeed in-genicvfy and freely confefi, that I am inclined to imagine , that under feme of the Ancient Fill ions lay couched certain Myjle-rics and Allegories 3 even from their firjt invention. And 1 am perjwaded (whether ravifked with the Reverence of Antiquity 5 or becavfe in feme Fables Jfind fuch fingular proportion between the (imilitude, and the thing fignified $ and fuch apt and clear coherence in the very Jlrnflnre of them5 and propriety of names wherewith the p-erfons or a&ors in them are inferibed and intituled J that no man can corjlantly deny ; but this fence was in the Authors intent and meanings when they firji invented them3 and that they purpofely Jhadcwed it in this fort: For who can be Jo Jlupid and blind in the open lights a* {when he hears how Fames after the Gy ants were dejlroycd 3 Jprang up as their youngejl sijler ) not to refer it to the Murmurs and Seditious Reports of both Jides s which are wont to fiie abroad for a time after the fupprejjing of Injurre&ions . butfo, that by affability ofSpeech yi" and wife Editts (the Minds of their Sub-*' jells being in time privily, and as it were by jlcalth reconciled } they recover theirv j Jlrength again ? Or when he hears howti* (in that memorable expedition of the Gods tv againjl the Oy ant s') the braying of S ilenutfsrf his Af, conduced much to the profliga- • > tion of the Gy ants , doth not confidently * 1 imagine that it was invented to few how itf the greatejl enterprifes of Rebels are of tentimes dijperfed with vain rumors and \u fears. Moreover, to what judgment can the Cost-formity and fignification of Names fecm V' obfcure ? Seeing Metis, the Wife of Jupi- -i ter, doth plainly fignific Coitnfcl: Typhon3 Injurrtftion: Pan, Vniverfality., Nemefis, E Revenge, and the like. Neither let it trou- * ble any Man, if fomctimes he meet with . Historical Narrations , or Additions for i . Ornaments fake, or confufion of Times, or Something transferred from one Fable to . another,The Preface* * another, to bring in a new Allegory: For it ' could be no oiherwife, feeing they were the in\ vventions of Men, which lived in ditiers \ ages, and had alfo divers ends : some being « ancient^ others neoterical 5 feme have an eye >) to things Natural, others to Moral. zr another Argument, that no fmall one neither, to prtfz/e thefe Fables *contain certain hidden and involved mean-HB feeing feme of them are obferved to be ifo abfetrd and foolifej in the very relation that Hkeyfhew, and as it were proclaim a parable ■lafar off: For fetch Tales as are probable} they may feem to be invented for delight, and in \imitation of Hi (lory. And as for fetch as no ■man would fe much as imagine or relate, they feem to be fought out for other ends: For what jkjnd of fell ion is that, wherein Jupjter laid to have tafeen Metis to wife , and^ per-Reiving that feje was with child} to have devoured her, whence himfetf conceiving 9 brought forth Pallas armed out of his head .\ newly invented and offered unto its. Be (ides: feeing they are diverfy related by Writers tha * lived near about one and the felf fame time. roe way eafily perceive that they were common things, derived from precedent memorials \ and that they became various 5 by reafon 0\ the divers ornaments bellowed on them by particular relations : And' the confideratia of this mujl needs encreafe i'ti us a great opiv nion of themi as not to be accounted either tb effeUs of the times ^ or inventions of the Poet A hut as Sacred Relicks, or abfir ailed Airs c better times, which by tradition from more Ancient Nations, fell into the Trumpets an\ Flutes of the Grecians, But if any do oh Jlinately contend 3 that Allegories are alwajv advent it i ally, and as it were by constraint never naturally and properly included in FT, bl.es, we will not be much troublefomc3 bv,^ - fifjjer them to enjoy that gravity of judgmen t which I am fun they cfjeil | although indeedThe Preface. \ it be but lumpifi, and almofi leaden. And \ (if they be worthy to be taken notice of ) we. will begin a frejh with them in finie other faßjion. There is found among Men (and it goes for " currant) a twofold ufeof Parables, and thofi (which is more tobe admired) referred to con-trary ends $. conducing as well to the folding ? up, and keeping of things under a vail, as to ■•i the enlightning and laying open of ohfiurities. \ But omit ting the former, (rather then to undergo wrangling, and ajjuming ancient Fables as '\things vagrant , andUompofid only for de* Alight) the latter muß queßionlefsßiti remain ras not to be wreßed from ns by any violence of ■î wit5 neither can any (that is but meanly learn-led) hinder? but it muß abfblutely be received, '.as a thing grave and fiber ? free from all ; vanity, and exceeding profitable and neceffary \ to aü Sciences. This is it, I fay, that leads \the undcrßanding of Man by an eafie and 1gentle pajjage through aü novel and abfirufe \ inventions, which any way differ from com-> mon received opinions. Therefore in the firfi 1 ages (when many humane inventions and con-1 clufions, which are now common and vulgar9 xwere new , and not generally kpotrn) all i things were fuU of Fables, En/gmaes? Para* 1 bles?, and Similes of all forts : By which they \fought to teach and lay open? not io hide and . , X 2 concealThe Preface. conceal knowledge, efpecial/y feeing the undel-foundings of Men were in thoje times rude ' and impatient, and almofo incapable of any, fubtilties i fitch things ony excepted, as werew the objeUs of Setije 5 for as Hieroglyphicks\ preceded Letters, fo Parables were more an- • cient than Arguments. And in thefe days alfo, .< he that would illuminate Mens minds anew i in any old matter. and that not with difprofit * and harfbnefo, mufo abfolutcly take the fame 3 courfe. anaufe the help of Similes. Wherefores all that hath been fiiid, we will thus conclude,. The Wifdom of the Ancients, it was either ] much, or happy : Much, if thefe figures and i Jr opes were invented by fludy and premedita- -tion Happy| if they (intending nothing lejs) 1 gave matter and occafon to fo many worthy s Meditations. As concerning my Labors ( /J’2 there be any thing in them which may do * good) I will on neither part count them ill be- • flowed, my pnrpofo being to illuforate either ' Antiquity, or Things themfelves. Neither am '• 1 ignorant that this very Subject hath been at-tempted by others : But to fpeafi as I think., and that freely without ofoentation, the dig;* < nity and efficacy of the thing, is almofo lofo by thefe Mens Writings L though voluminous and full of pains, whi I(l not diving into the depth of Matters, but skilful only in certain common places,' have applied thefenfe of thefe f Parables,The Preface. . 'arables to certain vulgar and general Things, ot Jo much as glancing at their true Vertue, Pennine Propriety, arid full Depth. (1 if I e no\ deceived ) Jhall be new in common chings. Wherefore leaving jitch as are plain und open 3 I will aim At further and richer Matters. X 3 THE Wp THE TABLE Page M 4 7 9 ii M 29 35 37 2 C (~^\Ajptndra, or Divination. V_>/ Typhon3 or a Rebel. The Cyclops, or the Minifters of Terror UarciJJusj or Self-Love. Styx., or Leagues. P^/7, or Nature. Terjeus? or War. Enaymion, or a Favorite. The Sifter of the Gyants, or Fame. ASeoj/i and reniheus, or a Curious Man. ^ Orpheus5 or Philofophy. - 41 Caelum, or Beginnings. 46 Trotem, or Matter. * 5c Memnon, or a Youth too forward. 54 Tythonus, or Satiety. 5* Juno’s Sutor, or Bafenefs. 5; Cupid, or an A tome. 58 Diomedes, or Zeal. 6^ Dddalus, or Meehanick. 6s Erichthonius, orlmpofture. 7: Deucalion, or Reftitution. 7? Nemejis, or the Viciftitude of things. 75/ jdchelous, or Battel. 7$ Dyonifus, or Pafiions.' 81 Atalanta, or Gain. 8ft TrometkusXTHE TABLE. veroniethcus^ or the Statue of Man. 91 ßcylla and Icarus, qr thç Middle-way, lop .* v$pyhtiXs °r Science.. / V.$ j ii> \Proferyitza, or Spirit. 117 \ Metis} or Counfel. 122 The^jrwe/j orPleafure^ v 124TO THE BOOK. Rich Mine of Art, Minion of Mercury 5 TrueTruch-Man of the Mind of Myjlery. Inventions store-Honfe, Nymph of Helicons Deep Moralili of "lime Tradition. Vnto this Paragon of Brutus Racey Vrefent thy Servi ce^ and with cheerful Grace. Say (if Pythagoras helievd may be) The Soul of Ancient Wifdom lives in Thee. THEI THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. CASSANDRA, or Divination, | He Poets Fable, That Apollo being enamoured of CaJ[[aK-dr a, was by her many fhifts and cunning Heights ftillde* luded in his defire 3 but yet fed on with hope until fuch time as (he had drawn from him the gift, of Prophecying 3 and having by fuch her difiimulation rn the end, attained to that which from the beginning (he fought after 5 at laft, flatly reje&ed his Suit. Who finding himfelf fo far engaged in tiis promife, as that he could not by any mean4& The IVifdom of the Ancients. means revoke again his rafhgift, and yet ■ enflamed with ah earned defife of revenge,; highly difdaining to be made thefcorn of a crafty wench, annexed a penalty to his;; promife, to wit, that (he fhould ever foretell the truth, but never be believed : So : vÿççe her divinations always faith full, buff at ho time regarded, whereof (he ftill found 1 the experience,yea,even in the mine of her i own countrey, which (he nad often fore— warned them of, but they neither gave credit nor eare to herwordss This Fable feemss to intimate the unprofitable liberty of untimely admonitions and councels. Forthey > that fo over-weened with the fharpnefs and [ dexterity of their own wit and capacity, as a that they difdain to fubmit themfelvs to the : documents of Jpollo0theGof&c>f Harmony,,3 whereby to-learn and obfecve the method I aridmeafure of affairs, the grace and gravity of difcotfrfe, the differences between i the more judicious and more vulgar ears, j and the due times when to fpeak and when i to be filent 5 Bethey never fo fenfible and! pregnant, and their judgements never fo i profound and profitable,yet in all their en^ ■> deavours either of perfwafion or perforce, ^ they avail nothing, neither are they of any i moment to advantage or manage matters* ; but do gather haiku on the ruine of all thofe aThe Wifdotn of the Ancientu 3 that they adhere or devote themfelves unto. And then at laft when calamity hath made men feel the event of negleft, then (hall they too late be reverenced as deepforefee-ingarid faithful Prophets. Whereof a notable inftance is eminently fet forth in Marcus Cato > Vticmpj who as from a watch-tower difcovered a Far off, andas an Oracle long foretold 3 the approaching ruine of his Coattfrey, and the> plotted tyranny hovering over the State,-both in the firft confpi-racy,and as it wa^profecuted in the Civil contentionbetweenCafar and Pompey, and did no good the while, but rathet harmed the Commonwealth^ and haftened on his Gouptyeys bane,- Which M. Cicero wifely obfefved, and writing to a familiar Friend; dothbn thefe term? excellently, defcribe, CatMptime [evtiff-ffcb nocet inter dum Reipub-lic&'Z 2 Loquitur triim. tanquamin Republics TlittOftiS , non . tknquam in farce' Rotnuli. Caw(plith he^hjuageth profoundly, but in the mean time damnifies the State, for he fpeaksras in the^eommon-wealth of Plato and not as in the dregs of Romulus. mi TTPHOti4 The tVjfdom of the Ancients» TTPHON, or a Rebel, JVno being vexed ('fay the Poets) that Jupiter had begotten Pallas by himfelf without her, earneftly prefled all the other Gods and Goddefles that (he might alfo bring forth of her felf alone without him 5 and having by violence and importunity obtained a grant thereof, (he fmote the earth, and forthwith fprang up Typhon a huge and horrid monfter : This ftrange birth (he Commits to a Serpent ("as aFofter father) to nourifti it , who no fooner :came to ripenefs of years,but he provokes Jupiter to battel. In the conflict,, the Giant getting the u oper hand,takes Jupiter upon his (boulders, carries him into a remote and abfcure Countrey, and (cutting out the finews of his hands and feet) b rought them away,and fo left him miferably mangled and maimed. But Mercury recovering thefe nerves from Typhon by ftealth , reftored them again to Jupiter. Jupiter being again by this means corroborated, aflaults the Monfter afrefb, and at the firft ftrikes him with a thunderbolt, from whofe blood Serpents were in-gendred. This Monfter at length fainting and flying, Jupiter cafts on him the mountthe tVifdotnof the Ancients* 5 ! JEtnct and with the weight thereof crufht I him. This Fable feemsto point at the variable | fortune of Princes, and the rebellious in-I furre&ion of Traylors in a State. ForPrin-:• ces inay wellbefaid to be married to their • dominions, as Jupiter was to Juno: but it 1 happens now and then, that being deboftied 1 by the longcuftomof empyring and bend» ing towards tyranny, they endeavor to draw all to themfelves, and (contemning the counfell of theirNobles and Senators) hatcht laws in their own brain, that is, dif- • pofe of things by their own fancy and absolute power. The people (repining at this) ftudy how to create and fet up a Chief of their own choice. This projeft by the fecret inftigation of the Peers and Nobles., doth for themoft part take hisbeginning 5 by whofe connivence the Commons being let on edg.there follows a kind of murmuring or difcontent in the State, fliadow by the Infancy of Tjpkcn, which being nurft by the natural pravity and clownifh malignity of the vulgar fort (unto Princes asin-feftuous as Serpents)is again repaired by renewed ftrength, and at laft breaks out in» to open Rebellion, which (becaufeit brings infinite mifchiefs upon Prince and People) isreprefented by the . monfirous deformity6 The Wifdom of the Ancients. of Typhdn: his hundred hfeads fignifie their divided powers, his fiery mouths their inflamed intents j his Terpentine cirdes^their peftilent malice in befieging} hisiron hands, their mercilefs daughters 5 his Eagles' talents, their greedy rapines 5 his plumed bo-by, their continual rumors and fcouts^ and fears, arid fuch like y and fometimes thefe rebellions grow fo potent, that Princes are inforced (tranfported as it were by the Re-bells, and forfaking the chief Seats and Cities of the Kingdom) to contra# their power, and being deprived of the finews of money andmajefty) betake themfelves to fome remote and obfcure corner within their dominions : but in proceffe of time (if they bear their misfortunes with moderation) they may recover their ftrength by the vertueand induftry of Mercury, that is, they may (by becoming affable, and by reconciling the minds and wills of their Subjects with grave ediCts and gracious fpeech ) excite an alacrity to grant Aids and Subfidies whereby to ftrengthen their authority anew. Neverthelefs 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 fome famous aCtion,which if it fall out anfwerable to their expectation, theTheWifdont of the Ancients; '7 'the Rebels Ending themfelves weakned, and fearing'the fuccefs" of; their broken ’projefrs, betake themfelyes to fome Height and vain bravadoes,: Ijk6 the hiffing of Terpents,. arid* at length; in defpair betake themfelves to flight | and then when they begin to br^ak5it is fafe and timely for Kings to purfue afid opprefs them with the forces and : weight of the kingdome, as it were with the m^gntain Mtna*' [he Cyclops5 or the Minifters ‘ of Terror, THey fay that the Cyclops , for their fiercenefsand cruelty wcreby Jupiter caft into hell, and there doomed to perpetual imprifonment} but Ttllus perfwaded Jupiter that it would do well, if being fet at liberty, they were put toTorge thunderbolts 5 which being done accordingly, they became fo painful aryd induftrious, as that day and night they continued hammering out in laborious diligence thunder-boults, and other inftruments of terrour. In procefs of time Jupiter having conceived a difpleafure againft Jfculapius^ the fop of Apollo, for reftoringa dead man to life by Phyfick': and concealing hisdifliko (be- caufe& the Wtjdom of the Ancients, (becaufe there was no juft caufeof anger, the deed being pious and famousj fecretly incens'd the Cyclopes againft him,who without delay Hew him with a thunder-bolt. In revenge of which atf 5 Apollo (Jupiter not prohibiting it) (hot them to death with his arrows. This Fable maybe applied to the projects of Kings, who having cruell, bloody, and exacting Officers, do firft punith and difplacethem* afterwards by the counfell of tell us ^ that is of fome bafe and ignoble perfon, and by the prevailing refpeCt of profit they admit them into’their places again, that they may have inftrumentsina readinefs, if at any time there (hould need either feverity of execution, or acerbity of exadion.Thefe fervile creatures being by nature cruell, and by their former fortune exafperated,and perceiving well what is expected at their hands,, do (hew themfelves wonderfull officious in fuch kind ofimploy-ments$ but being too rafti and precipitate in feeking countenance and creeping into favour,do fometimes take occafion from the fecret beckningsand ambiguous commands of their Prince to performe fome hatefull execution. But Princes (abhorring the fad, and knowing well that they fhal never want fuch kind of inftrumcncs) dp utterly for- fake• The Wifdom of the Ancients. 9 f fake them.tiitningthem over to the friends ir and alliés of the wronged to their accufati-cons and revenge, and to the general hatred cof thepeople^ fo that with great applaufe trand profperousAvifhes and exclamations to1 awards the Prince, thèy are brought, rather too late than undefervedly, to a mife-rable end. N d RC IS SZ> S, or Self Lové. THey fay that Narctjfus'was exceeding fair and beautiful, but wonderful proud and difdainful 5 jwherefore defpi-Hng all others in refpedt of himfelf, he jleadsafolitary life in the woods and chafes with a few followers, to whom he alone Was all in all 5 amongthe reft there follows him the Nymph Eccho. During his courfe >f life, it fatally fo chanced, that he came :o a clear fountain, upon the bank whereof he lay down to repofe himfelf in the neat of the day. And having efpyed thé iiadowof his own face in the water, was b befotted and ravifhed with the contemplation and admiration thereof, that by no (deans poflibly Could be drawn frombe-kolding his image in this Glaf$'$ infomuch feat by çontinual gazing thereupon} he pi-* Y nedlo she IVtJdom of the Ancients. tied away to nothing, and was at laffc tur- -jied into a flower of his own name, which r appears in the beginning of the Spring,and I is facred to the infernall powers, Pluto,. Vroferpim, and the Furies, This Fable feems to fliew the difpofitions i and fortunes of thofe, who in refpeft either i of their beauty or other gift wherewith r they are adorned and graced by nature s without the help ofinduftry, are fo fari befotted in themfelves as that they prove i thecaufeof their own deftru&ion. For it 1 is the property of men infe&ed with this hu* * mor not to come much abroad, or to be:, converfant in civil affairs, fpecially feeing i thofe that are in publick place muft of !ne- * ceflity encounter with many contempts and I fcorns,which may much deje&and troubles their minds, and therefore they lead for 5 themoft part a folitary, private, and ob- *« fcure life,attended on with a fewfollowers,j;| and thofe fuch as will adore and admire u them, like an Eccho flatter them in all their 1 fayings,and applaud them in all their words. So that being by this cuftome feduced and L puftup, and as it were ftupified with the 1. admiration of themfelves, they arepoflefV < fed with foftrange afloth and idlenefs,that they grow in a manner benum’d & defe&ive l of ali vigor and alacrity. Elegantly doth li, this:'fheWtfdomof th Anckntï. xi ii:his flower appearing in the biginning of he fpring, reprefent the likeneîs of thefe nens difpofitions, who in there youth da lourtlh and wax famous, but being come o ripenefs of years, they deceive and fru-trate the good hope that is conceived of ;:hem. Neither is it impertinent that this .lower is faid to be confecrated to the internal deities, becaufemenof this difpofi* :ion become unprofitable to all humane things. For whatfoever produceth no Fruit $>f it feif, but pafleth and vanifheth as if tnever had been, (like the way of a (hip m the Sea) that the Ancients were wont taf dedicate to the ghofts and powers below* STTX, or Leagues. THe Oath by which the Cods Were, wont to oblige themfelves (when ihey meant to ratifie any thing fo firmly as never to revoke it) is a thing well kno wn to the vulgar, as being mentioned almoft r. ne very Fable, which was when they did not invoke or call to witnefsany celefiiai rnajefty or divine power, but pnely the füver £tyx0 that with crooked and Meaa* Hrf turnings mcircleth the Palace of,the; internal P#. This was held as the only Y 2 manner£2 "TheW'ijdomof the Ancients, -manner of theifrSacrament,; andbefides ite mot: any othet vow to be accounted firit cand inviolable,: and therefore the puniftp anem to: bd kfft&ed (if any did perjure -themfeives^-wasthat for certain years they Jfhould.be put out of commons, and nottd ibiadmittedto-the table of the gods. -t *: This.Fablefeems to point at the Leaguel •and Paces'oE Princes, of which moretru^ ly.than opportunely may befaid, that be they never £o ftrongly confirmed with the fofemnity and religion of an oath, yet are for the moff part of no vadility $. infomuch: that they are'made rather with an eye tee reputation, and report and ceremony,thair to faith, fecurity and effefr. Moreover! add to thefe the bonds of affinity, as the: Sacraments of nature, and mutual defertsi of each part,and you fhallobferve,that with j a great many^ all thefe things are placed a1 degree under ambition and profit, and the: licentious defire of domination, And fo much the rather, becaufe itisaneafiething^: for Princes to5 defend and cover their un«-lawful defires and unfaithful vows, withi^ many -outwardly feeming fair pretexts."; efpecially feeingjthere is no Umpire or Moderator of matters concluded upon tefr; whom a reafori (hould be tendred, There^ fore there is no true and proper thing made: *- ' ♦ - choiceTheWifdom of the Ancients} 13: Jihe confirmation» of faith*! no-cpl eftia-l power »neither, but is > 3fQed, Necfjfityc^a great tb gif eat P.that-for * n^nd irremeable River} »odrii! s Godhead; ^JphitrateSztte'Arf-vnixriyiztiX „to the Con-» MKitton of .-SL'Ceague , dvho becauCe hcia-., is foutjcftpfpeak, plainly,that which,, (my hide covertly in their Brefts,it would J" be amifsto relate his Words. He obfer-£g. how the Lacedemonians had thought non , andt propounded diversiCautibns, PjcSions^Gbafirmations, and Bonds, per- -■oingto.Leagues,interpofedi thus: Vnnm sjpdemonriytybis vobifatm mncitlumy &' uritatk ratio ejje pojjit9Ji plane demon fir etk^i a*« nobis coneejJiJJe±& inter man us fofuijje^ ^ jobis f acultas l^dencli nos (i maxime ve/le-: 'minimefiippetere pojjit. There,is one thing, L^Lacedemonians') that would link us un«v :;you in thedjkmd of Amity, and be.the n:afion of ; Peace and Security, which is] -:*/pu would plainly demonftrate, thatyou :>ye yielded.up and put into bur hands; rh things as that,would you hurt us never; Tain, yoij (hobld yet be disfurnifhed of fans to do it. If therefore the dower of arting be takenaway, or if by breach bfi Y 3 . Teaguej 4 îfo Wifdom of theAncients. League there follow thé danger of the ruin or diminution of the State or Tribute then indeed the Leagues ma/ feem to bt ratified and eftablifhed, and as it were con firmed by the Sacrament of the stygU Lake 5 feeing that it includes the fear c prohibition and fufpenfion from the Tabl of the Gods, under which name the Law : and Prerogatives,the plenty and felicity c a Kingdom were fignified by the Ancients* ; P A Ni or Nature. THe Ancients have exquifitely defcribet t Nature under the perfon of Tan, whof, j original they leave doubtful} fbr fome (à) t that he was the Son of Mercury, others at: tribute unto him a far different begin * ning, affirming him tobe the common Off fpring of Penelopes Tutors, upon a fufpition that every one of them had to do with her : which latterrelationdoubtlefsgave occafi on to fome after Writers to intitle this^ahif cient Fable with the name of Penelope, t thing very frequent amongft them, wher they apply old fixions to young perfons an«:* names, and that many times abfurdly ant.'j indifcreetly, as may be feen here : For Pa. being one of the Ancient Gods, was lonj:> before the time of Vlyjfis and Penelope. Be>< fides (for her Matronal Chaftity) (he w*:Thè Wifdoni of the Ancients. 15 9 held Vfeiièrâbleby Antiquity. Neithermay S\wt pretermit the third conceipt of his i Birth i Fôt fome fâ’jr, that he was thé Son 3 of Jupiter and Hybrfcj which fignifies con-i.tumely ordifdain. But howfoever begotten, ifthe tarea ("they fay) were his fitters. He is 1 purtrayed by the Ancients in this guifej on 1 his head a pair of horns that reach to Hea-*: ven, his Body rough and Hairy, his Beard fdong and (baggy, his fhape biforméd above (like a Man, below like a Bead, his feèt like SGoats-hoofe, bearing thefeEnfigris of his ! Jurifdi&ion, to wit, in his left-hand a Pipé tof Seven Reeds, and in his right a Sheep-njiook, ot a Staff crooked at the upper end, nand his Mantlemade of a Leopardi skin. His ^dignities and offices werethefe. He was thé iSGod of Hunters, of Shepherds, and of all iftural Inhabitants : Cheif Prefident alfoof iHills and Mountains, and next to Mercury, dhe Ambaflador of the Gods. Moreover, »He was accounted the Leader and Com-îmander of the Nymphs, which were always »wont to dance the rounds, and frisk about ihitn 5 he was acofted by the Satyrs and thé lo\d silent. He had pother alfo to ftrikemeri rwith terrors, and thofe especially vaiii and xuperftitious, which are termed tanickfzzxs. ITis a&swere not many, for ought that catt we found in Records, thecheifeft was, that Y 4 he16 The IVifdont af the Ancients. he challenged Cupid at wreftling, in which conflict he had the foil. The tale goes too, how that he caught the Giant Typhon in a Net, and held him faft. Moreover, when Cem(grumbling and chafing that Proferpina was ravifhed) had hid her felf away, and that all the Gods took pains (by difperfing themfelves into every corner ) to, find her out, it was onely his good hap ('as he was huntings) to light on her, and acquaint the reft where (he was. He prefumed alfo t© put it to the trial who was the beft Mufician, he or Apolloand by the, judgment of Midas was indeed preferred •* ,But the wife Judge had a pair of Affes Ear^ privily chopt to his Noddle for hisfentenc^.Of his Love-tricks, there is . nothing reported,: or atjeaft not much, a thing to be wondred at, especially being among a troop of Gods foprofufely amorous. This only is faid of him, that he loved^tbe Nymph Eccho,(whom he took to Wife $ and one pretty Wench more called Syrinx, towards whom Cupid (in an angry and revengeful humor? becaufe fp ^audaci-oufly;. he had challenged him at wreftling) inflamed his defire. Moreover, he had no ifTue(\vhichis a marvel alfo,feeing the.Gods, efpecially thofeof tbemale kind,vvere very generative) only he was the reputed Father of a little Girl called jfp^e,that .with many. 11 PretfyThe Wifdom of the Ancients * 17 pretty tales was wont to make grangers anerryj but fome think that he didindeed veget her by his wife Jambe. This (if any is a noble tale, as being laid out and !i>ig-bellied with the Secrets an^M.yfteries -jf Nature. Van (as his name imports J reprefents nod lays open the All{of Things orbjature. Concerning his original there are two only opinions that go for currantj for either he name of Mercury^ that is,the V\[oy4 of God, vhich the holy Scriptures withpyjtallcon-:roverfie affirm, and fuch of the Pjiilofo-hhers as had any fmackof Divinity, affent-bd unto 5 or elfe from the confuted Seeds of T hings. For they that would have one iimple beginning, refeyituntq God£, or if} i materiate beginning, they->youtdl)aye itT various, in power., So that wemay#hd$be.-, rontrover(ie with, this cliflribution,^ Tba'tv rhe World took, .beginning,. ..ejthpryTrQtn:.? Mgrcury^ox fromtjie Seeds of jail T&iog?; ’ • Vitg<;E^log.6.:-rirri;-;>?<;’ ’: ' Namque ■ canebat'jrti magpupi, p(r, inane' vk coacta. ;..r*7 • ,.;o .terraruj^ffe,, amm#qHfymar:iJ-L que fuijjent.'i v; - ; Etjpquidi ftffffll pgnis: Et .hi,i exordia \l ., <$rwis. :\’f' \ M ;;/ < •: ■; v" Omnia,si£ ThèWifdomof thù Ancient s. Omnia, &' ipfe tttter mnndi cm crever it orbit. For rich-vain*d Orpheus fweetly did re-hearfe How that the Seeds of Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Were all pa& in the vaft void Uni-vetfe : And how from thefe as Firftlings, all had birth, Arid how the Body of this Orbick fratrie. From tender infancy fo big became. But as touching thé third conceit of Pans Original , if feems that the Grecians ('either by intercourfe with the Egyptians , or one way or other) had heard fomething of the Hebrew Myfteries 5 for it points to the ftate of the World, riot confidered in immediate Creation , but after the fall of Adamx expofed and madefubjett to Death and Corruption : For in that ftate it was (and remains- to this day^) the Off-fpring of God and Sin. And therefore all thefe Three Narrations,' concerning the manner of Pans birth may feem to be true, if it be rightly diftinguifhed between Things and Times. For this Pan or Nature (whichThe Wifdom of the Ancient* I y ('which we fufpett, contemplate, and reverence more than is fit) took beginning from the Word of God by the means of confufed matter, and the entrance of prevarication and corruption. The deftihies may well be thought the fitters of Tan or Nature) becaufe the beginnings and continuances, and corruptions and Depreffions, and diflolutions, and eminences, and labours, and felicities of things, and all the' chances which can happen unto any thing are linkt with the chain of caufes natural. Homs are attributed unto him, becaufe Horns are broad at the root and (harp at the ends , the nature of all things being like a Pyramid (harp at the top. For individual or fingular things being infinité are1 firftcolle&ed into /pccies, which are matoy alfo 5 then from fpecjes into generalr, and from generals (by attending) are contra bwKich,is raoft apparent in ^e'façp^ty’of, feeing,' and no-le(s in every y^pp aujd,qpe^a.tipu that effectuates upon^-a^^ant : qbj»e&a for what,-; foe ver works.up .any B& ng}a. f$r'q{F> ; that may; rightly be fold $9 dar r 1 fpr t h rayes or ' ÇjÇfflW*-; r< - r.irr't; te.7*|Vr j ihiriv/ , -,>^‘1 - 1. Moreover, beard i^faid^o be’exr; ceedinglopg,^ beçaufe the.beams or influences. of ceieftial^bodies dp, . operate aad7 pierçq farthefoqf^aJl j .and thp^Sun,' when? (h^s higher, half itS.Jhadpwed with a cloud,)' his,beams breafoqptin thelpwer,and looks, as,if.^e wer^bç.arded. - v, • - ‘ \ 5 ; -q . Nature^ is alfp^cellently, fet forth with.; a biformed bpdy^with re;fpe$r to the diffe-V rences between fuperiour and inferior cjr&atpres. Foq the rone part, by reafon of jthqir pulchritude3and equability of Mo- -tion3 ^nd conftatKy, wasthe Colour itfelf. Firft, Becaufe Felicity feemeth to be a Chara&er of the Favor and Love of the Di-vine Powers* and accordingly works both confidences our felves^nd refpeft and Author rity from others. And this Felicity extend*! eth to many cafiial things $ whereunto the i Care or Virtue of Man cannot extends and>i therefore feemeth to be at large Good. A*J when Ctefar faid to the Sailer } Cgfarcms port as, &fortunam ejus, That he carrieot Cdfar, and his Fortune: If he had faid, EiB virtuten/ fjus, and his Valor. It had been final! comfort againfi: a Tempefi j otherwifi] than if it might feem upon Merits to inn duce Fortune. Next, Whatfoever isdoneby Virtueanct Indujiry. feems to be done by a kind oo Habit and Art$ and thereupon open to bo imitated and followed: Whereas Felicity i imitable. So we generally fee, that thing,; of Nature feem more excellent than things of /Ir^becaufethey be imitable s for, £>uo.r. imitabiic efi, potentia quadam vulgatum ejl S\ IVhat is imitable, is by a certain power tnacw k*hmil abroad. ThirdKOf Good and Evil. 27 . Thirdly, Felicity coramendcth thofe things which cometh without our own la-bor : For they feem Gifts , and the others (eem Pennyworths. Whereupon Plutarch faith elegantly of the Alls of Timoleon, who was (o fortunate , compared with the Alls of Ageflaus and Epaminondas, That They were like Homers $ they ran fo cafilyytnd fo well. And therefore it is the word we give unto Poefie, terming it a happy Vein j becaufe Facility feemeth ever to come from Happi-nef. Fourthly, This famepr diough he were thus fufhifhed) heweftt :xot dire&Iy to Jlledufa , but firft ^to the Gre ?oth which, (he that Had occasion' to gd ebroad, was wont to take with her', and * her return to lay them down again! Z 3 Thisgp The Wifdom of the Ancients. This Eye and Tooth they lent to Terfeus I and fo finding himfelf throughly furnifl> cd for the effecting of his defign, haftens; towards Medufa. Her he found ileeping,.; and yet durft not prefent himfelf with his; face towards her, leaf! (he fhould awake y* but turning his head afide, beheld her in TaJlafes Glafs, and (by this means,dire&ing;, his, blow} cut off her head s from whole m Blood guftiing out, inftantly came Fegafus, the Flying-horfe. Her head thus finateoff,, ferfeus bellows on Tallas her (hield, which yet retained this virtue, that whatfoever: iQO.hcd upon it , (hould become as ftupidf as a Stone,, or like one Planet ftrucken. , , ^hi$ Fable feems. todireft the prepara^ > tion and order , that is to be ufed in making of War y for. the more apt and ponfiderate undertaking whereof, three;; grave and wholefome Precepts (favoring,: of the .wifdom of T alias ) are to be ob^ ferved.. , ., Firffj, That Men.do not much trouble :, themfelves about the Conqueft of Neigh* bor Nations, feeing that privatepoffeffi-f ons, and Empires are enlarged by different;. means: For in the augmentation- of pri-t vate Revenues, the vicinity of Mens Ter-, ritories is to be confidered y but in the , propagation of Publick Dominions 3 thej occafioif■ Tpc IVifdom of the Ancients. t . 3 r uoccafiôn and facility of making War, and ■fthe Fruit to be expelled ought to be ih-illead of vicinity. Certainly the Rom an Avhat time their Conqucfts towards the ?,Wefc fcarce reacht beyond Liguria , did ^•yet in'the Eaft bring all the Provinces as rfaras the Mountain 'Taurus within the com-to undertake an expedition even to the Wtermoftbounds of the Wed. Secondly, Theré rngd Be a care had that fhe Motive's of War bejuftand honorable, )for that begets an alacrity, asweUinthe ^Soldiers' that fight, .as in the people that fpay, it draws on and procures Aids, arid ôrings, many other Commodities befides. fôut there" j$ no pretence to take up Arms rmore pious, than the fupprefling ofTy-*ranny "'under which yoke, thç‘people r cofe their courage ,/Jand are cad ; down -without heart and vigor^ as in the . fight of Atcdufâ: ' ! / ‘ Thirdly, It is vvïféîy added, that feeing dhere were three Gorgon's (by which Wars ^ Tire reprefented ) Perseus. undertook her only that was mortar,''/that is, he; made fhoice of fuch a kind of War as was likely to be effe&ed and brought to a Z 4 period,32 The Wifdomof the Ancients. period , not purfuing vaft and endlefs hopes; Thefurnifhing of Ter feus with necefifaries was that which only advanced his attempt and drew fortune to be of his fide 5 for he had fpeed from Mercury, concealing of his counfels from Orcus0 and Providence from Pallas. Neither is it without an Allegory , and that full of matter too, that thofe Wings of Celerity were faftned to Perfeus his Heels, and not to his Ancles, to his Feet and not to his Shoulders 3 becaufe fpeed and celerity is required, not fo much in the firfi: preparations for War, as in thofe things which fecond and yield aid to the firfi: 3 for there is no Error in War more frequent, than that Profecutions and Sub-fidiary forces do fail to anfwer the alacrity of the firfi: onfets. Now for that Helmet which Pluto gave him, powerful to make Men invifible, the Moral is plain 3 but that twofold gift of Providence ('to wit, theSheildand Look*» ing-Glafs) is full of Mortality 3 for that kind of Providence, which like a Sheild avoids the force of blows, is not alone needful,but that alfo hy which thetfrength and motions, and counfels of the enemy are defcriedj as in the Lookmg’Gh($o£ Pallas. ButThe Wifdom of the Ancients, 33 But Perjeus 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 this Monfter, and that was to have fome intelligence with the Gre£, Thefe Gre£ are Treafons which may be termed the Sifters of War, not defended of the fame ftock, but far unlike in Nobility of Birth 5 for Wars are general and heroical, but Treafons are bafe and ignoble. Their defcription is elegant, for they are faid to be Gray-headed, and like old Women from their birth 5 by reafon that Tray tors are,, continually vext with cares and trepidations. But all their ftrength (before they break out into open Rebellions) confifts either in an Eye or in a Tooth5 for every fattion alienated from any ftate, contemplates and bites. Befides, this Eye and Tooth is as it were common \ for whatfoever they can learn and know is de~ livered and carried from one to another by the hands of Faftion, And as concerning the Tooth, they do all bite alike, and fing the fame long } fo that hear one, and you hear all. Perjeus therefore was to deal with thefe Gre£ for the love of their Eye and Tooth. Their Eye to difcover, their Tooth to fowe rumors and ftir up envy, and to moleft and trouble the minds of Men.5 4 Wifdom oftheAncients.* Men. Thefe1 things therefore being'thus' difpofed and prepared, he addreffes hirnfelf to the Afrioft of War, and fets upon ''Mtr' dufa as (he flept 5 for a wife Captain will ever aflault his enemy, when he is unprepared and moftfecure y and then is theré good ufe-ofFallas her G!a(s : For mod Men, before'it eome to the pufn, canac-cutely pry into and difcern their enemies eftate, but the bed ufe of thisGlafs: is in the very point of danger, that the manner of it may befo confidered, as that the terror may nor difcourage, which isfignified by that looking into-this Glafs with'the face turned from Mednfa- The Monders Head being cut of% there follow two effefts. The firft was, the procreation and railing Of Pegafus, bywhich may be evidently underftood ^ that (flying thorow the World) proclaims vi&ory. The fécond is the bearing Of iW?-/ dufaes Jd&ad in his Sheifdy to which there is no kind of defence for excellency comparable y for the one famous and memorable att profpefoufly effefted and brought to pafs, doth redrain the motions andin-folencies of Enemies, and makes Envy her felf filent and amazed.* E mThe Wifdom of the Ancients. 55 ENDTMlO N} or a Favorite. . . {T is faid, that Luna was in love with the Shepherd Endymionj and in a ftrangeand Unwonted manner bewrayed her affe&ion: For he lying in a Cave framed by Nature, under the Mountain J.d/w#x,fheoftentimes defcended from her fphere to enjoy his company as he flept 5 and after (he had kifs-ed hirn, afcended up again. Yet notwithstanding this his.idlenefs and fleepy fecuri-tjy did not any way impair his eftate or fortune 3' fon Tuna brought it fo topafs, that he alone (of all'the reft of the Shepherds) had his flock inbeft flight, and moft fruitful, This Fable may have reference to the' nature and difpofition of Princes3 for they being full of:doubts, and pfone to jen.-: loufie,1 do not e^fiy acquaint Men of pry*-ing and curious eyes, and as it were of vigilant and wa;keful difpofitions, with the (ecret humors, and manners ofi their life 3 butfuch ratb.er as are of quiet! andobfer-vant Natures, fuffering them: to. do what they lift, without further fcanning,making as if they were ignorant, and perceiving toothing but of a ftupid difpofition, and poffeft%6 The Wifdom of the Ancknts. pofleft with deep, yeilding unto them Ample obedience , rather than (lie complements : For it pleafeth Princes now and then to defcend from their Thrones of Majefty flikt Luna from the fuperior orb) ind laying afide their Robes of Dignity (which always to be cumbred with, would feem a kind of burthen ); familiarly to eonverfe with Men of this condition', which they think may be done without danger y a quality cheifly noted in Tybeiri-us C£far , who (of all; others ) was a Prince moft'1 fevere, yet fuch only w6re gracious in his favor, as being well acquainted with his difpofitioni, did yet con-ftantly diflemble as if they knew nothing. This was the Cuftom alfo of Lewis the E-Ieventh, King of France,- a cautious and wily Prince? » Neither is it without elegancytha t the eaufe of Endyniion is mentioned in the Fable, because thatit is a thing ufual with fuch as are the* Favorites of Princes , to have certain pleafant retiring places, whither to invite them for recreation both of body and^rciind, and that without hurt or prejudice to their Fortunes alfo. And indeed thefe kind of Favorites are Men commonly well to pafs $ for Princes although peradventure they ptomote them notIhe Wijdotu of the Jncknts. $7 not ever to places of honor, yet do they pd vance them fufficiently by their favor and countenance : Neither do they af-fett them thus, only to ferve their own turn 5 but are wont to inrich them now and then with great dignities and bounties. 'The Sifter of the G l A N T Sy or Fame. TT is a Poetical Relations that the Giants begotten of the Earth, made War upon ^Jupiter, and the other Gods j and by the •force of Lightning, they were refilled and ^overthrown. Whereat the Earth being ;excitated to wrath , in revenge of her ^Children brought forth Fante\ the youngeft Sifter of the Giants. illam, terra parens ira irritata Deorutn, Extremam ( nt prokibent) C<£o Encela-doque fororent. Frogemit------ Provok’t by wrathful Gods, the Mother Earth Gives Fame;, the Giants youngeft Sifter Birth. The38 the W'ifdom of the Ancient s. ] The meaning of the FableTeems to be thus: By the Earth, is fignified the Nature j of the Vulgar, always fwoln and malig-j nant, and ftill broaching new ftandals: againft Superiors , and having gotten fit opportunity, ftirs up Rebels and Seditious Perfons j that with impious courage do moleft Princes, and endeavor to fub-vejrt their eftates 5 but being fuppreft, the fame natural difpofition of the People ftill leaning to the viler fort, ('being impatient of peace and tranquility ) fpred Rumors, raife malicious Slanders, repining Whif-perings, infamous Libels, and others of that kind, to the detraction of them that are in Authority : So as Rebellious Actions, and Seditious Reports, differ nothing in kind and blood, but as it were in Sex only 5 the one fort being Mafculine, and the other Feminine. A&TEONThe IVifdomof the Ancients, 39 ,ACTEON and? ENTBEVS y or a curious Man. THE curiofityof Men, in prying into fecrcts, and coveting with an undif-3creet defire to attain the knowledge of j things forbidden, is fet forth by theAn-) cients in two other examples; the one of ^A&£on, the other of Fentheus. A&£ok having unawares, and as it were 1 by chance beheld Diana naked , was tur-ined into a Stag, and devoured by his own I Dogs. And Fentheus climbing up into a tree, r with a defire to be a fpeftator of the hid-j den facrifices of Bacchus, was ftrucken with 1 fuch a kind of frenfie,as that vvhatfoever he I lookt upon, he thought it always double, \ fuppofing (among other things^he faw two i Suns, and two Thebes , infomuch that run* 1 ning towards Thebes, fpying another The-\bes, inftantly turned back again, and Co Ikept ftill running forward and backward } with perpetual unreft. Fumenidum veluti demens vidt a grain a . rentheus.40 T'he tVifdont of the Ancients» Et Solent geminum, duplices fe ojlendere T'hélas. Pentheus amazed, doth troops of furies fpie 5 And Sun, and Thebes feem double to his eye. The firft of the Fables pertains to the fe-crets of Princes,the fécond to divine myfte* ries. For thofe that are near about Princes, and come to the knowledge of more fecrets than they would have them, do certainly incur great hatred. And therefore(fufpe-fting that they are (hot at, and opportunities watcht for their overthrow) do lead their lives like Stags, fearfull and full of fufpicion. And it happens oftentimes that their Servants,and thofe of their houfliold, £to infinuate into the Princes favour) do accufe them to their deftruftion : for againft whomfoever the Princes difpleafure is known, look how many fervants that man hath, and you (hall find them for the moft part fo many tray tors unto him, that his end may prove to be like A& of divine myfteries, and are juftly plagued r with perpetual inconftancy, and with wa-• vering and perplexed conceits: for feeing 1 the light of nature is one thing,and of grace 2 another jit happens fo to them as if they faw 1 two Suns. And feeing the Actions of Life, 2 and decrees of the will do depend of the un-iderftanding, it follows that they doubt, 2 are inconftant no lefs in will than in opi-inionj and fo in like manner they may be lfaid to fee two Thebes: for by Thebes (fee-iing there was the habitation and refuge of [Tenthcvs) is meant the end of a&ions. IHenceit comes to pafs that they know not ^whether they go, but:as diftradfed and un-■refolved in thefcope of their intentions3are an all things carried about with fudden :padions of the mind, 0 R F HE V S, or Philojophy. ^"IT^Hetale of Orpheus^ though common.* J[ had never the fortune to be fitly iapplyedin every point. It mayfeemtore-«prefent the Tmage of Philofophy : for the perfon of Orpheus (aj man admirable and A a divine .42 *Tht Wifdom of the Ancients. divine,and fo excellently {killedinall kind I of harmony, that with his fweet ravifhing i mufick he did as it were charm and allure , all things to follow him) may carry a fin- -gular difcription of Philofophy : for the . labors of Orpheus do fo far exceed the1, labors of Hercules in dignity and efficacy, as the works of wifdom, excell the works oF fortitude. Orpheus for the love he bear 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 powers. 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 heraway with! him j but on this condition, that (he ftiould. follow him, and he not to look back uponi her, till he came to the light of the uppeE World-, which he (impatient of, out of love and care, and thinking that he was in a manner paft all danger) neverthelefi violated, infomuch that the covenant ii broken, and (he forthwith tumbles back* again headlong into hell. From that time Orpheus falling into a deep melanchollyy; became a contemner of women kind, and bequeathed himfelf to a folitary life in the, i defarts-fiThe IVifdom of the Ancientsk 4$ i defarts 3 where, by the fame melody of t his voice and Harp, he fir ft drew all man-'i ner of wild beafts untohim^ who (forget-t full of their favage fiercenefs, and calling joff the precipitate provocations of luft ; and fury, not caring to fatiate their vora->city by hunting after prey) as at a Theater i in faughning and reconciled amity one towards another, ftand all at the gaze about Ihim, and attentively lend their ears to his r.Mufick. Neither is this all 3 for Co great i was the po wer and alluding force of his har-miony, that he drew the woods and moved the very ftones to come and place them-Telves in an orderly and decent falhion labouthim. Thefe'things fuccedinghappily, and with great admiration for a time 3 at length certain Thracian Women (pofleft with the fjpirit of Bacchus) made fuch a (horrid and ftrange noife 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 foci-isty being diflfolved, all diforder began again 3 and the beafts (returning to their wonted nature) purfued one another unto death as before: neither did the trees or ftones remain any longer in their places; and Orpheus himfelf was by thefe female furies torn in pieces, and fcattered all over the A a 2 defart.44 5®? Wifdom ofthe Ancient i, defart. For whofe cruel depth the river Helicon £facred to the Mufes) in horrible indignation , Hid hi$ head tinder ground and raifed it again in another place. The meaning of this Fable feems to be thus. Orpheus's Mufick is of two forts, the one appealing the infernal powers, the other attra&ing beads and trees. The fird may be fitly applyed to natural Philofo-phy, the fecond to moral or civil difci-pline. Theinod noble work of natural Philo-fophy, isthereftitution and reiibrvation of things corruptible • the other fas" a lefler degree of it) the pfefervation of bodies in their Eftate, detaining them frofh diAblution and putrefaction, and if this gift may be done in mortals, certainly it can be done by no other means than by the due and exquifite temper of nature, as by the melody and delicate touch of an indru-tnent. But feeing it is of all things mod difficult, it is feldomor never attained unto 5 and in all likelihood for no other reafon, more than through curious diligence and untimely impatience. And therefore Philofophy hardly able to produced) excellent an effefr in a penfive humour, (and that without caufe) bufies herfelf about humane obje&s, and by perfwafionTh? Wifdom cf the Ancients. 45 & eloquence,infinuat’ing theloveof verttt, equity, and'concord in Minds of Men $ draws multitudes of peopje to a fociety, makes them fubjed to Laws, obedient to< Government and forgetful, of their unbridled affedions, wfiilf^ they give ear to precepts, and fubmit themfelves to difci-pline 5 whence follows the building of Houfes, ereding of Towns, planting of Fields and Orchards, with Trees and the like, infomuch that it would not beamifs to fay, that even thereby (tones, and woods were called together and fetled in order. And after ferious trial made and fruftra-ted about the reftoringof. a body mortal 5 this care of civil affairs follows in his due place: becaufe by a plain demonftration of the unevitable necefllty of death, mens Minds are moved to feek eternity by the fame and glory of their Merits. It is alfo wifely faid in the Fable, that Orpheus was averfe from the love of Women and marriage , becaufe the delights of wedlock', and the love of Children do for the moft part hindermen from enterprising great and noble defigns for the publick good, holding pofterity a fufficient ftep to immortality without adions. Befides even the very works of Wifdom, Calthough amoagd all humane things they A a 3 do46 the Wifdom of the Ancients. do mod excell) do neverthelefs meet with their periods. For it happens that (after Kingdoms and Commonwealths have flou-rifhed for a time) even tumults, and fedi-tions, and Wars arife $ in themidft of which hurly-burlies, firft Laws are (ilent, men Return to the pravity of their .natures, fields and Towns are wafted and depopulated? and then (if their furie continue) Learning and Philofophy mud needs be dif-membred j fo that a few fragments onely, and in fome places will be found like the Scattered Boards of Shipwrack, fo as a barbarous Age muft follow j and the dreams of Hellicon being hid under the Earth (untill the Viciftitude of things palling ) they break out again and appear in fome other remote Nation, though not perhaps in the fame climate^ COEL*V My or Beginnings WE have it from the Poets by tradition that Ceelum was the Ancienteft of the Gods, and that his members of generation were cut off by his Son Saturn, Saturn had many Children, but devoredthem as foon as they were born. Jupiter only efcapt, who being come to mans eftate, thruftTheWifdom of the Ancients'. 47 thurft Saturn his Father into Hell, andfo ufurped the Kingdom. Moreover he pared off his fathers genitals with the fame fauU chin that Saturn difmembred C echini, and caftthem into the Sea, from whence came Venus. Not long after this/ Jupiter (being fcarce fetled and confirmed in this Kingdom ) was invaded by two memorable Wars. The firft of theTitans, in the fup-prefling of which Sol (who alone of all the Titans , favoring Jupiters fide) took exceeding great pains. The fecond was of the Giants, whom Jupiter himfelf deftroy-ed with Thunderbolts : and fo all wars being ended, he reigned fecure. This Fable feems enigmatically to fhewfrom whence all things took their beginning, not much differing from that opinion of Philofophers} which Domocritus afterwards labored to maintain, attributing eternity to the firft Matter, and not to the World. In which he comesfomewhat near the truth of Divine Writ,telling us of a huge deformed Mafs,before the beginning, of the fix days Work. The meaning of the Fable is this: By jCtilum may be underftood that vafl: concavity, or vaulted compafs that comprehends all Matter: and by Saturn may be meant the matter it felf, which takes from his Pa-Aa 4 rent'48 The Wifdom of the Ancients. rent all power of generating 5 for the uni-verfality or whole Bulk of Matter always remains the fame, neither increafing or di-minifhing in refpedfc of the quality of its Nature : But by the divers agitations and motions of it,were firft produced imperfect, and ill agreeing compofitions of things, making as it were certain Worlds for Proofs or Efiays, andfo in procefsof time a perfedfc Fabrick or Stru&ure was framed, which Ihould ftill retain and keep his form. And therefore the Government of the firft Age was (hadowed by the Kingdom of Saturn, who for the frequent diflblutions andfhort continuances of things was aptly fained to devour his Children. Thefucceeding Government was defciphered by the Reign of Jupiter, Who confined thofecontinual mutations unto Tartarus,a place fignifying perturbation- ' This place feems to be all that middle place between the lower Superficies ofHeaven,and the Center of the Earth : in which all perturbations and fragility and mortality or corruption are frequent. During the former Generation of things in the time of Satrtrns Reign, Venus was not born: for fo long as in the uriiverfality of Matter, difcord was better and more prevalent than Concord, it was neceftary that there (hould be a total diffolution or mutation, and that inThe Wifdofy of the Ancients. 49 in. the whole Fabpck. And by this kind of generation were creatures produced before ‘Saturn was deprived of his genitals. When (this ceafed, that Qther which wrought by Ventts^ immediately^came in, confifting in ifetled and prevalent concord of things, fo :that mutation (hould be onely in refpeCt of [the parts, the univerfal Fabrick remaining whole and inviolate. Saturn they fay was depofed and call: [down into Hell, but not deftroyed and utterly extinguilht, becaufe there was an opinion that the world (hould relapfe into the [old Chaos and interregnum again, which .Lucretius prayed might not happen in his time: Quod procul a nobis, field at fortuna gu • bernans : Et ratio potius quam res perfuadeat Ipfa: Of guiding providence be gracious, That this Dooms-day be far remov’d from us 5 And grant that by us it may be expected. Rather than on us in our times affe- cted. For afterwards the World (hould fub-Ififtby its own quantity and Power, Yet from5 © The Wifdom of the Ancients. from the beginning there was no reffe For ? in the Celeftial Regions there firfl followed f notable mutations, which by the power-' of the Sun (predominating over fuperior Bodies^) werefo quieted, that the Rate of f the World fhould be conferved : and afterward ('in inferior Bodies,by thefupprefiingp and diffipating of Inundations, Tempers, Winds, and general Earthquakes, a more j? peaceful durable Agreement and Tranquility of things followed. But of this Fable it :* may convertibly be faid, that the Fable p contains Philofophy, and Philofophy 1 again the Fable: For we know by faith,, that all thefe things are nothing elfebut * the long-fin«e ceafing and failing Oracles j of Sence, feeing that both the Matter and f Fabrickof the World are moft truly referred to a Creator FROTEVS, or Matter. THe Poets fay that Proteus was Nep- -tunes Heard-man, a grave Sire, and i fo excellent a Prophet, that he might well1 be termed thrice excellent: for he knew not only things to come, but even things ) pad: as well as prefent, fo that befides his i fkilliindiviaauon5he was the meflengerand interpreterThe Wifdom of the Ancients. 5t [interpreter of all Antiquities and hidden /Myfteries. The place of his abode was a rhuge vaft Cave, where his Cuftom was xvery day at noon to count his Flock of Sea-tcalves, and then to go to ileep. Moreover rhe that defired his advice in anv thing, :could by no other means obtain it, but by xatching him in Manacles, and holding rhim faft therewith «, who neverthelefs to cbe at liberty would turn himfelf into all rmanner of Forms and Wonders of Nature j Tometimes into Fire, fometimes into Water, fometimes into the fhape of Beads and !the like, till at length he were reftored to rliis own Form again. This Fable may feem to unfold thefe-:crets of Nature and the properties of Matter. For under the perfon of Trotem, the ifirft Matter (which next to God is the An-xienteft thing) maybe reprefented : For /Matter dwels in the concavity of Heaven os in a Cave. He is Neptunes bond-man, becaufe the [the operations and difpenfations of Matter jare chiefly exercifed in liquid Bodies. His Flock or Herd feems to be nothing cbut the ordinary Species of Senfible Crea-itures. Plants, and Mettals, in which Mat-iter feems to diffufe and as it were fpend iitfelf5 fo that after the forming and perfecting52 The Wijdom of the Ancient sf fefting of thefe Kinds, (having endeda$ it were her Talk) (he fee ms to fleep and take her reft, not attempting the compofi-tion of any more Species, And this may be the Moral of Proteus his counting of his j Flock, and of his deeping. Now this is faidto be dons, not in the morning, nor in the evening, but at noon, to wit, at fuch time as is moft fit and convenient for the perfecting and bringing jforth of Species out of Matter, duly pre-i pared and predifpofed, and in the middle, as it were, between their beginning and Declinations, which we know fufficiently (out of the Holy Hiftory) to be done about the time of the Creation r for then by the power of that Divine Word ('Producat) Matter at the Creators command did congregate it felf (not by ambages or turnings, but inftantlyj to the produftion of its work into an Aft and conftitutionof Species. And thus far have we the Narration of Proteus (free and unreftrained^) toge-; therwith his flock compleat: for the uni-verfality of things with their ordinary ftru-ftures and compofitions of Species bears the face of matter not limited and conftrain-? ed, and of the flock alfo of material beings.; Neverthelefs, if any expert Minifter of Nature, (hall encounter Matter by main force, vexing7he fp'ifdo/n of the Avcuvis\ 53 ' Vexing 3 and urging her with intent and jjj purpofe to reduce her to nothing 5 fhe > Contrarywife (Teeing annihilation and ab-t folute deftru&ion cannot be effe&ed but I by the Omnipotency of God^ being thus ^caught in the ftrftts of neceflity, j^loth • change and turri her felf into divers ftrange Forms and Shapes of things, fo : that at length ("by fetching a circuit as it? ivere} {he comes to a period, and fif the force continue) betakes her felf to her former being. The reafon of which con-ftraint or binding will be more facile and expedite if matter belaid hold on by Manacles, that is, by extremities. ‘ Now whereas it isfrained that TroUtts was a Prophet, well {killed in three differences of times, it hath an excellent Agreement with the nature of Matter: for it is neceffary that he that will know the properties and proceedings of Matter , Ihould comprehend in his underflanding the fum of all things, which have been, which are, or which (hall be, although no knowledge can extend fo far as to lingular and individual beings. MEM-54 pP Wifdom of the Ancients. ' MEMNON, ora Tonth too c forward. THe Poets fay tltft Memnon was the Son of Aurora , who (adorned with beautifull armor, and animated with popular applaufe) came to the ’trojan War: where (m rath boldnefs, hafting unto, and thirfting after glory) he enters into „(ingle combate with Achilles, the valiant-eft of all the Grecians, by whofe powerful .hand he was there (lain. But Jupiter pitty-ing his diftru&ion, fent Birds to modulate certain lamentable and dolefull Notes at the Solemnization of his Funeral Obfe-quies Whofe ftatue alfo (the Sun renewing on it with his Morning BeamsJ did ufually, as is reported fend forth a mourn^ full found. This Fable may be applyed to the unfortunate deftinies of hopefull young Men, who like the Sons of Aurora (puft up with the glittering fhew of vanity and Often-tation)attempt attions above their ftrength, and provoke and ptefs the moft valiant Heroes to combate with them, fo that (meeting with their over-match) are van-quifhed and deftroyed, whofe untimely deathThe Wifdonr of the Ancient f» 55 death is oft accompanied, with much pitty andcommiferatibn.For amongal.lthe difa-fters that cannot happen toMortals?therei$ none fo lamentable and fo powerful to move companion as the flower of vertue cropt with too fudden a milchance. Neither hath it been often known that men in their green years become fo loathfome and odious, as that at their deaths either forrow is hinted, or commiferation moderated: but that lamentation and Mourning do not only flutter about their Obfequies like thofe funeral Birds'} but this pitifull commiferatipn doth continue for a long fpace, and fpeci-ally by occafions and new motions, and beginning of great Matters, as it were by the morning raysof the Sun3 their pallions and defires are renewed. TITHONVS, or Sdtiety. ÏT is elegantly fained that Tithonus was the Paramour of Aurora, who (clefirous to enjoy his company ) petitioned Jupiter that he might never dye, but (through womanilh overfight) forgetting to infert thisclaufe in her Petition, that he might not withall grow old and feeble, it followed, that he was only freed from the condition$6 TheWifdom of the Ancients, dition of Mortality s but for old Age3that came upon him in a marvellous and mifera-ble falhion, agreeable to the ftate of thofe who cannot dye, yet every day grow weaker and weaker with Age. Infomuch that Jupiter (in commiferation of that his mi-lery) did at length metamorphofe him into a Grafs-hopper, This Fable feems to be an ingenious Charafrer or defeription of pleafure, which in the beginning 5 and as it were in the morning feems to be pleafant and delightful 5 that men defire they might enjoy and monopolize it for ever unto themfelves, unmindful of that Satiety 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 affettion not yet yeilding unto death) it comes to pafs that men pleafe themfelves only by talking and commemorating thofe things which brought pleafure unto them in the flower of their age, which may be obferved in libidinous perfons, and alfo in men of military profeffions: the one delighting in beaftly talk, the other boafting of their valorous deeds', like Gralhop-pers whofe vigour confifts only in their voyce.TheWifdomof the Attaints. JVNOES SVToR, vr Bafettefs. TH E Poets fay, that Jupiter^ to enjoy his luftfull delights, took upon him (the fhape of fundry creatures, as of a Bull, (of an Eagle, of a Swan, andoF a Golden flhower.* butbeinga Sutortojhtno he came rin a form mod ignoble and bafe, an objeffc ifull of contempt and fcorn, refembling imdeed a miferable Cuckow,weather beared /with rain ar?d temped, niimmed, quaking, nnd halfdead with cold. This Fable is wife and feems tobe takert out of the Bowels of Morality} the fence of it being this, That men boaftnot too much of themfelves, thinking by Oftehta-non of their own worth to infinuate themselves into edimation and favour with men; The fuccefs of fuch intentions being for the mod part meafured by the nature :nd difpofition of thofeto whom trieri fuc; cor grace: who if of themfelves they be endowed With no gifts and ornaments of nature,but are only of haughty and malignant «pirits (intimated by the perfon of JttnoJ iien are Sutors to kpow that it i$ good x>licy to dibit all kind of appearance that B b tnif58 'XheWifdonioftlW Ancients, may any way (hew their own leaf!: praife * or worthy and that they much deceive : themfelves in taking any other courfe. Neither is it enough to (hew deformity in obfequioufnefs, unlefs they alfo appear. even abjeft and bafe in their very perfons.. C %) P I D, or an Alowc. which the Poets fay of Cupid or § Z.0?/e,cannot properly be attributed to one and the felf fame perfon 5 and yetthe difference is fuch, that (by rejeffing the confufion of perfons) the iimilitude may be received. They fay that Love is the ancienteft of all the Gods, and of all things elfe except Chaos,• which they hold to be a contemporary withit. Now as touchingChaos, that , bv the Antients was never dignified with Divine Honour, or with the title of the god. * And as for Love , they abfolutely bring him in without a father, only fome are of opinion, that he came of an Egge ; that was laid by Nox, and that on Chaos he begat the god and all things elfe. There, are four things attributed to him, perpetual Infancy, blindnefs, nakednefs, and an Archery. There was ,alfo another Love, , which'The Wifdorn of the Ancients. 59 which was the youngefl; of the gods, and he, they fay, was the fon of Venus. On this alfo they beftow the attributes of the elder Love, as in forae fort well apply unto him. This Fable tends andlooks to the Cradle of Nature, Love feeming to be the appetite or defire of the firft Matter, or (to fpeak more plain) the natural motion of the Atome, which is that Ancient and only Power that forms and fafhions ail things out of Matter, of which there is no Parent, that is to fay, no caufe, feeing every caufe is as a Parent to its effefl:. Of this power or vertue there can be no caufe in Nature (as for God, we alwayes except him) for nothing was before it, and therefore no efficient caufe of it. Neither was there any thing better known to Nature, and therefore neither Genus nor Form. Wherefore whatfoever it is, pofitive it is, and but inexpreffible. Moreover, if the manner and proceeding of it were to be conceived, yet could it not be by any caufe, feeing that (next unto God) it is the caufe of caufes, itfelf only without any caufe. And perchance there is no likelyhood, that thé manner of it may be contained or comprehended within the narrow compafs of humane fearch. Not without reafon, therefore it is fained to come of an Egge which was laid by Nox. Bb 2 Get-6o The Wi jdeni of the Ancien ts. ’ Certainly the Divine Philofopher grants fo much. Eccle. 3. 11. CttnBa fecit tempefta-tibits fuis psdchra, & mundum tradidit dift putationibus corum ^ it a I a men ut non invent at homo opus^ quod operates eft Dcus, principio ad fiticm. That is, he hath made every thing heautifull in their feafons, alfo he hath fet the World in their meditations, 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 concurring and meeting together ('from whole repetitions and multiplications, all variety of creatures proceeded and were com poled) may dazzle the Eyes of Mens understandings, and comprehended it can hardly be. The Greek Philofophers are obfer-Vedtobevery acute and diligent in Searching outthe Material principles of things: but in the beginnings of Motion (wherein confifts all the efficacy of operation) they are negligent and weak, and in this that we handle, they feem to be altogether blind and Hammering: for the opinion of the Teripatetickj concerning the appetite of Matter caufed by privation, is in a manner nothing elfebut words,which rather found then fignifie any realty. And thole7 he Wifdom of the Auchnts. 61 tthofe that refer it unto God do very wehbufr i then they leap up, they afcend not by de-sgrees: for doubrlefs there is one chief Law lfubordinate to God, in which all natural J things concur and meet, the lame that in :the fore-cited Scripture is demon ft rated linthefe words, Opus, quod operatus eji Dc-f us a principio ufqne ad jincm, the work that ) God hath wrought from the beginning even no the end. But Democritus which enured more deeply into the confideration Dof this point, after he had conceived an \ Atome with fome fmall dimenfion and form, ihe attributed unto it one onely defire, or ■ifirft motion fimply or abfolutely, and ano-ither comparatively or in refpeft: for he 1 thought that all things did properly tend } to the center of the World, whereofthofe ibodies which were more material, defeend /with fwifter motion, and thofe that "had lefs matter did on the contrary tend j upward. But this meditation was very (hal-Jlow, containing lefs then was expedient: Ifor neither the turning of the celeftial i bodies in a round,nor (hutting and opening cof things may feem to be reduced or applied lto this beginning. And as for that opinion :of Epicurus concerning thecafual declination and agitation of the Atome, it is but a mere toy, and a plain evidence, that he Bb 3 was6 2 The Wifdom of the Ancients: was ignorant of that point. It is therefore more apparent (“than we could wifh) that this Cupid or Lc-ve remains as yet clouded Under the fhades of 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 yearsrWhereas the firft feeds of things or Atoms, they are little anddiminute,and always in their In-fancie. He is alfo well fained to be Naked, becaufe all compound 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 blindnefs, the Allegory is full of Wifdom : 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 neareft, not unlike blind Men that goby Feeling : More admirable then, muft that chief Divine providence be, which (from things empty and deftitute of providence, and as it were blind) by a conftant and fatal law produceth fo excellent an order and beauty of things. The laft thing which is attributed unto Love is Archery, by which is meant,that his . vertueThe Wifdom of the Ancients. 6% vvertue is fuch, as that it works upon a di-Fftant objedt: becaufe that whatfoeveroperates afar off, fccms to (hoot, as it were? tan Arrow. Wherefore whofoever holds :the being both of Atoms and Vacuity , imuft needs infer, that the vertue of the \Atome reacheth to a diflant objedt: for if i it were not fo, there could be no motion sat all, by reafon of the interpolation of \ Vacuity $ but all things would ftand (tone 1 ftill, and remain immoveable. Now as touching that other Cupid or 1 Love, he may well be termed theyoungeft > of the Gods, becaufe he could have no t being, before the conftitution of Species : And in his defcription the Allegory may be applied and traduced to manners: Ne-verthelefs he holds fome kind of conformity with the Elder} for Venus doth generally ftir up a defire of conjunction and procreation, and Cupid her fon doth apply this defire to fome individual Nature, fothat the general difpofition comes from Venus^ the moreexadt fymphathy from Cupid: the the one derived from caufes more near, the other from beginnings more remote and fatal, and as it were from the elder Cupid0 of whom every exqulfit fymphathy doih depend Bb 4 DIO*^4 ‘TheWiJclom of the dncknU* D lOMEDES, or Zed. Dlomedes flouriihing with great fame and glory in the Trojans Wars,and in .high favour with Valias,was by her inftiga-*ed ("being indeed forwaderthen hefhould have been) not to forbear Venus a jot, if he encountered with her in fight 3 which very boldly he performed, wounding her in the Right Arm. This prefumtuous Fa femblances, which by the eye of judgement can hardly be guided and difeerned, but only by the line of experience, . • . Neither is it impertinently added, that he which invented the intricate nooks of the Labyrinth, did alfo (hew the commodity of the clue: For Mechanical Arts aife of ambiguous ufe, ferving as well for hurt as for remedy, and they have In a manner power both to loofe and bind themlelves. Unlawfull trades,and fo by confequence Arts themfelves, are often perfecuted by friinos^ that isby laws, which do condemn them and prohibite men to-life them, Nevertheless they are hid and retained every where, finding lurking holes, and places of receit,which was wel obferved by Tacitus of the Mathematicians and Figure-fiingers of his time in a ■■thing not 16 much unlike nus hominum quod in civitate nojlra Jemper & retinebitur & vetabitur. There is a kind ofMen that will always abide in our City, though always forbidden. And yet not-withftanding . unlawful and curious ArtsJ1 The Wifdotft of the Ancients, of what kind foever , in tradi: of time* when they cannot perform what they pro-mife, do fall from the good opinion that was held of them (*no other wife than lea-rus fell down from the Skies) they grow to be contemned and fcorned, ana fo pe-ri(h by too much Oftentation. And to fay the truth, they are not fo happily reftrain-ed by the reins of Law, as bewrayed by their own vanity. ‘ E R ICTH 0 NIZJ S> or bnpojluh’ THe Poets fable that Vulcan follicited Minerva for her Virginity, and impatient of denial,with an inflamed defire offered her violence, but in ftruglinghis feed fell upon the Ground, whereof came E-ritthonivs, whofe 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 Monftrofityhe being confcious. became the firft inventor of the ufe of Chariots, whereby that part of his body which was well proportioned might befeen, and the other which was ugly and uncomely might be hid. This ftrange and prodigious fittion may feeriiThe Wifdoni of the Ancients. 75 Teem to (hew that art which (Tor the great ufe it bath of (ire) isfhadowed bv Vulcan, although it labour by much driving with corporeal fubdances to force Nature, and to make her fubjeft to it ((he beirfg fbr her indudrious Works rightly reprefented by Minerva') yet feldom or never attains the end it Aimsat, but with much ado and great pains (wredling as it were with her) comes (hort of its purpofe, and produceth certain imperfect Births arid lame Works, fair to the eye, but weak arid defective in ufe with manv Impodors(with much fubtil-ty and deceit) fet to view,and carry about, as it were, in triumph, as may for the mod part be noted in Chymical produ&ions j ; arid other Mechanical fubtilties and novels t ties , efpeeially when (rather profecuting f their intent, than reclining their Errours) 1 they rather drive to overcome nature by 1 force, than fue for her embracements by >'due obfequioufnefs and obfervarice. D E C A Lid Nyor iLejlitution. | "HePoets fay, that (the People ofthe Jj old World beingdeftroye d by a ge-crieral deluge) Deucalion and Tirrha were :bnly led a liVe 5 who praying with fer-C c Vent74 The Wjfdom of the Ancients. vent and zealous devotion, that they might know by what means to repair mankind , had anfwer from an Oracle that they fhould obtain what they defired, if taking the Bones of their Mother they caft them behind their Backs ; which at firft ftruck them with great amazment and defpair,fee-ing fall things being defaced by the Flood) it would be an endlefs work to find their Mothers Sepulchre, but at length they un-derftood that by bones the Bones of the earth (feeing thé Earth was the Mother of all things) were fignified by the Oracle. This Fable feems to reveal a fecret of Nature, and to correft an Errour familiar to mens conceits : for through want of knowledge,men think that things may take renovation and reftauration from their pu-trefa&ion and dregs, no otherwife than the Phcenix from the Afhes, which in no cafe can be admitted, feeing fuch kind of materials , when they have fulfilled their periods, are unapt for the beginnings of fuch things: we mu ft therefore lookback to more common principles.The IVifdom of the Ancientst 75 N EM E S S 1S', or the Viciffitude of things. IWl Emefis is faid to be a Goddefs venera-]_\f bleunto all, but to be feared of none but Potentates and Fortunes favorites. She is thought to be the Daughter of Oceanus and Nox. She is proutrai&ed with Wings on her Shoulders, and on her head a Coronet j bearing in her right hand a Javelin of Afh, and in her left a Pitcher with the fimi-litudes of ^Ethiopians engraven on it j and laftly,. (he is deferibed fitting on an Hart. The Parable may bethus unfolded. Her name Nemefs doth plainly fignifie Revenge or Retribution, her office and adminiftra-tion being (like a Tribune of the people} to hinder the conftant and perpetual felicity of happy Men, and to inrerpofe her f. word , veto, I forbid the continuance of iit, that is, not only to chaftife infolencv, jbut to intermix profperity {though harm-dels and in a mean) with the Viciffitudes of Eadverfity, as if it wereacuftom, that no rmortal man (hould be admitted to the Ta-cble of Gods but for fport. Truly when I /read that Chapter, wherein Caius Tlinius ifiath Collected his misfortunes and miferies Cc 2 of7 6 the IVifdow of the Ancients. vof ■ Augnft US C#far\ ^hom of all Men f thought the mod happy , who had alfo a kind of Art. to ufe and enjoy his fortune, and in whofe mind might be noted neither pride, nor lightnefs, nor nicenefs,' nor diforder ,. nor melancholly . ( as that he had appointed â time io dye of his oWn ^accbrd) l ichen deemed this Goddefsto be ‘^reat and powerful, to whofe Altar fo worthy a Sacrifice as this was drawn. The Parents of this Goddefs were Oceania and NVx.that is,the viciffitude of things and Diviné Judgement obfcure and fecret : fbr the alteràtibn of things are aptly repre-fented by the Sea, in rçfpefr of the continual ebbing and flowing of it, and hidden providence is well fet forth by the Night : for even.the No&urnal Nemefls (feeing humane judgment differs much from divine ) Was ferioufly obferved by the Heathen. Virgil Æneid. lib. 2. ------Cadit & Ripheus ji/JliJJzmus nnus^ gui fnit cx tcucris, & fervantijfimus a qui. Diis aliter vifun:_____. ThatThe TVifdom of the Aricithts. 77 That day by Greekilh force was Ri-pheusflain, '' : So juft and ftritft obfeyver of the Law, As Troy within her Wads did not contain, A better Man : Yet God then good it faw. Sheisdifcribed with Wings, becaufethe changes of things are fo .fudden, as that they arefeen, before forefetn: for in the Records of all Ages,we find it fortheYnoft part true, that great Potentates, and wife Men have periftied by thole misfortunes which they moft contemned 5 as maybe obferved in Mar cm Cicero, who being ad-monifhed by Decim Brutm of Q&avim C it is an Allegory of fpecial obfervation 3 for it is moft certain, that paffions always covet and defire that which experience for-fakess and they all know (who have paid dear forferving and obeying their Lulls) that whether it be honor, or riches, or delight, or glory, or knowledge, or any thing elle which they feek after, yet are they but things call off, and by divers men in all ages, after experience had, utterly reje&ed and loathed. Neither is it without a my fiery, that the Ivy was facred to Bacchus 3 for the Appli* cation holds, firft. In that the Ivy remains green in Winter. Secondly,In that it fticks to, embraceth, and overtoppeth To many divers Bodies, as Trees, Walls, and Edifices. Touching the firft, every Paflion doth by refiftance and relu&ation, and as it were by aa Antiperiftajts ( like the Ivy of the cold of Winter , grow frelh and tufty. And as for the other, every predominate.The Wifdom of the Ancients. 8y iminate affedtion doth again (like the Ivy) embrace and limit all humane actions and [determinations , adhering and cleaving Taft unto them. Neither is it a wonder, that fuperftitious Rites and Ceremonies were attributed un'-to Bacchus ^ feeing every giddy headed humor keeps in a manner Revebrout in falfe Religions} or thatthe caufeofMad-nefs fhould be afcribed unto him, feeing :every affedlion is by Nature a fhortfury, >which (if it grow vehement, and become [habitual) concludes Madnefs. Concerning the rending and difmem-! bring of Pentheus and Orpheus, the Parable iis plain, for every prevalent affe&ion is i outragious and fevere, and againft curious ; inquiry, and wholefome and free admonition, Laftly, That confufion of Jupiter and Bacchus , their perfons may be well transferred to a Parable, feeing noble and famous Adis, and remarkable and glorious Merits, do fometimes proceed from Vertue, and well ordered Reafon and Magnanimity, and fometimes from a fecret AfFedtion, and hidden Paffion, which are fo dignified with the celebrity of Fame and Glory, that a Man can hardly diftinguifn between the Adis of Bacchus, and the Gefts o (Jupiter* AT A-88 The Wif do fit of the Ancient ft AT AL ANT A,of Gain. ATàlanta, Who Was reputed to excel itl fwiftnefs, would needs challenge Hip-pohtcnis at a match in running; The conditions Of the price werethefe,That if Hip-fomcnes Won the Rate, he fliould efpoufe Atalanta, if he were out-run, that then he fhould forfeit his life. And in the opinion of all, the victory was thought atfii-redof Atalantas fide , being famous as fhe was fbt her matchlefs and inconquerâble fpeed, whereby (he had been the bane of many. Hippomenes therefore bethinks him, how to deceive her by a trick, and in that regard provides three Golden Apples or Balls, which he purpofely'carried about him. The Race is begun, and Atalanta gets a good ftart before him. He feeing himfelf thus caft 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 alfo to draw her out of the right courfe : She out of a Womanilh defire, (being thus enticed with the beauty of the Golden Apple) leaving her dire& Race, runsafide and ftoops to catch theThe IVifdom of the Ancients. 89 [ Ball, Hippomenes the while holds on his 3 courfe, getting thereby a great ftart, and l leaves her behind him : But (he by her jown natural fwiftnefs, recovers her loft i time , and gets before him again. But {.hippomenes ftill continues his fleight, and d both the fecond and third times caft out his Balls, thofeinticing delays, andfo by :craft,ar.d not by his adivity, wins the Race Land Victory. This Fable feems Allegorically to de-:monftrate a notable conflid between Art cand Nature 5 for Art (Signified by Ata-Tantrow can be aflwaged, and comfort attainted 5 whereas Philofophy (which is,' as it / were,Art of Living) tarries riot the lei-D d frire90 TheWifdomof the Ancients. fure of time, but doth it inftantly, and out of hand j and yet this Prerogative and lingular agility of Art is hindred by certain Golden Apples, to the infinite prejudice of Humane proceedings : For there is not any one Art or Science which con-ftantly perfeveres in a true and lawful courfe, till it come to the propofed End or Mark $ but ever and anon makes flops after good beginnings, leaves the Race, and turns afide to Profit and Commodity, like Atalanta. Declinat curfus , anrumque volubile tol-lit. ; Who doth her Courfe forfake, The Rolling Gold to take. And therefore it is no wonder that Art hath not the power to conquer Nature,and by Pa& or Law of Conqueft, to kill and deftroy her $ but on the contrary it falls out, that Art becomes fubjeft to Nature, and yields the obedience, as ofaWifeto her Husband. PRO-TheWifdom of the Ancients. 91 PKOMETHEVS, or the State of Man. THe Ancients deliver, that Prometheus made a Man of Clay, raixt with certain parcels taken from divers Animals, who dudying to maintain this his Work by Art, (that he might not be accounted a founder only, but a propagator of humane kind) dole up to Heaven with a bundle of Twigs, which he kindled at the Chariot of the Sun, came down again, and communicated it with men: and yet they fay, (that notwithftanding this excellent work of his) he was requited with ingratitude, in a treacherous confpiracy: For they ac-cufed both him and his invention to Jupiter•, which was not fo taken as was meet it lhould, for the information was pleafing to Jupiter, and all the gods. And therefore iiua merry mood, granted unto Men, not only the ufe of fire, but perpetual youth alfo, a boon mod acceptable and defireable. They being, as it were , overjoyed, did foolilhly lay this gift of the gods upon the! back of an Afs, who being wonderfully oppreft with third, and near a fountain was told by a Serpent (which had the cudo-2 Tie Wifclom of the Ancients. dy thereof) that tie '(hould not drink, un-lefshe would promife to give him the Burthen^ that was on his Back. Thd"filly Afs accepted the conditioned fo the reflaura-tion of youth (fold fora draught of Water) pafl from Men to Serpents. But Prometheus full of malice, beirtg reconciled unto Men, after they were fruftrated of their gift, but in a chafe yet with Jupiter, Feared not to ufe deceit in facrifice : for having killed two Buis, and in one of their Hides wrapt upthe fiefh and fat of them both, and in the other only the bones, with a great (hew of religious devotion, gave Jupiter his choife j who (detefling his fraud and hy-pocrifie,but taking an occafion of revenge» chofe that which was ftopt with bones.and fo turning to revenge ("when he faw that the infolency of Prometheus would not be reprefted , but by laying fome grievious affii&ion upon mankind, in the forming of which, he fo much bragged and boafied) commanded Vulcan, to frame a goodly beautiful Woman, which being done, every one of the Gods bellowed a gift on her 5 whereupon (he was called Pandoram To this Woman they gave in her hand, a goodly Box,full of all miferiesand calamities, only in the bottom of it,they put Hope j with this Boxfhe cofties firft to Prometheus^ thinkingThe Wifdow of the Ancients. 93 thinking to catch him,1 if peradventure, he fhould accept it at her hands, and fo open it: which he neverthelefs.with good providence and forefight refufed. Whereupon (he goes to Fy//wffo/*f(who,though Brother to Prometheus, yet wasof a much differing difpofition} and offers this Box unto him, who , without delay took it, and1 rafhly opened it$ but when he faw that all kind of miferies came fluttering about Jii$ ears, being wife too late, with great fpeed and earneft endeavour, cl'apt on the" cover , and fo with much ado retained //.Re fitting alone in the bottom,- at lad Ji/piter lading many and grievous. Crimes to Protfieikeus his charge (as that he had ftoln fire from Heaven, that in contempt of hisNiajefty, he facrificed a Bulls hide.fluff with hopes., that he fcornfully reje&ed his gift l ahdr be-fides all this that he oifered violence tp.Fd/-las) caflhim into Chains, and dooib^d him to perpetual Torment: and by Jufiters command, was brought to the Mountain Caucafus , and there bound faft to a Pillar that he could notftir, there came art Eagle alfo, that every day fate tyring upon his Liver, and wafted it, but as rtiue.h 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 D d 3 there94 BR Wifdom of the Ancients, there was an end of this punifhment: for Hercules eroding the Ocean in a Cup,which the Sun gave him, came to Caucajus, and fet Trometheus at liberty, by (hooting the Eagle with an Arrow. Moreover in fome Nations there were inftituted in the honour ofPrometheus, certain games of Lamp-bearers, in which they that drived for the Prize, were wont to carry torches lighted, which, who fo differed to go out, yielded the place and victory to thofe that followed , and fo caft back themfelves, fo that whofoever came firfl to the Mark with his Torch burning, got the prize. This Fable demonftrates and preffeth many true and grave fpeculations, wherein fome things have been heretofore well noted, others not fo much astoucht. Trometheus doth clearly and elegantly fignify Trovidence: for in the Univerfali-ty of Nature, the Fabrickand coaftitution of Man only was by the Ancients pickt put and chofen, and attributed unto Providence, as a peculiar Work. The reafon of itfeems to be, not only in that the Nature of Man is capable of a Mind and un-derftanding , which is the Seat of Providence, and therefore it would feem ftrange and incredible that the reafon and mind (hould7he Wjfdom of the Ancients. ‘ 95 fhould fo proceed and flow from dumb and deaf principles^ that it fhould neceflarily be concluded the Soul of Man to be indited with providence, not without the example, intention , and ftampof a greater providence. But this alfo is chiefly propounded, that man is as it were, the center of the World, inrefped of final caufes, fo thatif man were not in Nature, all things would feem to flray and wander without purpofe , and like fcattered branches (as they fay) without inclination to their end: for all things attend on man, and he makes ufe of, and gathers fruit from all Creatures: for the revolutions and periods of Stars make both for the diftin&ions of times, and the diflribution of the Worlds fight. Meteors alfo are referred to prefages of Tempefts $ and Winds are ordained, as well for Navigation, as for turning of Mills, and other Engines : and Plants, and Animals of what kind foever, areufe-full either for Mens Houfes, and places of fhelter, or for rayment, or for food, or medicine, orforeafe of labour, or in a word, for delight andfolace } fo that all things feem to Work, not for themfelves, butfor Man. Neither is it added without confiderati-on that certain particles were taken from D d 4 diverfe9 6 The Wifdom of the Ancients. diverfe Living Creatures * and mixt and tempered with that clay ie Mafs,becaufe it is moft true that of all things comprehended within the compafs of the uiiiverfe, Man is a thing moft mixt and compounded, in-fomuch that he was well termed by the Ancients, a little World, for although the Chrtnickj do,with too muchcuriofity, take and reft the elegancy of this Word (M-crocoftn) to the letter, contending to find in Man all Minerals, all vegetables and the reft , or any thing that holds proportion, 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 moft organicaK whereby it is indued and furnilhed with moft admirable vertues and faculties. And as for (imple Bodies, their powers are not many, though certain and violent, as exifting without being Weakened , diminished or ftented by mixture, for the multiplicity and excellence of operation have their refi-dence in mixture and compofition, and yet neverthelefs, man in his originals, feemsto bea thing unarmed, and naked, and unable to help it felf, as needing the aid of many things* therefore rrowthcu? made haft to find out fire, which fuppeditates and yields comfort and help, iu a manner.7 he Wifdom of the Ancients. gy to all humane wants and neceflities: fothat if the foul be the form of forms, and if the hand bethe inftrument of inftrumentsi fire deferves well to be called the fuccour of fuccours, or the help of helps, which infinite ways affords aid and afliftance to all Labors and Mechanical Arts, and to the Sciences themfel ves. The manner of ftealing this fire is aptly defcribed, even from the nature of things: It was, they fay, by abundleof twigs held to touch the Chariot of the Sun : for twigs are ufed in giving Blowes cr Stripes, to fignifie clearly,that Fire is ingendred by the violent percufiiOn , and mutual collifion of Bodies, by which their material fub-•ftances are attenuated and fet in Motion, andprepared toreceive the heatof influence of the Heavenly Bodies, and fo in aclarf-defline manner, and as it were, by ftealtb, may befaid to take aodfnatch Fire from the Chariot of the Sun. There follows next a remarkable part of the parable , that Men inftead of gra^ fulation, and tbankfgiving, were angry* and expoftulated the matter with Trome-fheujj infomuch that they accufed both him ■and his invention unto Jupiter, which was fo acceptable unto him, that he augmented their former commodities- with a new bounty9 8 The Wifdom of the Ancients '. bounty. Seems it not ftrange, that Ingratitude towards the author of a benefit (a vice, that in a manner, contains all other Vices) fhould find fuch approbation and reward ? No,it feems to be otherwife: for the meaning of the Allegory is this, that mens outcries upon the defefts of Nature and Art, proceed from an excellent dilpofition of 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 extoll humane nature, or the knowledge they poffefs,breaking out into a prodigal admiration of that they have and enjov, adoring alfo thofe fciences they profefs , would have them be accounted perfect} they do firft of all {hew little reverence to the divine Nature, by equalizing, in a manner, their own defers with Gods perfe&ion^ Again they are wonderfull injurious to men, by imagining they have attained the higheft ftep of Knowledge (refting themfelves contented) feek no further. On the contrary,fuch as bring Nature and Art to the Bar with Accufations and Bills of Complaint againfi: them, are indeed of more true and made-rate judgments: for they are ever in action, feeking alwayes to find out new inventions. Wnic’i mikes me much to wonderThe Wifdom of the Ancients. 99 der at the foolifh and inconfiderate difpo-fitions of fome Men, who (making them-felves bond-daves to the arrogancy of a few) have the Phylofophy of the Peripa-teticks (containing only a portion of Grecian wifdom, and that but a fmall one neither) info greatefteem, that they hold it, not only an unprofitable, butafufpici-ous, and almoft hainous thing, to lay any imputation of imperfe&ion upon it. I approve rather of Empedocles his opinion (who like a Mad Man, and of Democrittt.r his judgment, who with great moderation complained how that all things were involved in a mift)that we knew nothing,that we diferned nothing, that truth was drowned in the depths of obfcurity, and that falfe things were wonderfully joyned and intcrmixt with true ('as for the new Academy that exceeded all meafure) than of the confident and pronunciative School of Ari-jlotle. Let Men therefore be admonilhed, that by acknowledging the imperfe&ion of Nature and Art, they aregratefull to the gods, and (hall thereby obtain new benefits and greater favours at their bounti-full hands, and the accufation of Prome-theus their Authour and Matter, (though bitterand vehement) will conduce ulore to their profit, than to be effufe in the congratulationICO . The Wifdom of the Ancients. tulation of his invention : for in a Word, the opinion of having enough, is to be accounted one of thegreateft caufes of h'ave-ingtoo little. Now as touching the kind of gift which men are laid to have received in reward of their accufation (to-wit, an ever fading flower of youth} it is to Chew, that the Ancients feemed not to defpair of attaining the fkill by Means and Medicines, to put off Old Age, and toprolong Life, but this to be-numbered rather among fuch things as ("having been once happily attained unto} are now through mens negligence andcareleffnefs, utterly periChed and loft} than among fuch as have been alwayes denied and never granted: for they (Tgnirie and (hetv3 ( that by affording the trueufe of Fire, and by a good and ftern accufation and conviction of the Errors of Art, the divine bounty is not wanting unto Men in the obtaining of fuch gifts, but Men are wanting to themfelvesin laying this gift of the gods upon the back of a (illy and flow-paced Afs, which may teem to be Experience^ ftupid thing,and Full of delay: from whofe leifurely Sc fnaif-l?ke pace, proceeds that complaint of Lifes brevity, and Arts length. And to fay the truth, I am of this opinion jthat thofe two faculties DogmaticalThe WiJRom of the Ancients, ioi and Ewperical,are not as yet well joyned and coupled together, but as new gifts of the gods impofed either upon philofophical abftra&ions, as upon a flying-bird, or upon "flow and dull experience , as upon an Afs. And yet methinks, I would not entertain an ill conceit of this Afs, if itmeet not for the accidents of travel! and thirft: for I am perfwaded, that who fo conftantly goes on, by the conduct of experience, as by a certain rule and method, and not covets to meet with fuch experiments by the way, as conduce either to gain or oflentation ('to obtain which, he muft be fain to lay down and fell this Burthen) may prove no unfit Porter to bear this new addition of divine munificence. Now, in that this gift is Paid to pafs from Men to Serpents,« may feem to be added to the Fable for ornaments-fake in a manner, unlefs it were inferted tofhamemen, that having the ufe of that Celeftial Fire, and of fo many Arts, are not able to get unto themfelvesfuch thingsasNatureitfelf be-ftows upon many other Creatures. But that fudden reconcilation of Men to Trometheus, after they were frufirated of theirhopes, contains a profitable and wife note,, (hewing the levity and temerity of men in new experiments: for if they have- not102 the Wifdom of the Ancients. not prefent fuccefs anfwerable to their expectation, with too fudden haft defift from that they began, arid with precipitancy returning to their former experiments, are reconciled to them again. The ftate of Man inrefpe&of Arts,and (uch things as concern the intellect, being nowdefcribed, the parable pafleth to Religion : For after the planting of Arts, follows thefettingof Divine Principles,which hypocrifie hath overfpred and polluted. By that twofold Sacrifice therefore is elegantly fhadowed out, the Perfons of a true Religious mari,and an hypocrite. In the one is contained fatnefs, which (by reafon of the inflamation and fumes thereof ) is called the Tortion of God , by which his affe&ion and Zeal (tending to Gods Glory , and afcending towards HeavenJ is fignified. In him alfo are contained the bowels of Charity,and in him is found that good and wholefome flefh. Whereas in the other , there is nothing but dry and Naked Bones, which neverthelefs do ftuff up the Hide, and make it appear like a fair and goodly Sacrifice: By this may be well meant thofe external and vain rites, and empty Ceremonies by which men do opprefs and fill up the fincere worfhip of God, things compofed rather for oftentation than any way condu-The mfJorn of the Ancients, log cing to true piety. Neither do they hold it fufficient to offer fuch mock-fa orifices unto God, except they alfo lay them before him, as if he had chofen and befpoke them. Certainly the Prophet in the Perfon of God , doth thus expoftulate concerning this choice. Efai. 58. 5. Num tandem hoc ejl illud jejunium, quod E LEG 7, ut homo animamfuam in diem ttnum aßigat. & caput infiar juncetidemittat / Is it fuch a faft,tnat Ihavechofen, that a man fhould affliÄ his foul fora day , and to bow down his head like a Bulrufh .* Having now toucht the Bate of Religion, the parable converts it felf to the manners and conditions of humane Life. And it is a common, but apt interpretation, by Pandora to be meant pleafure and voluptu-oufnefs, which (when the civill Life is pampered with too much Art, and culture, and fuperfluity ) is ingendredas it were, by the efficacy of Fire, and therefore the work of voluptuoufnefs is attributed unto Vulcan , who alfo himfelf doth reprefent Fire. From this do infinite miferies, together with too late repentance , proceed and overflow the minds , and bodies, and fortunes of Men , and that not only in refpeft of particular eftates, but even over Kingdoms and Commonwealths :104 70P Wisdom of the Ancients. wealths: for from this Fountain have Wars, tumults and tyrannies deri ved their original. But it would be worth the labour, to confider how elegantly and proporrionably this Fable doth delineate two Conditions, ot (as I may fay) two Tables or examples of humane Life, under the Perfons of Prometheus or Epimetheus: for they that are of Epimetheus.his Se&, are improvident, not forefeeing what may come to pals hereafter, efteeming that beft which feems mod: fweet for the prefent j whence it happens .that they are over taken with many mifc-ries, difficulties, and calamities, and fo lead their Lives almoft in perpetual affli&i-on, but yet notvJithftanding they pleafe their fancy, and out of ignorance of the paflagesof things, do entertain many vain Hopes in their Mind, whereby they fome-timesfas with fweet dreams) folacethem-felves, and fweeten the miferies of their Life. But they that are Prometheus his Scholars, are Men endued with prudence, fore-feeing things to come warily, (hunning and avoiding many evils and misfortunes. But to thefe their good properties they have this alfo annexed, that they deprive rhemfelves, and defraud their Genius of, many lawful pleafures and divers . recreations,The Wifdom of the Ancients? ioj recreations, and ('which is worfe) they vex and torment themfelves with cares and troubles, and inteftine fears: For being chained to the Pillar of neceffity, they are affli&ed with innumerable cogitations (which becaufe they are very fwift, may be fitly compared to an Eagle^) and thofe griping, and as it were, gnawing and devouring the Liver, unlefs fometimes as it were by Night, it may be they get a little Recreation and eafe of Mind, but fo, as that they are again fuddenly aflaulted with frefli anxieties and fears, Therefore this benefit happens to but a very few of either condition, that they fhould retain the commodities of Providence, and free themfelves from the mife-riesof Care and perturbation 5 neither indeed can any attain unto it, but by the afiiftanceof^rc»/ex, that is, fortitude and conftancie of Mind, which is prepared for every event, and armed in all fortunes , forefeeing without fear, enjoying without loathing, andfuffering without impa-tience. It is worth the noting alfo , that this vertue was not natural to Prometheus, but adventitial and from the indulgence of another : for no in-bred and natural fortitude is able to encounter with thefe mife-ries. Moreover this vertue was received Ee and106 ’l he Wifdom of the Ancients. and brought unto him from the remoteft : part of the Ocean, and from the Sun, that ■ ' is, from Wifedom as from the Sun 5 and from the Meditation of Inconftancy, or of the Waters of Humane Life, as from the * failing upon the Ocean} vvh:ch two,F/r- • gil hath well conjoined in thefe Verfes} Felix qui potnit reritm cognofcere can- ■ H ghtiqne met us ottnes, & inexorabile £ fatum Snbjecit pedibus, flrepitnmque Ache- -rontis avari. Happy is he that knows the caufe of i things, And that with Dauntlefs courage; treads upon All Fear and Fates, relentlefs threat- -nings, And greedyThroat of roaring Ache-* ron. Moreover, it is elegantly added for the? confolation and confirmation of Mens’-Minds, that this noble Hero croft the Oce--' an in a Cup or Pan, left peradventure,they( might too much fear that the ftraits fk frailty of their nature will not be capable of < this!?/je fVifdom of the Ancients, loy this fortitude andcondancy. Of which ve-.ry thing Seneca well conceived, when he / faid, Magnum eji habere (itnnl fragilitatem ) homing, & fecuritatem Dei. It is a great I matter for humane frailty and Divine Secu-i rity to be one and the (elf-fame time, in : one and the felf-fame Subjcfr. But now we are to dep back a little again : to that, which by premeditation we pad 3 over, led a breach fhould be made in thofe j things that were fo linckt together. That l therefore which 1 could touch here is that .Had Crime imputed to Prometheus, about 1 feeking to bereave Minerva of her Virgini-ity: for quediordefs, it was this hainous i offence that brought that punifhment of i devouring his Liver upon him: which is a nothing elfe but to (hew, that when we ; are puft up with too much Learning and .1 Science, they go about oftentimes to make i even Divine Oracles fubjefr to Sence and I Reafon, whence mod certainly follows a i continual didradtion and redlefs griping i of the Mind $ we mud therefore with a .1 fober and humble judgment didinguidl J between Humanity and Divinity, and belt ween the Oracles of Sence, and the my-Jderiesof Faith, unlefs an heretical Religion, and a co n nentitious Philofophy be jpleafing unto us. Ee 2 m108 ?he Wifdctn of the Ancients. Laftly, Tt remains that we fay fomethingi of the games of Prometheus performed with Burning Torches, which again hath refe-: renceto Arts and Sciences, as that Fire, in whofe Memory and Celebration , thefe' Carnes were inftituted , and it contains: in it a moft wife admonition, that the perfe&ion of Sciences is to be expe&ech from Succefiion, not from the nimblenefs) andpomptnefs of one only Author: foi* they that are nimbleft in courfe and ftrong-; eft in Contention, yet happily have not the luck to keep Fire ftill in their Torch $ fee-*., ing it may be as well extinguiftied by running too faft, as by going too flow. And; this running and contending with Lamps,', feems long fince to be intermitted, feeing; all Sciencesfeem even now toflourifti moft: in their firft Authors , Arijlotle , Gallcn Euclid 5 and Ttelomy, fucceffion haveing; neither effe&ed, nor almoft attempted!: any great Matter. Tt were therefore to be;, wifhed, thatthefe Games in honour of rro--mcthcus or humane Nature were again re-* ftored, and that matters ftiould receive: fuccefs by combate and emulation, and not! hang upon any one mans fparkling anda (baking Torch. Men therefore are to be: admonift ed to roufe up their Spirits, and: try;!The Wifdom of the Ancients. 109 .1 try their ftrengths and tarns, and not refer s ail to the opinions and brains of a few. And thus have I delivered that which I '1 thought good to obferve out of this fo well 1 known and common Fable 5 and yet T will i not deny butthattheremay befome things i init5whichhavean admirable confent with J the Mifteries of Chriftian Religion., and 3 efpecially that fayling of Hercules in a Cup ) (to fet Prometheus at liberty^ feems to re-jprefent an Image of the Divine Word, ) coming in flefh as in a frail VeHel to redeem 1 Man from the flavery of Hell. But I have t interdi&ed my Pen all liberty in this kind, 1 left I ftiould ufe ftrange Fire at the Altar > of the Lord. S CYL L A and IC ARVS, or the Middle- ivay *\ >f Ediocrity or the Middle-way ismoft I Vi commended in moral attions, in > contemplative fciences not fo celebrated, r though no lefs profitable and commodious .* t But in political imployments to be ufed r with great heed and judgment. The An- > dents by the way preferibed to Icarus, no-»ted the mediocrity of Manners: and by the r way between Scylla and Charybdis (To la- E e 3 mous110 The ITifdnm of the Ancients. mous for difficulty and danger) the me: diocriry of intellectual operations. Icarus being to crofs the Sea by flight, was commanded by his Father that he fhould Fly neither too high nor too low, for his Wings being joyned with Wax, if he fhould mount too high, it was to be feared left the Wax would melt by the heat of the Sun 5 and if too low, left the my-ftie Vapours of the Sea would make it lefs tenacious: But he in a youthfull jollity foringtoo high fell down headlong and periflied in the Water/ The parable is eafie and vulgar: for the way of vertue lies in a dire&path between excefs and defe• / - s \ i